Birding Resources

Cedar Waxwing. Photo by Deborah Reynolds/Audubon Photography Awards.

Brown Creeper bird — **Principles of Birding Ethics**

We don't want to negatively impact the birds we so enjoy watching. The American Birding Association has prepared a great guide on the ethics of birding available **here**.
*Brown Creeper. Photo by Ken Miracle.*

What You Need to Go Birding

You only need your eyes or ears to enjoy birds in nature! That said, binoculars will help make birds easier to see and identify and a good field guide is an invaluable learning tool. If you would like to borrow binoculars, learn about our Binocular Loan Program.

Also see REI’s how to choose binoculars article for a quick guide to selecting a pair that will work best for you. Factors to consider include weight, magnification, and cost.

Explore our top recommendations for birding guides and resources below!

Field Guides and Birding Apps

Field guides are invaluable for learning about what species you may see in your area at different times of the year.

There are both digital and hardcopy formats available and it’s just a matter of preference which you choose. We generally prefer digital apps because you don’t need to carry anything extra and they have the added benefit of multimedia access at your fingertips.

Online Resources and Apps

All About Birds: The Cornell Lab of Ornithology - A wealth of information on bird species including behavior, habitat, full range maps, and more.

Bird Academy - Self-paced online courses for all levels.

eBird - Among the world’s largest biodiversity-related science projects, this site is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

Idaho Birding Facebook Group - People use this page to post special bird sightings, share their bird photos, and ask for identification help.

Merlin App - We highly recommend this free app by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Merlin quickly narrows down the list of species you may be seeing in addition to being able to identify birds by sound recordings and photographs.

Printable Lists and PDFs

Common Birds of the Boise River - GEAS revised this free guide in 2023. You are welcome to download and use this guide or pick up a free paper copy at the next community event.

The Idaho Birding Trail - This is a great resource with both digital and hard copies available for purchase.

Idaho Statewide Bird Checklist - Printable PDF checklist.

Southwest Idaho Statewide Bird Checklist - Printable PDF checklist.