Birding 101: Tips for beginners
- Listen first then follow the sounds.
- Start your search in spring before the trees are in full bloom.
- Look at all levels from the ground to eye-level shrubs and high into trees
Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis
Best Location to View: Blueberry Pond, Buckeye Bud Bird Feeding Station, Buttonbush Bog, Thayer feeders
Color: Brown, Gray, Red
Range: Mexico, North America
Size: Small
Wingspan: Small
American Goldfinch
Carduelis Tristis
Best Location to View: Buckeye Bud Bird Feeding Station, Myrtal S. Holden Wildflower Garden
Color: Yellow
Range: Canada, Mexico, North America
Wingspan: Small
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Best Location to View: Bole Woods, Buckeye Bud Bird Feeding Station, Helen Layer Rhododendron Garden, Woodland Trail
Color: Blue
Range: Canada, North America
Size: Small
Wingspan: Medium
Here’s more to explore
July 25, 2023
Bird Banding at the Holden Arboretum
Biologists use many tools to study birds and their behavior – binoculars, cameras, automatic recorders – but one of the simplest tools is the leg band. Leg bands have been...
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March 19, 2025
Dabblers & Divers: Birding for Spring Waterfowl and Similar Species
With spring just ahead temperatures are rising, days are getting longer, and ice is melting. For the various species of waterbirds in northeast Ohio this means access to important resources...
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September 16, 2024
Best Practices of Backyard Bird Feeding
Backyard bird feeding is a popular and enjoyable activity for many nature enthusiasts. It offers a chance to observe and appreciate local wildlife up close. However, while bird feeding can...
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February 24, 2022
Eagles in Town
As many people know, Ohio’s bald eagle population has seen a dramatic increase over the past several decades. From a low of 4 breeding pairs in 1979 they had increased...
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January 20, 2022
Birds and Berries
By: Alyssa Zearley, Nursery Technician Berries are an important winter food source for animals. This is especially true for songbirds. While some birds like cedar waxwings eat fruit all year...
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December 30, 2021
Winter Birding at the Arboretum
The forests and gardens transition into a pristine, white canvas in winter- an ideal backdrop for spotting many types of birds that spend the winter season on the property. Here are...
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September 4, 2026
New Species of Diatom Discovered in Stebbins Gulch
Walking along a rocky creek at the bottom of a steep, shady canyon, ancient trees towering overhead, a surprising coolness on the breeze — a traveler might feel like they’re...
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January 6, 2026
Life in the Winter Forest
Take a stroll through the forest at the Holden Arboretum on a cold winter’s morning — the trails are open year-round — and the quiet stillness might trick you into...
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September 4, 2025
Moths on the Move
My job at Holden Forests & Gardens as the propagator is to produce and take care of baby plants. That often involves going out into the gardens and natural areas...
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