Bird ID Basics Online Course: Session 1 of 4
Monday, April 06, 2026
06:30 PM - 08:00 PM
FREE & OPEN TO ALL! Registration Required.
Join local bird nerd Topher Stephens for an engaging and insightful four week online course on bird identification. Over the course of this series you’ll learn how to use the Four Keys to Bird Identification to confidently identify any bird you encounter in Southern Appalachia. These keys will help you understand which features to focus on each time you see a new bird and help you become much more confident and accurate in visual bird identification. Using this simple and systematic approach, you’ll not only take your birding skills to the next level, but you'll also develop a deeper understanding of the unique and fascinating life histories of the birds all around us.
Classes will take place once per week online. Please register to receive the meeting link and links to the Course Participant Page via email. Live Sessions will be recorded and available for those who can't attend live. To get the most out of the course, participants are recommended to complete the entire four-week series in sequential order but drop-ins are also welcome. No experience is necessary! While birders of any level may enjoy this class, beginner to intermediate birders will find it most useful.
Session 1 (April 6): Location & Habitat. We’ll start by narrow down our list of possible birds based on their preferred environments, migratory patterns, elevation preferences, and birds' specific locations on the landscape.
Session 2 (April 13): Behaviors. Our second session will focus on unique behaviors and movements such as flight patterns and foraging habits which can help give us clues about a bird’s identity.
Session 3 (April 20): Impression. In this session we'll learn to get an overall impression of the bird’s shape, size, and posture and discover similarities between different families of birds.
Session 4 (April 27) Markings. In our final online session we’ll discuss the distinctive colors, patterns, and plumage details that help us distinguish between similar species and different sexes and ages of birds.
