Find More Birds: 111 Surprising Ways to Spot Birds Wherever You Are

by Heather Wolf

"Packed with excellent photos and tips, deeply relatable anecdotes, and a palpable sense of joy, this gem of a book will make you a better birder." —Rosemary Mosco, author of A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching.

A gorgeously photographed trove of 111 ingenious tips for seeing more birds wherever you are—from crowd favorites (hummingbirds, owls, eagles) to species you've never spotted before.

Seeing more birds than you ever imagined and witnessing exciting avian drama is possible—whether you're on the go or in your own neighborhood, local park, or backyard. As Heather Wolf explains, it all comes down to how you tune in to the show happening around you, the one in which birds—highly skilled at staying under the radar—are the stars. In Find More Birds, Heather shares her very best tactics—and the jaw-dropping photographs they helped her capture. Plus, special tips point the way to crowd favorites such as hummingbirds, owls, and eagles—and can't-miss bird behaviors. As your senses sharpen and "noticing" becomes second nature, Find More Birds will turn your daily routines into bird-finding adventures, too. Whether you're strolling down the block or parking your car, you never know what will surprise you next!

Genres: Nature, Birds, Nonfiction, Animals, Science

272 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2023

Reviews

[ancientreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd suggest this for novice birders and also for those who, like me, may have been birding for a while but tend to stumble around shambolically hoping to See Cool Things and could use a more systematic approach. I took away a large number of useful ideas: in spring, watch places where you've seen old nests, because that's where new nests are likely to turn up; devote time to staring at leaf litter; jetties are "a giant sushi bar for birds"; look for whitewash (and pellets) under dense trees if you want to find owls ... and so on.

The natural history tidbits were also fascinating. Swallows pick up sludge from muddy areas to build their nests. NYC has the highest concentration of Peregrine Falcons in the world (go, us!). Cedar Waxwings and other berry-eating birds can get drunk by gorging themselves on fermenting berries.

Still, I couldn't quite give five stars, for these reasons:

1. The emphasis on checklists and on traveling to specific destinations in order to see a particular species, or for that matter lots of new species. Birders should be environmentalists, by definition, no? But of course plane travel is a significant contributor to climate change. I can't get too much on my high horse about this, since I travel by plane a couple of times a year (and of course I bird wherever I'm going), but it seems to me that a book about birding ought to be a bit more judicious about encouraging extra travel aimed at lengthening one's life list. Low-carbon birding is a thing.

2. Related to 1., there's a lot of unconscious class privilege here. I take bird pix with a camera that cost me $700 on eBay, and that isn't anything like what "real" bird photographers even consider entry-level. Good "basic" binoculars cost a couple of hundred bucks. Birding is, in many ways, a privileged activity to begin with -- even setting aside equipment costs, you have to have the leisure to hang out in birdy places. In fairness, many of the tips could be applied by anyone in the course of an ordinary day (watch parking-lot light poles for raptors, for example), but I would have liked to see some acknowledgment that some are flat out of reach for a lot of people.

3. Same as 2., but for disabled birders and birders of color. I get emails from the Audubon Society about racism in birding (remember Christian Cooper?) and about accessibility for mobility-impaired people, blind people, and people who are hard of hearing. No, I don't expect a general guide to cover every possible tip for every possible kind of birder, but wouldn't it have been nice to include a list of resources for birders who are at, say, extra risk for having the cops called on them, or who would benefit from information about wheelchair-accessible birding sites? They, too, would like to Find More Birds.

So, yeah, aspects of this book annoyed me. But I recommend it anyway: it offers a wealth of advice, much of which I plan to put into practice as the spring migration season gears up.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Experiment for the ARC.

[Connie D · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very charming and beautifully illustrated (by the author) book with great commonsense tips (111) for birdwatchers, beginning, intermediate, and even advanced. I enjoyed reading about her experiences employing each tip, with the photos she took at those times.

Very nicely laid out; i love the format!

Because of the writing, book design and photos, I think i will be able to remember and use these tips forever. Some i was already using, and I've benefitted from other new ones while reading.

[Gv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good introduction book. I might have really enjoyed it 7 years ago, as it gives a lot of ideas of ways to enjoy birds beyond the classics. Unfortunataly, we are not 7 years ago, and it was quite boring since I already do most things they suggested (or they were not applicable). So, good book if you started birding in the past year, probably not very useful otherwise.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find More Birds is a breezy, charming book filled with insider tips on how to improve the bird watching experience. Intended for casual birders who would like to see and identify more birds without the need for expensive equipment or specialized training. Wolf's hints include how to find places where birds congregate, how to use online information to learn more and list your birds, and even how to understand bird behavior. The text is accompanied by gorgeous photos of the kind every one of us who like birds would love to be able to take.

