Birding Basics
New to birding and need to purchase a set of binoculars? Or, looking for a field guide to keep handy on your smartphone? Explore some of our top gear and guide recommendations.
Binoculars
Pick a magnification
8x- smaller, wider image, brighter, easier to find/follow birds
10x- distance birding, narrow field of view, darker image in low light, more noticeable handshake
Recommended: 8×42 Magnification
Binoculars with 40mm, 42mm, or 44mm objectives serve as a good medium compromise between low-light capability and portability
Objectives smaller than 35mm will lead to a more portable package at the expense of light gathering, and a 50mm or larger objective will give you a very bright image along with, potentially, the aforementioned sore neck and shoulders.
Binoculars give you an opportunity to get memorable views you may never get watching birds from far away.
Binoculars come in a wide variety of magnifications and lens sizes. For those newer to the experience, attending a Detroit Bird Alliance event with a set of binoculars you can borrow is a great way to get a feel for the magnification before you make a purchase.
Recommended Binoculars
-
Celestron Nature
Celestron Nature binoculars offer a quality image, a rubber-armored, waterproof, fogproof design, and a complete set of accessories so that you can get right out and start your adventure.
Nikon Prostaff
At just over $100, these bins still provide a bright, clear image while retaining the standard waterproof, fogproof design, adaptability for glasses-wearers, and suite of accessories. For $10 less, you can opt for the 8×42 model.
Athlon Optics Neos G2
(Good Quality for cheap price) HD glass gives you better light transmission and brighter and sharper images. Effectively reduces reflected light and increases the transmission of light giving you a brighter image than normal single-coated lenses. Waterproof to protect the binocular in the harshest weather conditions or if accidentally submerged underwater
Vortex Optics Crossfire HD
Various magnification options and prices; these Crossfire HD binos are optimized with select glass elements to deliver exceptional resolution, cut chromatic aberration and provide outstanding color fidelity, edge-to-edge sharpness and light transmission. Adjustable eyecups twist up and down for comfortable viewing with or without eyeglasses. Rubber armor provides a secure, non-slip grip, and durable external protection while nitrogen purging and o-ring seal provides water and fogproof performance.
Tasco Essentials
Very lightweight and simple, these bins will get you by at just over $50. Designed for hunting, they come highly recommended by hunters and birders alike.
-
Nikon Monarch M5 or M7
These bins are for those with a commitment to an exceptional birding experience. However, they are sure to impress, with extra-low dispersion glass lenses providing a clear, wide, quality view. They also offer a sleek, waterproof design, and a low price point compared to others of this standard.
Trailseeker 8×42 Binoculars
These bins by Celestron come at a higher price point, but include higher quality lenses and a slightly lighter weight. They will also appeal to those who prefer black binoculars over green.
Vortex Optics Diamondback
The Vortex Optics Diamondback binoculars are less than $250, but still pack a punch. They offer anti-reflective and dielectric lens coatings to provide the most accurate image. Armored with rubber, these bins are durable, waterproof, and easy to grip. They are also tripod-compatible.
Vanguard Endeavor
Like the Nikon Monarch binoculars, these bins also feature extra-low dispersion glass lenses for a brilliant-colored, quality view. Waterproof and fogproof, the Vanguard Endeavor binoculars are a great value.
-
Vanguard 8×21 Vesta Compact 21
Ideal for when you’re hiking the trail, sightseeing around town, or enjoying a show or game, these binoculars are designed to be compact and extremely lightweight for easy carrying and use. Their 8x magnification brings things up close while preserving the generous field of view.
Apps & Field Guides
Your experience level as a birder is an important factor to consider when looking to purchase or download a bird identification guide. Thicker bird ID books can sometimes feel overwhelming with hundreds of different species to flip through and not knowing where they are in the book!
Convenient smartphone apps are a great place to start.
