These birds weren’t using human speech, of course. Instead, it was I who was using human phrases and words, or mnemonics, to identify the creatures by their songs.

“In Ecuador, I learned to be constantly observant and constantly amazed by my surroundings,” she said. “I would see a bird and immediately pull out my binoculars to try and identify it.

Bird sound identifier Looking at and listening to birds is very enjoyable and for some, that’s enough. Others may want to take it up a notch and learn how to identify them.

Bird sound identifier Looking at and listening to birds is very enjoyable and for some, that’s enough. Others may want to take it up a notch and learn how to identify them.