At BirdOculars, we know you need the best and most up to date birding binocular info. Even though we try hard to provide this, sometimes we have to go outside our site to get it. One of the best of these resources is the Amazon Marketplace. Whether your looking for birding binoculars from Pentax, Nikon or Bushnell, you’ll find great prices and millions of customers eager to review products they’ve purchased. This is truly a win-win for you.

How We Rated Them

No complex mathematical formulas here, sorry. What we’ve done is to look at the top rated birding binoculars in the Amazon marketplace that are priced below $200.00 and have more than 3 stars with at least ten reviews. Then, we’ve consulted our own experience with various birding binoculars to come up with a list of top rated birding binoculars.

What we were looking for is birding binoculars with a combination of value and reputation. We hope you enjoy reading our picks and would like to know what you think.

Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15×70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter

If you’re looking for a low-priced pair of giant binoculars, the Celestron SkyMaster Giant fits the bill. They’ve got multicoated optics and BaK-4 internal prisms which are two key features you should look for when considering a pair of giant binoculars as they promise brighter and better images. Furthermore, this pair comes with an adapter for attaching them to a tripod and a soft carrying case to keep them protected. Our verdict? They’re a great value pair of giant binoculars but if you’re planning on using them for long periods of time you’ll need to get a tripod as they’re just too heavy to hold for a long while.

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Bushnell Powerview 8×21 Compact Folding Roof Prism Binocular

This pair of Bushnell PowerView binoculars marries contemporary styling with the quality and durability we’ve come to expect from Bushnell. The optics are fully coated so you’re guaranteed superior light transmission and brightness. They also have an easy-to-use center focusing system. Our verdict? Incredibly low-priced binoculars that are great for taking anywhere and everywhere as they won’t load you down, however the neck string they come with is thin and could be better quality.

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Bushnell Falcon 10×50 Wide Angle Binoculars

Another great price pair of binoculars from Bushnell, and it’s clear to see why the Falcon model continues to be so popular. With its rubberized abrasion-resistant finish they’re super-comfy to hold, while the InstaFocus lever ensures smooth feedback and the right tension to get magnification to just the level you want it. Our verdict? We love the cool fold-down eyecups which make scratching the lenses virtually impossible, but for those with poor eyesight these might not be the binoculars for you as they could do with a broader range of diopters.

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Bushnell PowerView 10×50 Wide Angle Binoculars

With an incredibly easy setup, it’s no surprise these Bushnell PowerView binoculars are popular with bird watchers as they are simply great for tracking and focusing on moving objects. And because they’ve got the non-slip coating they’re easy to hold, too. Our verdict? Great for bird enthusiasts as all it takes is a quick toggle of the finger on the center focus knob and you’ve got your bird in sight. We’re not so keen on the fact there’s no way of attaching them to a tripod however.

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Bushnell H20 10×42 Porro Prism Waterproof/Fogproof Binocular

If you spend lots of time bird watching by lakes and rivers, or even while out on the water, the Bushnell H20 Porro Prism binoculars are a great choice. With a 10x magnification they’re powerful, but weighing in at just 27 ounces means they’re nice and light, too, plus you can attach them to a tripod if need’s be. Our verdict? At first use, the focusing mechanism is a little stiff but this should ease up with use, however we can’t fault the BaK-4 prism glass which maximizes light transmission and helps give super-clear images.

[Check Prices - Read Reviews]

At BirdOculars, we realize we aren’t the holy grail of reviewers. So, check out these other resources to find more top rated birding binoculars and more.

• Binocular Reviews has reviews on nearly every make and model of birding binoculars and even breaks them down by star ratings.
• All Best Binoculars gives detailed reviews of the top binoculars and allows you to browse them by brand or type.
• The Binoculars Advisor from the Birdwatching.com site shows you where to start in your quest for new binoculars and answers questions you may have along the way.

Just keep in mind if you click those links you will be leaving the BirdOculars site and we cannot be held responsible for the opinions or ratings of those sites.

Tell Us About Your Favorite Birding Binoculars

Is there is a pair of birding binoculars that are your favorite that’s not on the list? Do you have any experience with those on the list? If so, please leave us a comment below. We’d love to hear what you think of our list of top rated birding binoculars.

