Gearing Up for Birdwatching Binoculars Bird Calls and Field Identification Apps

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Some of the most frequently asked questions about birding surround optics, or more specifically, what type of binoculars to use for birding. The truth of the matter is there are dozens upon dozens of makes and models on the market. Some of these are elemental, while others pack features such as image stabilization, variable zoom, range-finding capabilities, and even night vision. We rounded up the best binoculars for birding and some tips to help you find the right model for you.

How We Made Our Picks

Ive put various makes and models of binoculars through their paces over the years. I used them in every type of weather condition imaginable, whether hunting, birding, or watching wildlife. These experiences have helped me learn what features to look for in a good pair of binos. In this instance, I searched for a wide range of optics that run from entry-level and affordable to something more advanced and expensive. Here are some of the categories I focused on when determining the best binoculars for birding:

User-friendliness Rating

Some birders are capable of operating the latest/greatest and most sophisticated optics on the planet, but everyone isnt that techno-savvy (myself included). So I looked for binos that are easy and comfortable to handle with good glass.

Field of View

Field of view is particularly important to birders who, more often than not, are trying to locate and focus on an object in motion, i.e. a flying bird. Therefore, a wide field of viewor a bigger viewing area side-to-side at a distanceis extremely helpful. Field of view is usually noted as a number in feetwhat you can seemeasured at 1,000 yards. Typical fields of view range from 300 to 450 feet.

Size and Weight

I looked for compact glass, as well as full-sized binoculars, for a couple of reasons. Compacts are nice if youre hiking or carrying optics over a distance; however, because theyre light, stability (hand-shake) can be an issue. Full-size binoculars are bigger and heavier, and while less susceptible to shaking, they can prove cumbersome/awkward to pack any distance.

Durability

Chances are youre not going to be crawling around in the brush with your new birding binoculars, but you might, as you try to get a good gander at that rufous-sided towhee. We also considered glass that offers some degree of protection, e.g. OEM armor covering.

Best Binoculars for Birding: Reviews & Recommendations

Specs

• Frame: Polymer
• Weight: 16.6 ounces
• Objective Lens: 30mm

Pros

• Extra-low dispersion ED glass
• Fully-adjustable eyecups
• Waterproof/fog proof
• Fully multi-coated lenses
• Tripod adaptable
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

Ive never been a compact binocular guy. My hands are big and I drink too much coffee to minimize the shake commonly associated with smaller/lighter glass. But the Maven B.3s have changed the way I think about compact binoculars. Those who bird on their feet, i.e., hikers, will love the B.3s pound-and-a-half weight. Hang them on a good bino harness, and you wont know theyre there. The B.3 sports a 30mm objective lens and is available in 6X, 8X, or 10X, making them perfect for birders or hunters. Theyre not bargain ($550), but they do come with an unconditional lifetime warranty, and thats a big plus when it comes to outdoor gear.

Specs

• Frame: Aluminum
• Weight: 26.3 ounces
• Objective Lens: 42mm

Pros

• Impressive clarity
• Variety of models within the Predator Series
• Waterproof

Cons

If you havent heard of Steiner and you spend time outdoors, my suggestion is to get out from under that rock. The German outfit is synonymous with quality optics and has been since its inception at the hands of Karl Steiner in 1947. What youll notice as soon as you put the Predator binos to your eyes is the world instantly becomes 10 times bigger, brighter, clearer, and closer. Yes, theyre that good. But quality isnt inexpensive, and Steiners no exception; however, the Predator Series is a good mid-price option and includes a lengthy menu of magnifications, objective lenses, and focusing features.

Specs

• Frame: Aluminum
• Weight: 20.8 ounces
• Objective Lens: 26mm

Pros

• Fully multi-coated
• Waterproof
• Affordable quality
• Lifetime warranty
• Durable
• Lightweight

Cons

Ive owned and operated Alpen Optics for more than two decades nowcompact binoculars, full-size binoculars, spotting scopes, riflescopesand I really cant think of anything negative to say about the glass or the companys reputation. They make quality optics without the four-digit price tag. Birders will enjoy Alpens Wings Series of compact binos for several reasons. The glass is housed in a durable nicely-colored rough n tumble body. Three compact models are available, including 8x26mm, 8x34mm, and for those who wish to view the world at 10x, a 10x26mm. Theyre light, with the 8x26mm model tipping the scales at just a smidge over 20 ounces. Even better, they only cost $90.

