Why early morning?
Songbirds are most active and vocal in the first few hours after sunrise, when they sing to hold territory and feed after a cold night. The dawn chorus starts around first light, before the sun is up.
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When to go birding
Use your location (or type it in) and pick a date. You'll get first light, sunrise, the peak hours for songbirds and the window for owls at dusk.
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- Runs in your browser
- Shows the working
Times are calculated from your coordinates and shown in your device's time zone. Weather, tide and season change bird activity: check eBird for what's being seen nearby.
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Good to know
Other birds, other times
Hawks and eagles soar once the sun warms the ground and thermals form, usually from mid-morning. Shorebirds follow tides more than the clock. Owls call at dusk and at night.
Birding ethically
Keep your distance, especially from nests and roosting owls, and don't share exact locations of sensitive species. Use playback sparingly or not at all, and never where it's banned.