How to Look at a Bird: Open Your Eyes to the Joy of Watching and Knowing Birds

by Clare Walker Leslie

Bestselling author and acclaimed nature illustrator Clare Walker Leslie invites beginning birdwatchers to hone their observational skills with this this easy-to-use visual guide. Using her signature nature journal illustrations, Leslie shows readers the key clues to look for, from the shape of the beak or talons to distinctive feather colorings, flight patterns, and behavioral traits. She offers simple prompts that encourage readers to embrace curiosity and take a closer Where are you? What season is it? How is that bird moving or eating? With an emphasis on the birds that are most likely to be seen at a feeder, in a city park, or at a nature preserve, How to Look at a Bird makes bird watching, identification, and appreciation accessible to everyone, no matter where they live.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Birds, Science, Animals, Art

144 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Clare Walker Leslie is a naturalist, artist, and writer. She is best known for her nature journals. She advocates their use by the wider public.

Reviews

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very nice, simple guide to the joys of birdwatching for beginners. I enjoyed the simplistic, often very pretty, drawings. The author finishes by showing us how to draw birds simply ourselves. The basics of understanding and identifying birds are more or less the same the world over, I’m sure. However, as this book is written about North American birds, the finer detail was not relevant for me. I am thankful, mind you, that I don’t have to worry about bears stealing from my feeders at night! A very enjoyable read.

With thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for a review copy.

[Daniel Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gift! Pleasant, accessible, beautiful to look at. A lovely little intro to Birding that I'm sure I'll come back to as needed in the future

[Fanda Kutubuku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clare Walker Leslie is both an author and illustrator. In this little book, she encourages beginners at birdwatching to take the first step in taking this hobby into next level. It doesn't require one to be scientist or naturalist. First the joy of watching birds around where we live, be it in the country, suburban, or even in a busy big city like where I live. From there, you'll get curious to what bird that is, what they are doing, why they're doing it, and so on. That curiosity will make one a better observer.

This book hooked me from the first because apparently Clare has been staying at an apartment building, as I do. She shares how she attracted birds by hanging some feeders on the balcony. It made me realize that one CAN do birdwatching without having to travel in the country or visiting a forest. If you imagine this book would be boring and full of technicality or specifications of birds, you were wrong. It feels more like talking with a longtime birdwatcher who's glad to tell you of her love of birds and birdwatching. She wasn't an expert too when she began, but when you do what you love, I believe you'll find ways to learn more. You'll search for it on the internet, you'll find people with the same hobby to talk too, and so on. The possibility would be endless. What you need is to take the first step. And that's what this book will inspire you without being condescending.

Another pleasant part of this book is the sketches and colorful illustrations of birds and birdwatching. My favorite is the feeder hung on her apartment balcony – maybe because I can relate to it, living in an apartment myself. Clare even shares the step-by-step of sketching a bird. You needn't be good at drawing, by the way. There's this technique which she called blind contouring – doing rough-sketch while focusing on the object, without looking at what you’re doing – which seems quite doable. I can't wait to try myself!

Do you love birds, but find the word "birdwatching" intimidating? Read this book, and you'll see that it's actually not that scary! Clare described in details several species of birds (with illustrations) which you'll find in some parts of the world (mainly the US), but like she said in this book, wherever you live, there are always birds around you. Moreover, you’ll learn some interesting things about these birds, though you might perhaps never see them. If you love nature and birds, you'll find this book a helpful guidance.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not a new birder, but I found this guide for new birders underwhelming. The organization is so haphazard it's hard for me to see how it would be useful for anyone. There are a lot of random and sometimes incomplete basic facts about birds, then deep dives into more advanced things like the parts of a bird. The cover artwork is what made me pick this book up, but inside I found the art overwhelming at times, especially since so much of it is sketchy and unfinished.

Your experience my differ, but I won't be adding this to my birding bookshelf.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What stands out with this bird watching guidebook:

The actual notes and original sketches from the author’s journal.

Yes. You can actually go for this reason ONLY.

BUT this guidebook has actually lots more to offer! The colourful high quality pages, the amazing illustrations, accurate descriptions of different birds and the actual guide on how we can gather information about different birds from watching them. I specifically love the information on the flight patterns of different birds. Oh, the facts given are mind blowing too!

Just go for this one if you are thinking of gifting this book to a younger someone who’s interested in birds and nature.

Thank you, Storey Publishing, for the advance reading copy.