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Olivia Lennox is a bird watcher and word botcher from London, England. She blogs on a diverse range of topics from last minute ski breaks to cookery, but her free time is spent watching the sandpiper and the smew in the cold winter sky.

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Top Rated Birding Binoculars

If you ask a person who’s been feeding birds for a while about getting them to hand feed, you’ll either get a bewildered look or one of “you poor person.” That’s because if they’ve read anything about hand feeding birds they’ve been told how long it will take and how patient you have to be. I’ve been experimenting with hand feeding for a few years now and I’m going to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way. Yes, it’s true that some birds and species will never hand feed. However, I believe you can have success at hand feeding birds without spending hours sitting out in the cold.

My Hand Feeding Method

Before I get to the list, let me start out by saying that this method works best for titmice. I’ve read from Hugh Wiberg’s Hand Feeding Book that chickadees are also very receptive but I have not had much success with them and this method. If you don’t have any titmice in your backyard, you’ll need to adjust it to suit the other birds you’re trying to hand feed.

1. Get hulled peanuts or peanut pieces. It’s best to present something they don’t get all the time BUT that they do recognize and love. Be flexible and try other food if peanuts don’t work.
2. Pay attention to your feeders and when they are the busiest. Most guides will tell you first thing in the morning but it doesn’t have to be then. I go out briefly at lunch time.
3. Take down ALL feeders and place them near to you. Otherwise, the crafty titmice will find them on the ground and feed from them.
4. Get a lawn chair and start out sitting at least 10 feet from a main feeder station.
5. Sit very still. Repeat, very still.
6. Stare forward and do not follow any birds that land on your feeder pole to stare you down. Most will fly back into the trees but not all will.
7. Just because you can’t hear anything do not assume nobody’s watching. Repeat…sit still.
8. If after 15 minutes or so you have nobody landing on the feeder pole or the ground, move back another few feet and repeat sitting still.
9. By this time you will have had some birds landing on the ground and taking dropped seeds at least. If not, give it another 15 minutes and then leave.
10. Tomorrow, start by sitting or standing 15 feet away. There should be increased traffic near the feeder station.
11. Each day you should try to move a little closer until activity slows down again. When this happens, move back a step and repeat step 5.
12. Try to repeat this process at the same time each day. You will become a part of their routine and you will see more curious birds landing near you. Eventually, one of them WILL land on your hand.
13. Try not to jerk or react when they do land which can be hard the first few times. Especially, if they blindside you and land on your hand from behind you.
14. Finally, accept that not all birds will feed from your hand. MOST probably won’t. However, the few that do will make it all worthwhile.

Final Thoughts

I hope you find this shortcut guide to hand feeding your backyard birds helpful. With winter upon us in North America, chances for getting birds to hand feed go up dramatically. Also, please let me know what you think of my method after you’ve tried it. Just because it’s worked for me doesn’t mean it will work the exact same for everyone. I’d really like to hear any changes you made that worked. Please leave me a comment below and tell me about them.

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Hand Feeding Birds Faster

For now, go check out “Leaving The Nest” and leave a comment, like it, tweet it, stumble it and share it with your friends.

Leave me a comment below and I’ll answer anything you need to know about it.

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Leaving The Nest YouTube Video Posted

In no particular order:

Vanguard Endeavor ED 8545

This Vanguard Endeavor ED 8545 were a pair of binoculars that really took me by surprise. I knew Vanguard was known for their photographic accessories and had achieved distinction with it. When they got into optics I thought it would be a learn as they went thing. I was wrong! The pair that I demoed for them and what I’m hearing from other users has been unbelievably positive. Given the fact that they’re priced below the competition, you really need to take a look at these before you make your next binocular purchase.

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BirdJam

BirdJam is a bird identification application that I have been using for years. It is super-fast at locating bird calls and songs and for the Stokes bird images it uses for that quick ID. Since it works with my iPhone, it doesn’t require me to carry anything extra on my birding trips. I can use it with earphones so as not to disturb the local birding landscape which I love. I know there are quite a few of these programs out there but I can tell you firsthand that the product is updated regularly and their customer service is second to none. You can’t go wrong with this tool in your birding pack!

