About BirdingPath

BirdingPath is a free birdwatching learning site for people in the US and Canada. Start with a bird you can see from home, then build identification and field skills through five Flight Path levels. You do not need new equipment or an account to begin.

BirdingPath is our attempt to fix that: a free, leveled curriculum from “what is that red bird?” to advanced field craft, surrounded by honest guides, useful tools, and gear advice that respects both your budget and your intelligence.

What we believe

• The path should be free. Paid courses are one option, but they are not a requirement. Every level of the Flight Path is free, forever.
• No gatekeeping. Every expert was a beginner who got help. The question “what's that bird?” is the whole point of this site, not an interruption to it.
• Honesty about what we are. We research deeply — published expert guidance, optical specs, and available owner feedback — and we publish our methods. We don't claim hands-on lab testing, and we'll tell you when the right purchase is nothing at all.

Who's behind this

BirdingPath is published by Hilly Shore Labs, an independent studio that builds carefully researched consumer guides. Some links to gear may earn us a commission from affiliate retailers at no cost to you — commissions never decide what we recommend, and plenty of our advice is “don't buy anything yet.”

Spotted an error? Know a creator we should feature? Email hello@birdingpath.com.