From the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Learning bird songs is a great way to identify birds hidden by dense foliage, faraway birds, birds at night, and birds that look identical to each other. In fact, when biologists count birds in the field, they find the great majority of species by sound rather than sight.
Learning calls and songs helps in two ways: First, you can do a quick survey of what’s around before you even step foot on a trail. And second, when you hear something you don’t recognize, you know where to put your attention.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers five tips for beginners and provides examples of the different rhythms, pitches, repetitions, and tones you may hear in Outdoor Oklahoma.