About BackyardBirdAtlas
Friendly, clear guides for people who want to know the birds outside their window.
What we do
BackyardBirdAtlas is an independent educational publication for beginners and everyday backyard observers in the United States. We publish plain-language guides on identifying common birds, feeders and bird food, birdbaths and water, bird-friendly yards and the changes each season brings.
We also offer a free Backyard Bird ID Helper that filters a short educational list from what you observed. It is a learning aid, not an identification authority.
Who writes our guides
Guides are written and reviewed by the BackyardBirdAtlas editorial team. We are not a university, museum, conservation agency or wildlife rehabilitation center, and we do not claim professional ornithology credentials. Instead, we work from publicly available resources from established organizations and explain them clearly for beginners. Our process is described in our editorial policy.
What we care about
- Bird welfare first: clean feeders and baths, safer windows, cats kept indoors, and no disturbance of nests.
- Honesty about uncertainty: identification needs several features, and "not sure yet" is a good answer.
- Getting expert help: injured or sick birds belong with licensed wildlife rehabilitators, not home treatment.
- Realistic expectations: feeders and plants support birds already in your area; nothing can guarantee rare visitors.
How we are funded
We do not sell products, use affiliate links or accept paid placements in our guides. If we ever display advertising, ads will be clearly separated from editorial content and will not influence what we write.
Contact
Questions, corrections and ideas are welcome on our contact page or by email at [email protected].