[Flora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book on not only how to look at and identify birds, but also how to capture them on your nature journal. You would actually be killing two birds with one stone! I loved how everything is organized on every aspect of a bird and what to look for. I have no patience for bird-watching but if I were to get a book on the subject, this would be one of them. For sure!

5 stars.

[N Simila · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beginners guide to bird watching. The sketches in this book were what brought me to check this out from the library. An informative read for anyone wanting to learn the basics of birdwatching. Something that would be interesting to see in this book would’ve been photographs paired with the sketches, but it’s understandable why this guide didn’t include them. Overall, 4 stars. Go birds

[Emma Adelmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very charming, unpretentious introduction to birding that is making me consider taking up the hobby! It’s not really a field guide (but it does recommend one!) so much as a book of helpful pointers, anecdotes, and resources. I loved the art style and was thrilled to find a drawing guide near the end.

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

eARC received in exchange for honest review

First things first, this book was a delight and the artwork stunning.
All the watercolour sketches were so vivid and colourful and made this truly a pelasure to read!

"Birds are found across the world, on every continent, in all kinds of habitats, and from the wildest places to the smallest backyard. No matter where you live, there are birds to enjoy just out your window or as you go about your day."

Are you a bird novice or an ornithological wizard? Either way this book has something for you. It's a wonderful source of information on birds and how to go about taking the time to look at them.

"You don't need a science background, expensive equipment, or even loads of time to enjoy watching birds - just lots of curiousity."

What was nice was seeing the artwork from throughout the author's life of bird watching, so if you feel like your drawing skills aren't enough and don't want to try sketching birds as you look at them, the coloured swirl scribbles or circle bodies with triangle wings will put you more at least. And the drawing tips at the end certainly will help.

The guide gives very simple yet useful tips on bird ID'ing, or how to get your eye in on the matter. Offering knowledge about bird size and speed and simple observable traits like that.
The book is littered with facts and advice, the simplest and best being to simply...look up.

The book does well to dive into greater detail about things like bird anatomy, colourations, differencs in sex and age of birds, but never in a way that feels overwhelming. I think the abundance of drawings really aid with this.

While the book is focused on North American birds primarily, the knowledge and tips in contains translates so easily regardless of where you are. Especially the parts about feeding and bathing and how to best set up spots for birds in your garden.

So, if you want to get looking at birds then grab this book, grab a knowledgable friend, and get looking.
And don't be afraid to ask for help, as the author says, no bird question is dumb.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight reading this book was! It was a true feast for the eyes with utterly gorgeous illustrations that balanced rustic yet beautifully executed and really made reading it effortless. They’re the sort of drawings I’d love to have framed and put up on my wall! Every single one of them would have been worthy of your wall space and accompanied with short and succinct little pointers about all aspects of birding.

I’m fairly early on in my bird watching hobby and have loved gathering as much information as I can to arm me for future bird watching sessions, so books like these are invaluable. And it helped that this one was so effortless and fun fo read.

It covers a lot, from bird shapes, sounds, behaviour, nests and how to feed them in your garden. I’m from the U.K. and as this book mentioned American birds, the IDing of these species wouldn’t always be applicable to me but it didn’t take any enjoyment out of reading this book. I enjoyed learning about the beautiful range of birds found in America and I could still take away a lot of the information in regards to how to streamline your bird spotting!

It’s a perfect book to have as companion on your shelf, especially if you’re new to starting out. Although I’d argue any well seasoned birder would also get as much enjoyment out of this as anyone else for its straight to the point info and really lovely sketches.

I also loved that near the end of the book it contained pointers about how to do your own bird drawings as well as a handy little space to record your own bird spots. A great well rounded little book!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. There's a comfortable feeling to it, if that makes sense. Almost as if the author is huddled up near you chatting softly as you scan the surroundings for birds. She offers easy to grasp hints on how not just to find and identify birds, but how to sketch them, too. I'm no true birder but have noticed that the more serious among them keep detailed records and sketches of what birds they've spied, so that made sense. While most bird books offer pictures/photos, the ones she offers are genuinely quick sketches, meant to capture basic traits as well as the moment. In other words, something most of us can grasp and utilize on whatever level we are. She calls it bird contouring, btw.

Along the way, you'll learn how to attract birds to your own little piece of the world. I grinned when she noted that, yes, that may mean squirrels, too, as my own bird feeder was like a magnet to the local squirrel, which I've dubbed Nemesis for my dog's running feud with it's mere existence. Oddly enough, she doesn't bark at the birds. But, anyway.... While every possible bird in the world isn’t shown, that would involve a much longer, less fun read for novices, it does do an excellent job of capturing types I've seen frequently in my own yard and then some. There's a white raven in neighboring community, so I definitely looked upfront to see if ravens were included and, yep, they are. Lots of fun facts about bird types, too.

