Birdwatch Magazine

The crossbill conundrum
The genus Loxia poses a classification nightmare throughout the Holarctic. After 40 years studying these finches, Craig W Benkman summarises the latest findings.

Desert wanderer
A vagrant Desert Wheatear can provide a glimpse of the exotic on a gloomy day. Simon Papps profiles this rare visitor.

Field ID notes: scaup
The identification of two similar species, Greater and Lesser Scaup, is complicated, as Dan Owen discusses.

Inside and outside the box
David Callahan investigates the history of hides and uncovers some of the more unusual examples from around the world.

When lesser became more
Sarah Nordlinder discusses the origins of last winter’s Lesser White-fronted Geese in Britain.

Man, Oman!
Oman offers easy birding with endless highlights, as Jake Gearty discovered.

Hunted for its ivory
Paul Jepson wonders how innovation could save Helmeted Hornbill