Are Crows Really That Smart?
Are crows really that smart? Yes. Crows make tools, remember human faces for years and plan ahead, rivaling great apes on several cognitive tests.
Independent backyard birding guide
See every bird that visits.
We compare binoculars, feeder cameras and feeders spec by spec, then tell you which one to buy and who should skip it.
Explore the guide
Everything for the birds outside your window
20 guides Binoculars 8x42 or 10x42, for glasses, under a budget: clear picks and plain explanations of the numbers. Explore 
25 guides Bird feeders Squirrel-proof, window, suet and smart camera feeders that last more than a season. Explore 
Bird food Sunflower, nyjer, suet and nectar. What each bird eats and what to skip. 18 guides 
Birds How to attract the species you want to see, with food, feeders, plants and nest boxes. 30 guides 
Learn Feeder placement, cleaning, squirrels, window strikes and the problems every backyard birder meets. 32 guides 
Bird facts How birds fly, sing, sleep, migrate and survive the winter, explained without the jargon. 64 guides 
Birdhouses Nest boxes that suit real species: hole sizes, placement, cleaning and timing. 20 guides 
Bird garden Native plants, water and shelter that turn a yard into a place birds want to stay. 7 guides 
Photography Cameras, settings and simple setups for sharper photos of the birds at your feeder. 3 guides
25 guides Bird feeders Squirrel-proof, window, suet and smart camera feeders that last more than a season. Explore Bird food Sunflower, nyjer, suet and nectar. What each bird eats and what to skip. 18 guides Birds How to attract the species you want to see, with food, feeders, plants and nest boxes. 30 guides Learn Feeder placement, cleaning, squirrels, window strikes and the problems every backyard birder meets. 32 guides Bird facts How birds fly, sing, sleep, migrate and survive the winter, explained without the jargon. 64 guides Birdhouses Nest boxes that suit real species: hole sizes, placement, cleaning and timing. 20 guides Bird garden Native plants, water and shelter that turn a yard into a place birds want to stay. 7 guides Photography Cameras, settings and simple setups for sharper photos of the birds at your feeder. 3 guides Start here
The guides readers open first
Clear verdicts on the purchases that matter most, each with a short list of picks and one honest reason to skip every one of them.
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The Best Binoculars for Birding in 2026 The Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 is the best all-round birding binocular for most people, pairing a very wide 435 ft field of view with ED glass at a mid-range price. - 02
The Best Bird Feeders for Your Backyard For most backyards, the best first bird feeder is a squirrel-resistant tube like the Squirrel Buster Plus filled with black-oil sunflower seed, then add suet, a tray and a nectar feeder to widen the species list. - 03
Best Bird Feeder Cameras The Birdbuddy Pro Solar is the best bird feeder camera for most people thanks to its 2K camera, IP67 rating and polished app, while Birdfy's feeders suit buyers who want bigger seed capacity and a lifetime-free AI option. - 04
Best Squirrel-Proof Bird Feeders The Brome Squirrel Buster Plus is the best squirrel-proof bird feeder for most yards: a weight-activated shroud, adjustable sensitivity, 5.1 lb capacity and tool-free cleaning.
Binoculars
Binoculars that fit your eyes, hands and budget.
The one purchase that changes backyard birding most. Start with the question closest to yours, or go straight to our top picks.
All binocular guides Best overall Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 435 ft at 1,000 yd17.1 mm Read the verdict → Best value Nikon Monarch M5 8x42 335 ft at 1,000 yd19.5 mm Read the verdict → Best budget Celestron Nature DX 8x42 388 ft at 1,000 yd17.5 mm Read the verdict → Best warranty Vortex Diamondback HD 8x42 393 ft at 1,000 yd5 ft Read the verdict →
Best Binoculars for Birding Under $200Best Binoculars for Birding Under $500Best Binoculars for Eyeglass Wearers, Ranked by Eye ReliefBest Compact Binoculars for BirdingBest Binoculars for Beginners: Easy First Birding Picks8x42 vs 10x42: Which Is Better for Birding?Best Lightweight Binoculars for Seniors
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How to Attract American Goldfinches to Your YardHow to attract American goldfinches: offer fresh nyjer and sunflower in a finch feeder, grow coneflowers and native thistles, add water and keep feeders clean. 
How to Attract American Robins to Your YardHow to attract American Robins: they rarely eat seed, so offer an open lawn, fruiting native shrubs, water, mealworms and a covered nest shelf instead. 
How to Attract Anna's Hummingbirds to Your YardHow to attract Anna's Hummingbirds: keep a clean 1:4 nectar feeder up all year, stop it freezing, and plant winter-blooming natives like currant and manzanita. 
How to Attract Baltimore Orioles to Your YardHow to attract Baltimore Orioles: set out oranges, grape jelly and sugar water before they arrive in spring, then add tall shade trees and fruiting natives. Latest guides
Backyard Birding: Turn Your Yard Into a Bird Magnet
Backyard birding made simple: offer food, water, cover and nest sites, plant natives, keep feeders clean and windows safe. Here is how to draw more species.
Barn Swallow Nest: Nest Cups, Ledges and Legal Rules
A barn swallow nest needs a sheltered ledge, wet mud nearby and all-day open access. Nest cups, droppings boards, return dates and the laws on removing nests.
Bat House Guide: Size, Placement and Best Houses
A bat house works when it is tall, multi-chambered, in 6+ hours of sun and 12 to 20 feet up on a pole or wall. Sizing chart, placement rules and 4 picks.
Best Bird Bath: 6 Pedestal, Deck, Ground and Heated Picks
The best bird bath for most yards is a shallow, textured, frost-proof pedestal like the JCs Wildlife Poly Lumber bath. 6 picks, a depth chart and a checklist.
Best Bird Field Guide for North American Birds
The best bird field guide for most birders is The Sibley Guide to Birds, Second Edition. See how Peterson, National Geographic, Kaufman and Crossley compare.