More importantly, it's a fun, easy read. I highly recommend it to fledgling birders or those, like me, who simply enjoy watching them in random moments. It'd also make a great gift. Thanks #NetGalley and #StoreyPublishing for reminding me/us of the marvels as close as our own front windows.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have ever had any inclination to become a birder, even a dabbler in the birding world, this book is for you. A down-to-earth approach, not only to how to outfit yourself to maximize your birding endeavors, but also to how to think about, look at, and live around birds. The author talks you through general pointers and bird information, but they also give you a glimpse into a very personal side of their own birding journey. Of particular pleasure to me was how they cataloged their sightings: sometimes these were full descriptions, with names and technical specifics, but often they were sketches and impressions, more like poetry than categorization.

Ultimately, this book won't make you into a bird aficionado. It won't teach you every migratory pattern and birdcall. It probably won't even help you all that much when it comes to figuring out which bird you happen to be looking at or hearing at any given time. What it will do, though, is perhaps more valuable. It will encourage you to appreciate the avian life in your everyday surroundings in a different and more intimate way. It will help you articulate what you want to take away from your experiences with birds and assist you in finding the tools to achieve that experience. Best of all, it will cast birding in a light that makes it accessible, something everyone can do: a simple pleasure that doesn't require expensive trappings or the privilege of large amounts of free time and education. All you need is interest and a bird or two.

[Lisa Noble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing, deceptively simple, beautiful book. If you are an educator who keeps a feeder on your classroom window, or on the yard, this is a book to add to your classroom library. I will be getting one for my office, which has a window feeder, and many people who stop by to check out "bird TV".

Instead of the standard field guide approach, this is set up as a book that will grow with a learner. The author, Clare Walker Leslie, begins with information around the ways we are drawn to birds, and her own journey to becoming a birder. Her sketches, of both birds, and the places she has found them, are part of what makes this such a stunning book.

Rather than provide the usual pages of different bird profiles, Leslie asks the reader to think about what they are seeing, and to get used to categorizing what they see. How big is the bird? What does it look like in flight? What are the features that might help you differentiate different types of the same bird. The section on field marks is remarkable and hugely helpful, especially if you regularly see "little brown birds" (sparrows), and aren't sure how to tell them apart. She also includes a section on what you might be hearing, which is something many birders want to know more about.

This book is one that would be brilliant to pair with a set of decent binoculars and a small sketch kit for any budding ornithologist in your life, no matter how old they are. Huge thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for a review copy.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a book I came across online and thought it may warrant a check through.

How to Look at a Bird is a very basic starter guide that combines birdwatching with the author's own personal experiences. She touches very quickly on various aspects of birding including maintenence such as feeders and putting up bird houses as well as some drawing lessons for those wanting to draw what they see.

Otherwise scattered throughout are very basic introductions to various birds that may be seen throughout and inclusion of various pages of her birding notes.

The book feels like it tried to mimic the famous country diaries of the UK such as those of Edith Holden but Edith Holden she is not. Instead of rich and brightly beautiful yet detailed paintings, this book is graced with illustrations as may be found from a child mostly although others show the promise of her talent.

Otherwise since they are from her own birding adventures, there are included barely legible writing or the author chose to add notes that may or may complement the section you are reading.

Although there are various good tips included, the rest of the book is just random fluff and a reader intent to learning birding and/or just about birds in general would be just better off finding a book that is a bit more detailed than this one.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Proving that the guide to birdwatching is obviously more of a personal thing than I might have thought, this book is apparently what its creator would have loved to have had back in her junior days – and yet I found it awkwardly unlikeable. I really didn't take to the sketchy, transposed-field-notes and scratchy style of a lot of it. I can't quibble that it is North America-centric, with its chickadees and bobolinks, but again that doesn't help me here in the UK engage with this book.

