May 29, 2026 · 21 min · 10 segments
Birding by ear is a skill that vision and non-vision-impaired folks can learn to help them identify birds.
Michael DiazGuest
Holly WalzGuest
Xcaret NuñezHost
I think it's a really fun word to say, but why do we call it birding and not bird watching? I could start with Holly and then Michael.
It's also a noun, but when you get outside and you're looking for birds to either hear them or see them, it's an action, and it's called birding.
You could just watch them, but what fun is that when you can hear their beautiful songs and define which birds you're actually listening to by what they sing?
And my definition of it is, you know, for bird watching, yeah, that's for sighted.
And birding is just, like, an all-inclusive term, and half of the time you can't even see the birds because they're either hiding or covered by foliage, so you end up identifying them by ear anyway.
And I also feel like to say birding is not only inclusive of all abilities, but all of interest levels too.
Like, you know, if you enjoy seeing or hearing a bird outside your window but you have no idea what it is, I would say you're still birding or you're still a birder, right?
I think it's a really fun word to say, but why do we call it birding and not bird watching? I could start with Holly and then Michael.
It's also a noun, but when you get outside and you're looking for birds to either hear them or see them, it's an action, and it's called birding.
You could just watch them, but what fun is that when you can hear their beautiful songs and define which birds you're actually listening to by what they sing?
And my definition of it is, you know, for bird watching, yeah, that's for sighted.
And birding is just, like, an all-inclusive term, and half of the time you can't even see the birds because they're either hiding or covered by foliage, so you end up identifying them by ear anyway.
And I also feel like to say birding is not only inclusive of all abilities, but all of interest levels too.
Like, you know, if you enjoy seeing or hearing a bird outside your window but you have no idea what it is, I would say you're still birding or you're still a birder, right?
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