Professional Birder Christian Cooper joins WIRED to answer your questions about birding and birdwatching. How does a birder actually find the birds they’re looking for? How do I attract more birds to my garden? Is it okay to put a baby bird back in its nest? How can I start identifying bird calls I hear in nature? What gear does Christian Cooper use while birding? Answers to these questions and plenty more await on Birding Support.
0:00 Quoth the raven…
0:30 Bird accents
1:34 Finding birds
2:52 Birding demonstration
4:20 Mating dances
5:25 Male coloring vs. Female
6:38 Sense of direction
7:06 Solo birding or group birding
8:01 Nothing but respect for pigeons
8:54 Rise and shine
9:33 Identifying bird calls
10:56 Christian Cooper’s birding gear essentials
12:24 Hummingbird brawls
13:06 How do I attract more birds to my garden?
14:03 Is it okay to put a baby bird back in its nest?
14:39 I hear you but I can’t see you
15:17 Bird feeders
17:06 Unique bird abilities
18:44 Who’s that corvid?
20:09 Spotting scope or binoculars?
20:50 Identifying nests and eggs
22:02 Faking bird calls to attract birds
22:57 Birding journals
24:44 Birds and big cities
26:16 IDing birds in flight
27:09 Birdhouse in your soul
28:20 Respect in birding
29:20 Best birding app
29:48 Best time of day for bird watching
30:42 Finding local birdwatching communities
31:03 The sighting that took the most effort for Christian Cooper
31:37 Bird law
32:34 Bucket list birding locations
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@ElleAlexandria
March 31, 2026 at 7:24 pm
Wow, Mr. Cooper just pulled me right in. Nice job with this one Wired 👏
@harkandhush3265
March 31, 2026 at 7:29 pm
This is so interesting and I love his unapologetic enthusiasm!
@hinata6969
March 31, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Meeting that Karen was the best thing that ever happened to him honestly.
Look how amazing his career turned out. And where is she? Who knows!
@jave.8944
March 31, 2026 at 8:00 pm
Def tryna bird w him
@zelder7409
March 31, 2026 at 8:02 pm
Do any fellow birders have tips on finding and communicating with birding communities in foreign countries, specifically Japan? I’m having a difficult time finding a birding community while studying abroad. I used to bird with my college club, but the students of my host university and my fellow abroad students don’t seem to have any interest.
@rossbooth4635
March 31, 2026 at 8:03 pm
I wish I could learn to love anything as much as dude loves birds.
@sminthian
March 31, 2026 at 8:04 pm
I think my birds associate me with food. If my feeders are empty, the birds all come over to me and start chirping, rather than hanging around the feeders.
@ellenfoster9764
March 31, 2026 at 8:09 pm
My hummingbirds do this too!
@ellenfoster9764
March 31, 2026 at 8:05 pm
The hummingbirds on my property often dive bombed and chattered at other people, but never at me- I was always out gardening and they were used to me. The only time they ever chattered at me was when I had been out of town for two weeks and their feeders were empty. When I went out to refill it, 4 of them were chattering at me and buzzing around my head. In the spring, when they returned to my yard, if the feeders were not out yet, they would fly along the dining room window, so we would see them and get the feeders out. They are such smart little birds.
@ellenfoster9764
March 31, 2026 at 8:07 pm
Wow, I adore hummingbirds but I did not know about their nightly torpor!
@MariaInes-m4w
March 31, 2026 at 8:08 pm
I love this guy! He’s cheerful and positive attitude always leaves me feeling happier
@sarxxbeth
March 31, 2026 at 8:16 pm
Wholesome af love it
@ellenfoster9764
March 31, 2026 at 8:20 pm
I used to be into seeing the most types of birds. As I’ve aged, I’ve become much more interested watching the behavior of well known birds.
@antonia52326
March 31, 2026 at 8:21 pm
as someone that has never looked into information about birds i found this very entertaining, would love to learn more!
