Join biologist and avid birder Matt Tarr for a popular online and field-based course designed to build your skills in identifying New Hampshire birds by sight, song, call, habitat, and behavior. Through a combination of self-paced online lessons and optional guided field trips across the state, participants will learn to identify approximately 50 common bird species, better predict which birds occur in different habitats, and explore practical ways to support birds on their own land.

Online lessons are emailed weekly March 7 – May 29. Each week’s lesson introduces 2 to 4 new bird species and includes review quizzes to help you learn each species. You complete the online lessons on your own schedule (there is no meeting time for online lessons) and you have access to course materials until December 31, 2026.

Optional birding field trips will occur April 4 – June 27 at popular birding hotspots and at less-known birding locations throughout New Hampshire, including the Monadnock Region. Harris Center bird conservation director Phil Brown and staff ecologist Nate Marchessault are among the course’s trip leaders. Birding trips occur during most days of the week and at various times to accommodate most schedules.

This course is well-suited for beginners, as well as more experienced birders looking to sharpen their identification skills — and anyone interested in bird ecology and habitat conservation.

Registration opens at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, February 3, and typically fills within 24 hours. Anyone interested in registering is encouraged to email Matt Tarr now at to be added to the course contact list, which will receive the registration link on February 1.

Free of charge. For more details, see the full course overview & schedule or contact Matt Tarr by email.

This course is offered by UNH Cooperative Extension, and co-sponsored by New Hampshire Fish & Game, the New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands, Center for Wildlife, Monadnock Bird & Nature Club, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, NH Audubon, National Audubon Society, Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Timberland Owner’s Association, NH State Parks, and the Harris Center for Conservation Education.