The Flight Path quiz
What level birder am I?
Eight questions, two minutes, no wrong answers. You'll get your level on the Flight Path and exactly what to work on next.
What the five levels mean
Level 0: The Curious
No gear, no jargon, no commitment. Level 0 is about learning the ten birds you already see, letting a free app do the heavy lifting, and finding out whether this hobby is quietly wonderful (it is). Everything at this level is free.
Level 1: The Backyard Host
Level 1 is about bringing birds to you: one good feeder, the right seed, water, and a fair fight against the squirrels. A well-run yard in the US or Canada can draw 25+ species over a year — no binoculars required, though a first pair starts to make sense here.
Level 2: The Fledgling
Level 2 takes your birding beyond the yard: binocular practice, a local patch you visit on repeat, and eBird as your notebook. A life list of 100 is an optional goal, not a requirement or a one-season promise. Repeated observations matter more than the total.
Level 3: The Field Birder
Level 3 develops birding by ear, reading migration forecasts, and comparing tricky groups such as sparrows, warblers and shorebirds. Decide whether a spotting scope serves your local birding. A growing list is optional; stronger observations are the aim.
Level 4: The Advanced Birder
Level 4 gives you room to specialize: sound recording, bird photography, local listing, detailed identification, nest-box monitoring, count compiling or mentoring. Pick the work you enjoy. Expertise does not require a particular life-list total or expensive equipment.