My favorite section is the one on how to use technology for birding. I have the Merlin app, but Wolf''s information encouraged me to go deeper into the app and also investigate other sites like ebird.com. My least favorite feature of the book is the fact that much birding of the type she describes would be difficult or impossible by those of us with physical disabilities ("notice this while you're hiking") or insufficient means to travel to different places to increase the variety of birds to see. Some mention of these issues would have been helpful.

A note for the publisher: In nearly every chapter there is a designation for (Tip TK), which made me wonder what I was missing. Some pictures also had placement text. Perhaps it would have been better to issue the ARC once these were complete.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Laurie Sefton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are you a Birder who's interested in expanding your Life List? Are you a beginning Birder who would like to identify more birds? Are you interested in the birds who live in your backyard?

If you're any of these, "Find More Birds" shows you new ways to find and identify birds when you're visiting a preserve, out for a walk, or who are living next to you but you haven't been able to discover them. The tips and suggestions work, and pay back in a wider world of birds for the interested observer and Briding fans alike.

Five Stars: Highly Recommended

[Lisa Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very accessible book for a beginning birdwatcher or a person who is just discovering birds in their neighborhood. The author makes it very easy to understand while still imbuing the text with a lot of fabulous sources of information.

[uma · Rating 5 out of 5]

So helpful!

[Katy Sammons · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had this book two years ago when I became a serious birder. It’s a great resource that includes everything a beginning birder needs to know. Sections include basics, where birds eat, looking for signs, technical resources, different places to bird, community birding, bird behavior, and more. The book is well-written with short sections that can be read in a few minutes. Highly recommended!

[Oxalis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I only meant to flip through this book but ending up reading it straight through. I found the tips quite helpful, not just for finding birds, but simply for noticing more about the environment. I also learned about resources I don't use, like eBird. I wouldn't call myself a birder; instead, I usually just enjoy watching whatever wildlife show up outside my window. For those who spend a lot less time outside with nature, this book will be invaluable.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook: as a new birder, excellent tips to find birds. Loved all the feedback on ebird activities and finding the right pair of binoculars.

Recommend to all new birders.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Gorgeous photography, good advice, charming writing. I've spotted a ton more raptors now that I'm paying attention to what the jays are doing, I learned some techy places to look for information on migration (I got to see a lot of warblers this fall), and I'm watching food sources more closely. The tip-based format made this really easy to pick up and read a few pages when I had a minute here and there.

Note: I feel like I didn't read the same book as some other reviewers. I don't get the criticism of it for being bougie - the binoculars she recommended were under $50, the book is LOADED with advice for finding birds in suburban/urban neighborhoods that require no travel or major time commitments, she never told anyone to buy a camera, etc. I mean, she talks about a few birding trips she took, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't listed as a tip - it is just part of making her advice conversational and pragmatic. Honestly, it gave me an appreciation for how easy it can be to connect with nature in your day-to-day life, and it showed how rich an experience urban birding can be (she's seen all kinds of cool birds in her NYC home that surprised me).

[Tyler G. Warne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find More Birds helps any birder, beginner or expert, find birds. Different regions have different landscapes. And the birds appear through different approaches. Heather Wolf uses descriptions of diverse ecosystems, where certain species of birds may appear. She also includes the most desirable species, often unseen by the most enthusiastic birders. She uses simple language, accurate descriptions, and easy-to-follow instructions. Though not everyone will visit New York City or the high peaks of mountains, common birds can easily be identified using the instructions in this book.

For people to realize, the most amazing birds exist outside their homes, they would have to use some strategy or technique to locate and identify them. A book with a logical and simple approach lets the novice understand the ease of the hobby. With a scientific background and laymen's terms, this book is suitable for everyday reference.

Thank you, Heather and The Experiment for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

[AnnieM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am someone who likes to go birding with my family and am not an expert but have some experience. In "Find More Birds," I learned a lot of new information and tips that will help me be much more observant regarding bird behaviors, sounds, and habitats. This book is packed with useful tips and information about where to find birds - spoiler alert - the majority of time it is as simple as being still, patient and focusing our full attention. I learned about dust baths and the very next day a friend was telling me they saw birds do a really strange thing and I was able to explain what they were doing and why. The photographs throughout the book are gorgeous. This is a great book for novice and somewhat experienced birders. I learned a lot and the book is the type of guide you can refer to again and again. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and The Experiment for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

[Liam Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather Wolf, who documents the birds of Brooklyn Bridge Park on Instagram, provides 111 tips for the novice birder to ... find more birds! Now, a fair number of these tips are pretty obvious and probably didn't need to be broken down so microscopically.  But the short chapters did make it easy for me to read a few tips per day over several weeks. More importantly, Wolf groups the tips together in broader categories such as looking for sources of birds' food, finding evidence of bird activity, using technological tools, getting involved in birding communities, and finding birds in places you wouldn't expect.  Did you know that you can find interesting birds in the parking lots of superstores, airport runways, or even looking out the window of a car or train? As someone new to birding, I found Wolf's guide to be helpful and encouraging, and mostly just chill about enjoying finding birds in any way you like.

