Welcome! Are you new to birding? We've teamed up with our friends at Bird Watcher's Digest to create this resource center to help you get started.
- Where Should You Go Birding?
- Three Essential Apps for Birders
- The Rules of Birding, or Getting Started on the Right Foot: Birding Etiquette and Ethics
- Staying Safe While Birding
- What to Wear and Bring While Birding
- A Regional Birding Guide
- What Birds Am I Likely to See?
- Bird Identification: Narrowing It Down
- Getting Started in Bird Watching
- The Ultimate Guide to Observing Land-Based Objects
- Understanding the Magnification and Objective Lens of my Binocular and Spotting Scope
- What is the field of view of a pair of binoculars?
- When choosing a pair of binoculars, what factors should I consider?
- What are some important features of binocular construction?
- What is the difference between BaK-4, BK-7 and K9 glass?
- Sport Optics Glossary of Terms
- What is Exit Pupil and Eye Relief for Sport Optics?
- I want to use my spotting scope to take pictures. What’s its f-number?
- Should I use a tripod or a monopod?
- When should I use a tripod for my binoculars?
- Does my Spotting Scope accept Astronomical Eyepiece & Filters?
- What does ED stand for on my Sport Optics' scopes?
- What are lens shades and dew shields? Why do I need one?
- How do I use my spotting scope for photography/ digiscoping?
- What is interpupillary distance? How do I adjust it on my binoculars?
- How do I focus my binoculars? What is diopter and why is it important?
- What is the difference between roof prism and porro prism binoculars?
- Difference Between an Angled and Straight Spotting Scopes
Best Selling Beginner Binoculars
Featured Bird of the Month
December: Cooper’s hawkÂ
A flurry of fearful birds and a gray flash might mark the arrival of a Cooper’s Hawk to your backyard. Cooper’s Hawks are medium-sized hawks and formidable hunters, often perching in inconspicuous places, then shooting through the branches or dropping from trees to nab unsuspecting prey. Coops generally feed on midsized birds, including robins, flickers, and pigeons, but they also eat small mammals, including chipmunks and squirrels. Insects and reptiles sometimes feature on the menu. You can look for Cooper’s hawks in any type of forest, along forest edges, and in woods near water. But don’t be surprised if you find one elsewhere, particularly in winter and fall. They seem to be adapting to suburban life, nesting near backyards or in city parks. Care must be taken to differentiate the Cooper’s Hawk from the similarly marked Sharp-shinned Hawk.