Habitats

Every bird is tied to a kind of place. Learning habitats helps you decide where to go, what to expect and how to look. A woodland edge, a cattail marsh and a shoreline each reward a different approach, and the same species can behave differently in each. This hub covers seven habitats that matter to birders in the United States: forests, wetlands, grasslands, coastlines, urban areas, backyards and deserts and scrub. Each page explains what the habitat is, how birds use it, what changes through the seasons and how to watch without disturbing nesting or resting birds. The pages also note how the same habitat looks different across regions, from eastern hardwoods to western conifers. Bird presence and timing vary by location, weather and migration, so treat these pages as starting points and check local reports. When you are ready to plan a trip, the regional guides and the bird finder can help you match places and birds.