Birding Apps for iOS and Android
Free Merlin Bird ID
Merlin is unlike any other bird app—it's powered by eBird, the world's largest database of bird sightings, sounds, and photos. Merlin offers four fun ways to identify birds. Answer a few simple questions, upload a photo, record a singing bird, or explore birds in a region.
Sibley Birds 2nd Edition
The Sibley Birds 2nd Edition app is an online version of Sibley's Guide to Birds that includes information on over 930 North American bird species. The app includes detailed artwork, maps, calls, songs, and home ranges for each species.
Recommended Field Guides
-
Birds of Michigan Field Guide
This simple and comprehensive guide is great for first-time birders and those looking to improve their bird identification skills. Color coded, with 118 Michigan species, and crisp, vibrant photos, this guide is easy to use and beautiful to look through.
Michigan Birds
A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species Pamphlet: Over 440 species have been seen in the Great Lakes State, about 300 of which are either permanent residents, regular breeders, or annual migrants. When learning about such a diverse assemblage of species, it helps to have a portable reference to cut through the clutter and focus on the most familiar ones. The beautifully illustrated collection Michigan Birds is the ideal tool as it features 140 common birds as well as an ecoregion map showing over 20 bird-finding hotspots and learning sites.
BirdWatcher’s Digest Identification Guide to Backyard Birds Book
This booklet is designed to introduce you to—and help you identify—many of the most common feeder birds in North America. For each species you will find a color photograph, notes about how to identify the species, a summary of its range and the times of year it is present, and general information about the food and the type of feeder it prefers.
-
Kaufman’s
This guide’s index doubles as a checklist so you can mark off the birds you’ve spotted. Offering a comprehensive set of information to ensure your birding experiences are peaceful and uncomplicated, this guide is perfect for the regular birder who wants to keep track of their sightings.
Sibley’s
With nearly 7,000 original paintings and more than 600 new paintings, Sibley’s is a classic and beloved bird guide.
Peterson’s
Peterson’s guide aids readers in identifying birds in a simple and comprehensive way. This guide is a great tool for novice and experienced birders alike.
-
Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding
Kaufman’s guide to advanced birding streamlines users’ identification process, eliminating the excess detail that many bird guides include. This guide is perfect for birders who are familiar with many bird species and simply need an effective book for quick and accurate information.
Birds of MI Audio CD
Learn to identify the birds in your state by sound. This set of two audio CDs offers the highest quality digital recordings, featuring approximately 120 minutes of bird calls. It’s a must-have for any bird lover!
Scopes
What type of scope?
When choosing a scope, you have two choices, fixed or zoom.
Fixed Eyepiece
Between 20X and 30X
Heat shimmer and vibrations frequently obscure the view at higher magnifications.
Zoom Eyepiece (Best for birding)
20-40X
20-60X
25-50X
Have you ever gone to identify a bird with your binoculars and it’s just a bit too far away? Maybe it’s time to upgrade to the next level. Scopes provide the means to identify birds beyond the reach of your binoculars.
Recommended Scopes
-
Celestron Ultima
With anti-reflective lens coatings, a sharp-zooming eyepiece function, and a two-year warranty, this scope is great for observing birds from long distances. At just over $200, the Celestron Ultima is a great budget option for birders who are new to using a scope.
Gosky
Another great budget option is the Gosky spotting scope. This scope features a dynamic lens focusing system, a wide field of view, and a smartphone adapter which allows users to take photos.
-
Alpha 788
Waterproof and fogproof, the Alpen scope provides a clear, bright view with a large 80mm lens. At $500, this scope is still relatively affordable for the avid birder.
Vortex Diamondback
The Vortex Diamondback HD spotting scope provides sharp, clear focus with accurate colors, and an easily adjustable helical focus wheel. Great for low-light situations, this scope also comes with a car window mount.
-
Kowa Prominar
Lightweight and easy to carry, this scope delivers superior images with its coated optics and two-speed socusing mechanism. The Kowa Prominar is a higher end scope for experienced birders.