I think the sturdiest hurdle to me liking it is the jarring contrast between the sensible details and the visuals. There's fine stuff here about how every birder started from a position of knowing nothing, and slowly built their expertise up spot by spot and sighting by sighting, and how if you can't identify something from its speed and flightiness at least capture some of its colour, or habit, or size or flying style or context – anything that might help. But for all that the logic is met by a very scratchy, heavy-on-the-ink portrait, with handwritten notation, and it all proved to look anathema to the much younger me whose tastes I vaguely remember. I can only hope it does inspire interest in the hobby, but my mark has to suggest how convinced I am that it would have failed with me.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to tell what age group this book is written for. At first, I thought it was more for adults who were interested in birdwatching but didn’t know where to start, even though the tips can be pretty basic: “Just Look Around.” There are tips such as “plant native plants” around your home which seem addressed to adults. Then I would read a line that seemed so literally juvenile that I felt like I was reading a kid’s book. It seems to work for elementary to adult. Of course, some tips that seem basic are the keys to identifying specific species at any level. For a small book, it is packed with lots of good details and facts, and touches on almost every aspect of bird life, at least briefly. Every page is filled with the author’s sketches which make it fun to look at, and there’s a “Drawing 101” chapter toward the end of the book. You’ll also find a list of good birding resources at the end, followed by a few pages to record bird sightings. If you know a child or an adult who has just become interested in birds or who seems like they might be the sort who would like to know more about them, this is a well-rounded primer. As a primer, I would rate it as 5-stars; as a book for me, I give it a 4.

[Miska Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Birds, and I have been reading about, and watching shows about them for about six months. I own a couple of birder indexes/guides, but they always seemed more intimidating than helpful, with very little advice for actually going out into the field and, well, looking at the birds.

So when I saw this book on Net Galley (where I obtained it, for free and read it to review it), I snapped it up.

It was easy to read, the pictures were perfect, and approachable, and what’s more it gave me the confidence that I could be a birder. By starting in my own yard. I devoured this title in a single night, Laying in bed, reading about the different birds in our shared ecological region (North East) and marveling at the more distant lands the author went to and birded.

I am going on vacation camping in two days, and believe me, I will take all the knowledge I gleaned from this title and apply it to my trip.

I highly recommend this work for anyone who is new to birdwatching/listening or who wants to see how to keep a bird journal in an easy to digest and practical manner.

[trop_de_livres · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many others, I have become more and more interested in birds the older I get. Combine that with being home during the pandemic, and that interest grew into a slight obsession. That’s why this book caught my eye.

This is a wonderful introduction to bird watching for beginners. A combination of memoir and handbook, with beautiful sketches and paintings, there is much to inspire anyone who has begun to notice the world of our avian companions.

The basics of bird watching are explained, along with general information about birds, fun trivia and fascinating details. This book is especially interesting for anyone wishing to sketch, draw or paint birds, and Clare Walker Leslie includes a section on how to begin. Almost every page in this lovely book includes art, from basic sketches to more refined paintings. It is a treasure trove of tips and advice on how to approach and befriend our feathered friends. Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing for letting me read this in exchange for an honest opinion.

[petalpineink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible! This is one of the most well executed field guides I have ever read.

What makes this field guide stand apart from all others is that it is personal. Between the plethora of hand drawn observations and the anecdotal stories of how the author got into birding, this guide really adds a layer of passion to itself. Most field guides are just that, guides, but this book really made me want to read more.

Each chapter is later expertly laid out to address a certain bird watching topic in a way that is both detailed and simple to digest. Each section also includes pages of bird species, how to identify them, and some natural history about them. I really enjoyed that these were interspersed throughout each section instead of listed one after the other - it broke them up enough that I didn’t get overwhelmed.

I HIGHLY recommend this guide and will certainly be purchasing it to go along with the education I provide at the nature center I work for.

Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing for an ARC of this guide.

[Arya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is a simple, fun, beautiful, and easy read on how to begin bird watching and how to draw them. I am not much of a birder. I requested an advance copy of this via Netgalley just out of curiosity and it was rewarding. The whole layout of the book itself is very refreshing. Pages filled with bird drawings, made by the author himself, are very attractive and make this a perfect gift for beginner birders of any age. (I am sure kids interested in bird watching would be delighted by this one.)

The content is divided into six parts, beginning with a sort of intro section titled 'Why are we drawn to birds?'.
Focus areas include how to 'really' observe birds, how to listen to bird sounds, observing with the help of bird feeders, bird activities and behavior, and tips on drawing birds. Each section is simple but informative. Small sections on 'What bird is that?' are given at intervals dealing with basic info on selected birds.

The only problem I noted is that the book mostly deals with native birds of North America so info on specific birds may not come out handy for people of other continents. Still, the beauty and simplicity of the book are enough to attract beginner birders.

Happy birding people!!!!