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Lowepro Field Station

Now, I’m not a big pack carrying kind of guy. I also don’t have thousands of dollars of photo equipment to haul around. If I did, I probably would have heard the Lowepro name much sooner. They’ve been serving professional photographers for some time and their reputation proceeds them. Recently, I got a chance to demo the Lowepro Field Station pack and I was really impressed. There was a place for everything I needed, it was durable and not a chore to wear for hours. Lowepro defiinitely did NOT farm this design out overseas because it shows the same attention to detail their pro gear has. For less than 100 bucks you can have a pack you’ll be proud to wear for many years to come.

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The Crossley Id Guide

This book was long awaited by many birders because of the revolutionary approach it took to identifying and clasifying birds. For me, The Crossley ID Guide was like nothing I’d ever seen before. The quality of the graphics and the logical system for finding birds you’ve noted in the field just blew me away. True, this is NOT a book for the field because of its size and weight. Unless you’re training for birding Mt. Everest and need some serious ballast-LOL! Still, once you make yourself back to the hotel or lodge, this book will help you to identify your findings from that day very quickly. Yes, there is a bit of a learning curve but once you’ve got that down, you’ll love this book.

Read Review

I told you it would be quick. I hope I’ve helped give you some ideas for that birder on your. Even if that birder is you. Please let me know what you think of my list below as a comment.

Additional Resources

Vanguard Products

Lowepro Products

BirdJam Maker

Crossley Books

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BirdOculars Christmas Buying Guide

Then, I remembered what the Hand Feeding Backyard Birds guide said about offering something they really like and don’t get all the time. Yesterday, I bought some hulled peanuts at Petsmart while getting food for Maggie. This turned out to be THE difference.

Let The Hand Feeding Begin

Yesterday afternoon, I did the same thing I had been doing for over a week. Before filling the feeders I would take them down and put them at my feet. But yesterday I stood there stock-still with peanuts. It wasn’t a couple of minutes before I heard the familiar squeaky call of the titmice as they examined the situation. The difference this time is that this brave little guy or girl landed on the feeder arm, looked at me, fussed at me and then made a quick, darting landing attempt on my outstretched hand. I know we both scared each other and he flew back into the tree. I stayed still and waited. A couple minutes later they were back and determined to try again. This time, they grabbed one of my fingers to steady themselves, made a quick grab and were gone. This was very encouraging to me but I wanted to try one more time. I wanted to see if they would land and stay for a few seconds before flying off.

As if hearing my thoughts, a few minutes later I got my wish. I’m not sure but I think it was probably the same one because that’s usually how this starts. One brave soul does it and then others can’t stand to be left out. At any rate, they landed on the feeder arm, called at me and within a couple seconds they lighted on my hand, looked for the perfect peanut, discarded one of them and got what they came for and left. I was thrilled and can’t wait to see where it goes from here.

Look for me to record and release a YouTube video soon of these guys hand feeding from me.

Hand Feeding Success Tips

Here’s a short list of the basic elements you’ll need to have success hand feeding.

• Chickadees or Titmice-I’m not saying you won’t get others to hand feed but these two are going to give you the quickest success.
• Food That’s A Treat-Feeding something they don’t get everyday that they love will get you there quicker. Most field guides will help here as well as forums. Otherwise, they wonder why take a risk for the same food.
• Routine-Doing something everyday that they can become accustomed to will increase your chances of success
• Patience-With a capital “P.” You’ve got to be willing to stand still for a long time. Sometimes it will happen sooner and sometimes much later. You’ve also got to be willing to keep your eyes open and change your plan if they are spooked.

Have you had success this year hand feeding your backyard birds? Let us know what you did and how it worked for you.

Footnote: The Power of Routine

I’ve noticed over my nearly nine years of feeding that birds can be trained when to eat. I used to put a sunflower chip chickadee feeder out only in the evening because the squirrels would get it if it were out all day. To this day, the chickadees and titmice will check in the evening to see if it’s there. Yes, they will feed from it a few times during the day if it is left out but they really look for it in the late afternoon/early evening. They can also get used to a routine such as my feeding schedule and this is exactly what has happened here. The feeder activity picks up when I feed them. That’s just common sense. However, what I’ve noticed is it will pick up at about the same time even BEFORE I refill the feeders if there’s still something left in them. This tells me they’re learning a schedule.

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First Titmouse Hand Feeder Of The Season