Specs

• Frame: Poly
• Weight: 1.55 lbs
• Objective Lens: 42mm

Pros

• Eyeglass-friendly design/eyecups
• Tripod adaptable
• Accessory packeverything the beginner needs
• Waterproof polycarbonate body
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Eyecups are a little flimsy

The Nature DX was the first Celestron model I ever tried, and I was very impressed. Now, experienced/hardcore birders may want something a little more in terms of visual quality, but for the novice or intermediate avian enthusiast, Celestron offers good glass at what Id consider a very reasonable price ($150).The Nature DX has everything youd want out of a binodecent glass, multi-coated lenses, waterproof/fog proof construction, and a lifetime warranty. The armor coating improves durability, and the accessory pack includes additions like lens caps, an eyepiece rain-guard, a neck strap, a lens cleaning cloth, and a full instruction manual.

Specs

• Frame: Blend
• Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Objective Lens: 21mm

Pros

• Affordable
• Durable
• User-friendly focusing wheel
• Great learning tool

Cons

These are kids binoculars meant for kids. Everything about them screams kid. From the choice of colors to the diminutive size and weight and the fact they have TASCO KIDS emblazoned on the top of the frame.But Tasco, a well-respected name in the optics arena, has smacked a home run with this one. Why? Well, theyre just cool on any number of levels. Theyre eye-catching, work as intended, and are easy to operate, which means your little guy/gal isnt going to get frustrated and throw them down. Even if they do, the armor is going to help. Plus, theyre on sale right now for $13.

What to Consider When Buying a Binocular

There are really only three things you need to consider when buying a binocularprice, magnification, and field of view. However, I tossed in a couple more variables that I look for, whether Im buying the glass for birding, hunting, or toting in my fishing pack.

Price

If you cant afford it, whatever it is, it does you no good. Binoculars will range from $150 to $1,000 or more. But you will find plenty of good options in the $200 to $400 category.

Magnification

Its important to remember that the higher the magnification, the smaller/narrower the field of view, and the more likely youre going to experience some degree of hand-shake. For birding, eight-power (8X) magnification is ideal; maybe 10 (10X), but nothing higher. Need more options? Six- and seven-power optics are also available and certainly worth putting on the list.

Field of View

As mentioned earlier, the field of view is significant to users, e.g. birders, who are trying to locate, focus on, and isolate a moving target. Three hundred to 450 feet at 1,000 yards is right there in the proverbial ballpark in terms of field of view, and, fortunately, most manufacturers of good optics will list a particular models field of view in the spec sheet.

Weight

The weight of your binos isnt as big of a concern when youre in a ground blind or car. But put them around your neck, and walk a couple of miles down a levee for a good glimpse at a courting pair of cinnamon teal, and youll want something lightweight. So, are you packing the glass around, or are you going to be sitting still?

FAQs

Q: What power binoculars do I need for birding?

Six-power (6X) to 10-power, or 10X, will serve any birder well. But remember, the higher the magnification, the narrower the field of view at 1,000 yards.

Q: Are compact binoculars better than full-size ones?

It depends on how youre going to use them. Are you carrying them around your neck all day or packing them intermittently or not at all? Too, compacts, being smaller, are more prone to shake/vibration. Full-size optics are heavier, and that additional weight helps with steadiness.

Q: Whats the best binocular for kids?

For kids, you want something that meets these criteria: Simple focus adjustment, e.g. auto-focus or toggle focus; good durability; smaller frame, 6X to 8X magnification, with an objective lens of 30mm, and a strong neck strap.

Q: How much should a quality birding binocular cost?

The key word here is quality. The Internet is full of $9 binoculars, but thats precisely what youre gettinga $9 binocular. There are lots of options, but a good price range for quality glass is $150 to $400.

Q: Is image stabilization necessary when it comes to choosing a binocular?

Necessary, no, but it is a wonderful option, particularly for those of us who find ourselves overly caffeinated in the morning. The image stabilization (IS) feature does precisely as the name impliesit helps hold the image or view, not the optics themselves, steady, allowing a clearer or less shaky look at the world. Image stabilization comes at a price, with a low end of around $500 up to $10,000 for the top of the line.

Best Binoculars for Birding: Final Thoughts

Binoculars are like any other piece of outdoor gear you might purchase. Unless you want to repeat your transaction in the not-too-distant future, its advisable to buy the very best your pocketbook will allow. Look for a recognized and reputable manufacturer whose products youve done your homework. Decide, first, how you plan to spend your birding time, i.e. hiking, driving, or sitting, as this will help determine the physical size/weight of the optics, and then pull the proverbial plug.

Why Trust Us

For more than 125 years, Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear. Our writers and editors eat, sleep, and breathe the outdoors, and that passion comes through in our product reviews. You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear. And when we write about a productwhether its a bass lure or a backpackwe cover the good and the bad, so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase.

