Birding is one of the most popular outdoor activities, with millions of people heading outdoors to look for birds every year. Whether you are a beginning birdwatcher or seasoned practitioner, check out the resources the library has to offer. 

Field Guides 

• The Backyard Birdwatcher’s Bible by Christopher M. Perrins: This book has practical tips for identifying common backyard birds, as well as advice on creating bird-friendly gardens. 

• Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America by Jonathan Alderfer: This National Geographic publication features tips on observing and identifying birds, along with a visual index of over 150 species. 

• A Birder’s Guide to the Chicago Region by Lynne Carpenter: This guide identifies more than 250 top sites for birding within a 65-mile radius of downtown Chicago. 

• Birding Basics by Noah Strycker: This comprehensive handbook covers all the basic skills and knowledge needed to become a better birder. 

• Birding by Impression by Kevin Karlson: This visual field guide provides strategies for identifying birds under challenging viewing conditions.  

• Birding for Beginners: Midwest by Stan Tekiela: This bird identification guide is organized by color and features 55 different Midwestern species. 

• Birds of Chicago by Chris Fisher: This easy-to-use reference for the urban birdwatcher will help you identify the species you are most likely to see in the Chicago area. 

• Birds of North America by the National Audubon Society: This field guide covers more than 500 species, with multiple photos of each to help with species identification. 

Further Reading 

• Better Living Through Birding by Christian Cooper: This recently released title from Central Park birder Christian Cooper takes you into a world of avian adventures, global excursions, and the unexpected lessons you can learn from a life spent looking up. 

• Birds and Us: A 12,000-Year History from Cave Art to Conservation by Tim Birkhead: This sweeping history chronicles the long and close relationship between birds and humans. 

• How to Attract Birds to Your Garden by Dan Rouse: This practical guide highlights the many ways the average gardener can use a space of any size to create a welcoming habitat for birds of many species. 

• In the Field, Among the Feathered: A History of Birders & Their Guides by Thomas R. Dunlap: This book details the history of field guides to birds in America from the Victorian era to the present. 

• To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, a Son, and a Lifelong Obsession by Dan Koeppel: This narrative from a well-known nature writer explores a lifelong obsession with competitive birding. 

Movies & Documentaries 

• A Birder’s Guide to Everything: A teenage birding fanatic thinks he has made the discovery of a lifetime and embarks on an epic road trip to earn a place in birding history. 

• Birders: The Central Park Effect: Log in to Hoopla or Kanopy to watch this documentary about the many species of birds that make Central Park their home and the dedicated birdwatchers who flock to see them. 

• Ghost Bird: Log in to Kanopy to watch this documentary about a possibly extinct giant woodpecker species and the birdwatchers and scientists determined to find it. 

• National Geographic Guide to Birding in North America: Log in to Kanopy to view this 24-part documentary series covering birding basics, identifying birds by ear, and more. 

Other Resources 

• Help Injured or Orphaned Wildlife: If you come across an injured bird, be sure to leave the animal where you found it. You should not try to care for it yourself. Use this resource from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to help you locate a qualified rehabilitator who can provide you and the injured bird with more assistance. 

• Lake County Audubon Society Birding Resources: This list of resources provides information about local birding sites and organizations as well as useful apps to help you identify the species you see. 

• Lake County Forest Preserves Guide to Birdwatching: This site provides information about bird species native to Lake County, along with suggested local birding sites.