Missouri Department of Conservation MDC Teacher Portal

Birdwatching

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A woman holds a pair of binoculars out in a field. She is with a boy, watching birds.

Birding is popular because it’s easy to get started, and it offers increasingly greater rewards the more you learn. It’s also an inexpensive hobby—a field guide and pair of binoculars are all you need.

Browse tips and tools to get started identifying Missouri's birds around your home or out in the field.

View all great places for Bird Watching

In This Section

Why Should We Care About Birds?

Birds play important roles in the ecosystem and our daily lives.

Birding Tools

To enjoy Missouri birding, all you need are binoculars and a good bird-ID field guide.

Great Missouri Birding Trail

Find the best of the best birding locations in Missouri.

Bird Habitats

Missouri birds use five general habitats: grasslands, towns and backyards, shrubby areas, forests, and wetlands.

Identifying Birds

You often don't have much time to observe individual birds. Learn to note key features that will help you identify species later.

Bird Behavior

Learning to recognize birds' many behaviors can help you identify and conserve them.

Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Birds on Your Property

Ten simple things you can do to make your property a great hangout for birds.

eBird

eBird lets you keep a permanent record of all your bird sightings and provide information for scientists.

Tracking Birds with Motus

MDC is now part of a new wildlife tracking program called Motus.

Birding by Canoe

A quiet stream is like an aviary for wild birds.

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