Technology has been a part of birding for as long as people have been observing birds, with each new leap revolutionizing the hobby several times over.Opera glasses and notepads, for example, replaced shotgunsthe favored technology of early ornithologistson the first Christmas Bird Counts in the early 1900s. And by the middle of the 20th century, birders were equipped with the first field guides and better, lighter, more affordable binoculars. Fast forward to the early aughts, and birders were heading out with 50 megapixel image-stabilized super-telephoto zoom cameras and precision-honed, multi-coated, ultra-light-weight binoculars. Since then, the glass has only gotten better, and nowadays, though paper field guides still have their place, a slew of smartphone apps have become key tools for most birders.

Below we've included a rundown of the top birding apps, including each application's price, key features, and the platforms they are available on. Take a look, and consider downloading a few if you're new to birding to understand the differences. As with paper field guides, many birders often use multiple apps for various purposes. Luckily, they aren't nearly as heavy to carry around.

Finding, Identifying, and Listing Birds

These apps are the most direct competitors with the classic paper field guides but also include features like photo ID, sound ID, nearby bird alerts, and more.

Price: FreePlatforms: iOS, AndroidSummary: Covers 810 species using photos instead of drawings, includes range maps that also cover Central and South America, has a good selection of audio recordings including alternate calls and regional variations, and slightly more descriptive text including habitat, range, and nesting information. Similar species and browse by family or shape tools are useful for identifying unknown birds, and includes a find birds with eBird function to find nearby reports of specific species.

Price: $19.99Platforms: iOS and AndroidSummary: Covers more than 930 species and features all of the drawings, range maps, and explanatory text found in the Sibley Guide to Birds. It includes more than 2,800 recordings of songs and calls, a compare species function, and a smart search tool that allows you to filter species by color, shape, your current location, behavior, or time of year. You can also build your own searchable, shareable species lists. This app replaces Sibleys previous eGuide (no longer updating) and requires a new purchase.

Price: FreePlatforms: iOS and AndroidSummary: Widely used app that allows you to submit to a community science program that collects bird observations from around the world and shares them with birders and conservationists. You can select your location using GPS, automatically download checklists for your area, and submit checklists directly from the field.

Price: FreePlatforms: iOS and AndroidSummary: Amazing app for beginning and intermediate birders that asks you five questions to help identify more than 10,000 birds around the world: Where were you? When did you see it? About how big was it (relative to other birds)? What were the main colors? And what was it doing? Provides photos and descriptions of matching bird species based on this information. The Photo ID feature will also suggest possible species from a photo taken on your smartphone and is surprisingly accurate. In 2021 Merlin launched, arguably, its most exciting feature: Sound ID. Turn it on (it works offline!) when you hear an unknown bird call, and the app suggests real-time species identification, powered by artificial intelligence. While its not infallible, and birders should avoid solely relying on the feature for IDs, Sound ID is a great learning tool and a delight to use.

Price: Free download; subscriptions for North American users are $2.50 a month or $29.99 each year (limited features with free version)Platforms: iOS and AndroidSummary: A great tool for finding new and interesting birds at home or in a new location based on real-time community science data. You can immediately start viewing reports of nearby birds, but the real power comes after you sign into your eBird account and can view nearby birds that are missing from your life or year lists for a specific location. Filters allow you to adjust for the timeframe and distance of reports shown, and the app includes an abbreviated species guide with links to Flickr and Wikipedia pages for more photos and information.

Song Learning

These apps are designed specifically to help you learn bird songs and calls and can be helpful for even the most tone-deaf of birders.

Price: $3.99Platforms: iOSSummary: Features over 300 high-quality recordings of songs and calls of North American birds. There are several ways to experience them, including listen and slideshow modes and an interactive quiz. You can select specific species to practice identifying or select from more than a dozen different regions to focus on the most common species you are most likely to hear near you.

Price: Free download, $9.99-44.99 in-app purchasesPlatforms: iOS and onlineSummary: Purchase songpacks, covering songs and calls from up to 344 North American land birds and 135 water birds, and explore them in a game-like quiz. Offers the ability to sort by Eastern and Western birds, as well as song types, including clear, rough, complex, and simple.

Specialized Field Guides

These apps focus on helping birders distinguish hard-to-identify birds in the field.

Price: $12.99Platforms: iOS and AndroidSummary: Far more than a digital translation of Princeton University Presss printed field guide, this app earns its keep during warbler migration season with features like rotatable 3-D models, recorded calls, and smart comparison tools, covering 48 species (and 75 plumages!).

Price: FreePlatforms: iOS and AndroidSummary: Especially designed to help identify birds of prey in flight, this guide includes annotated photographs, video, and detailed fact sheets for 34 diurnal raptors. If youre still stumped, the Ask an Expert feature lets you submit a photo or video and receive guidance from a seasoned authority.