[Cindy Dyson Eitelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great and amusing way to present some valuable birdwatching tips! Broken into three or more sections, she starts with basics, then proceeds to offer tips on "finding birds at their favorite restaurants," "...by the clues they leave," "using tech support," and so on.

Some clue are very obvious--to a bird watcher--but others are great reminders of things we sometimes forget to do or never even thought of. For me, a few that were unexpected were "search for an open patch after a snowfall" or "creep up on cattails" or "check out dusty spots for dust baths."

Absolutely recommended for all bird enjoyers. Any tips you don't need, just skip 'em. But you'll probably find yourself reading them anyway--I did. There's just too much information you might be missing.

[Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to flip through, to reinvigorate your love of bird watching and remind you hie wash it is to find birds. I loved the photographs and the quick tips. I picked this book up because I love seeing bird and nature books written by women, we need more of it! Since iv been reading it the last week I finally tried the Merlin audio feature and was surprised with some of the results. I’ve remembered to just sit and watch and appreciate the birds I see - not everything needs to be a life lister.
I don’t get some of the criticism for this book and feel like they read a different book than me. It’s all things you can do in your town or on your normal life travels.

[Matthew Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will not only find more birds, but also appreciate their behavior more!

Find More Birds" by Heather Wolf is an absolute treasure for birders of all levels. This book combines pratical and often profound tips, fascinating behavioral information, and stunning photography to make an invaluable addition to any bird enthusiast's collection. Wolf's knowledge of and love for birds really comes through on every page through both her words and beautiful photographs. A true delight for all nature lovers!

[Alicia Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun and helpful guide for novice bird watchers. There are 111 tips arranged by topic like using technology and finding new birds. There are lots of great photos and some interesting tidbits. I didn’t learn much in terms of new ideas for finding birds (most are common sense) but I did learn really interesting facts at times. It’s a fun, easy to read guide that would also make a great gift or vacation read.

I read a temporary digital version of this book for review.

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to The Experiment and Net Galley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. I've recently moved from the west coast to Colorado. The birds are different here, and I've recently been making our yard hospitable to them. There is so much nature here, though, and this book was so helpful in giving me tips on finding birds anywhere in nature. I enjoyed the digital ARC so much, I'll be purchasing a hard copy for me to have in my library.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book, both in content and images. Her pictures are stunning and she offers such intriguing insight about finding birds all over the world. She shares her own experiences of finding birds in unexpected locations and it's evident she is a very experienced and knowledgeable birder. The stories she shares are interesting and helpful to me as a new birder. I am really enjoying this book-it is the kind of book you don't want to put down. Just beautifully done.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about ways to start and to improve at being a birder.
Use eyes in the back of your head, detect flying shadows eg. to detect movement in a tree canopy. Look to the ground, and also check for movement among the shadows of the leaves.
Enjoy being present with the birds in their habitat. The things you notice about a bird will help find a match in your field guide.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely charming book. As is often the case, I wish it involved fewer ask other birders and travel more. Since I've found some really nice local birders, but also several wealthy and condescending and those seem to be in charge. And travel is expensive. I'm glad there's some tips that work for everywhere.

[Denise Chojnacki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, light book with lots of common sense tips for putting yourself where birds are. They were ideas I hadn't thought of but made perfect sense. There were also bird photos sprinkled throughout which was fun as well. If you don't want anything in depth but lots of quick tips to get you with the flock, this is your book!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Birds. A great reference book for beginners especially. There is a lot of insight into the behavior of birds which makes it interesting. The photos are really good and they are helpful for identifying birds. It is surprising all the places you can look for birds where you wouldn't normally look for them. The book has transformed me from an occasional bird watcher into a perpetual one.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book to read while train commuting! The tip headlines can feel annoyingly simplistic - look for water, sky the scan, or avoid sudden movements - but Wolf’s accompanying content is informative and helpful. She provides relevant stories and examples, as well as beautiful photography. I’m anxious to go birding and “look with new eyes.”

[Sue-b-doo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the tips & pics! Birding is such an enjoyable hobby that gets us out the door into nature! We walk a lot, and call out bird names as we hear or see them. Field guides & binoculars are in the car for spontaneous & planned bird enjoyment!

[Gail Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few of the tips are a little silly, like number 60 “Do some yoga” but this really is helpful and engaging book that will help you do just what the title says.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ohh, I LOVED this! Might need my own copy of this one.

[Prudence Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic guide and I have seen so many more birds!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spot so many more birds now. It is a joy watching them in action. Today, I saw a turkey fly for the first time.