[Olde American Spirit · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT’S THERE TO LOVE? What a delightful book! The illustrations alone are captivating, but the story of how she first became entranced with our feathered friends is charming.
I agreed to receive a complimentary copy of this book because I too am quite obsessed with birds. My father took the time to take me out in nature, our camp chairs and binoculars in hand, and teach me about each breed and the sounds they make. I never forgot it.

I enjoyed teaching my own how to identify them by their coloring and shapes. When we lost our son recently, the "legend" of the cardinal intrigued me, and the hubs and I now have what I call our little bird sanctuary.

This book, in its rustic, adorable way, reminded me of facts I'd forgotten and taught me so many things I didn't know. Don't hesitate to pick this one up for yourself and the nature lovers in your circles. It's absolutely wonderful!

MY RATING 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This released on February 6, 2024.

☕📚 Thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley. I received a complimentary ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ☕📚

[Victoria Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

How to Look at a Bird is the perfect book for those looking to start birdwatching. It gives you a step-by-step guide on how to identify birds, starting small and getting more complex. It even includes a chapter on how to draw field drawings of birds and a table for organizing your birdwatching findings! I love the water colors and field drawings included throughout the book. The field drawings are simple and make even a novice feel like they can do it too. The watercolors bring beauty and life to the many birds Clare includes includes in this book. The birds Clare includes are a range of many common birds to a few less common birds, depending on your location. A must-read for any novice birdwatcher or someone looking to start birdwatching.

[Morgaritas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect little book. I just happened to see it on display at the library and am so glad I picked it up. First of all, the layout is so nice. It’s clear, precise and delivers the information smoothly. The illustrations are captivating and gestural. I’m always so inspired by sketchbook drawings. Beyond the visual elements of this book, I highly enjoyed how the information was organized. I loved the breakdown of identifying a bird. It seems so obvious but I never had the context to see specific features like that. The book ends with a section on some drawing tips, most of which im familiar with, but it’s good to have a reminder like that! Can’t wait to take my sketchbook out for a spin to draw some birds! It really is a lovely book.

[Rhian · Rating 4 out of 5]

How to Look at a Bird: Open Your Eyes to the Joy of Watching and Knowing Birds by Clare Walker Leslie is a beautiful guide to the introduction of birdwatching. I love that the book is filled with the author's sketches, including some from their journals, along with notes. Throughout, readers will learn how to observe birds wherever they are, take a look at the different flapping, how to listen to them   and more . I really loved that in the end , there is a section of drawing tips. This makes me want to start sketching in a journal. There's also a few pages where you can write down the birds you see .

If you love birds,  or are just getting into birdwatching,  I think you will love this! Thank you to Storey Publishing for gifting us a copy!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute little book! As a person who regularly needs glasses, at times I wished the pages were bigger. That said, Ms. Leslie does a good “show and tell” approach to looking for birds and learning more about them, by bringing up a scene or behavior and then showing different possibilities. She presents information in a low key way - not implying that one needs to know it all, but just presenting the diversity of it. The book is illustrated with sketches and watercolors, with a chapter on learning to draw birds at the end of the book. Excellent introduction to birds and to observing them.

[Lael Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely quick and easy read with many of the author’s sketches of birds. This book is meant for the very beginning bird watcher. Although it does contain an extremely short section on how to sketch birds near the end, the primary focus is to talk about bird basics, with examples of the most common birds in the US. Read curtesy of NetGalley.

[Margie · Rating 3 out of 5]

On first glance this book may seem to be for children due to the illustrations however it’s geared to those interested in birds, of any age. The illustrations are colorful and instructive. The author’s narrative is basically a journal format of how to approach bird watching. A good basic start for anyone interested in our feathered friends.

[meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, accessible resource for beginner bird watchers. This book contains charming illustrations and sweet anecdotes, as well as helpful tips and inspiration for bird journaling.

This book is pretty light on science (it doesn't include photos or traditional field guide diagrams), but it makes for a quick read and a lovely entry into the world of birds and the people that love them.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful quick read. I was able to read a book on the train for the first time with motion sickness glasses and I sped through this, I'll have to give it a second look over to appreciate the artwork some more. This is a perfect introduction for an interested birder looking for direction. I really appreciated the drawing exercises in the back!! 🕊️🦅🦆🦜🦢🦃🐓🦉

[Add me on Storygraph hilaryshelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a precious little book! Really wanting to dive into birdwatching and this book was a great beginner guide for someone just starting out. It felt really low pressure and easy to read, and the drawings made it even better. Happy I stumbled across it on a Kobo sale!