@WalkingEng
March 31, 2026 at 8:32 pm
This was outstanding, what an energetic and wonderful advocate for getting out there and birding!
@davidfernandez3554
March 31, 2026 at 8:33 pm
What is the airspeed of an unladen swallow?
@nadiabarrett5195
March 31, 2026 at 8:39 pm
One thing I love about these videos is watching people get totally excited about their interests without worrying about what anyone thinks.
@oliveheadwhoa
March 31, 2026 at 8:44 pm
Obsessed with this video!! Love his passion on this topic, it makes me excited for spring and to see our local birds again
@barca10tc
March 31, 2026 at 8:50 pm
4:35 Pause
@EllelovesPink
March 31, 2026 at 8:57 pm
This was amazing! Your passion and warmth for birding and encouraging birding is an absolute wholesome delight!
@shawnat8799
March 31, 2026 at 8:59 pm
So intriguing 😂😊
@sambojangles10
March 31, 2026 at 9:00 pm
25:08 “It turns every morning into a treasure hunt.” I am so happy to see someone enjoy the world around us so deeply.
@janebufe9812
March 31, 2026 at 9:05 pm
This just melts my heart.
@kat_nappp
March 31, 2026 at 9:07 pm
I’ve been waiting for this one
@adamp.1732
March 31, 2026 at 9:14 pm
18:01 ain’t that a barred owl
@LaughOutLoudRudeeLoop
March 31, 2026 at 9:25 pm
👋👋👋✌️
@gracieteddy24
April 1, 2026 at 10:41 am
As someone just getting into birding, I love this – it felt very much like an intro to birding or birding 101.
@maddow4life
April 1, 2026 at 11:10 am
I think I am in love.. this human is amazing. ❤ Need more like him
@curtisbullock9739
April 1, 2026 at 11:22 am
Birding with Mr. Cooper. I’d watch it. ❤
@lorihutchinson9485
April 1, 2026 at 11:38 am
That was great!
@dbateman
April 1, 2026 at 12:12 pm
Christian Cooper, very interesting and your enthusiasm for birds is infectious! Whoever at Wired is in charge of booking the speakers for these videos, great job!!
@Zoki4444
April 1, 2026 at 12:30 pm
Trump waged a war without Congressional consent. I seriously doubt he’ll obey a federal judge’s ruling.
@pariselevesque5826
April 1, 2026 at 12:51 pm
OmG it’s the Central Park Birder that the crazy lady called the cops on – I love this for him.
@Herculesbiggercousin
April 1, 2026 at 1:00 pm
I would love to see more of this guy!
@klayzer
April 1, 2026 at 2:11 pm
“…and that’s all I’ll say about that.” Kudos for saying it with a smile. 😑 Thanks for being such a great bird spokesman/writer! I caught birding fever during the pandemic, and it’s brought me great happiness.
@glyphoteque
April 1, 2026 at 2:18 pm
What a delightful speaker. Best Wired Support video yet!
@Succusexual
April 1, 2026 at 2:20 pm
4:33 please
@DefectedFundie
April 1, 2026 at 2:34 pm
Christian Cooper must be protected at all costs.
@watermelonwishes4193
April 1, 2026 at 3:41 pm
“…or are they just winging it?”
I see what they did there…🤪
@BlackHoleSunfish
April 1, 2026 at 3:50 pm
as a tool fan (and amateur birder) hearing him pronounce lateralus (pronounced latter-al-us) as “lateral-us” made me giggle.
@Bella-tr6xc
April 1, 2026 at 4:40 pm
more please!!
@StellaDeleuze
April 1, 2026 at 5:28 pm
I love love love love your passion!
@wintersnowcloud
April 1, 2026 at 5:29 pm
a great professional birder here, I’m not even all that interested in birds myself.
But I liked watching a professional really give insightful and passionate advice.
@randallpetersen9164
April 1, 2026 at 5:39 pm
His enthusiasm is infectious. I could go on about scuba diving, saltwater fish and sharks, corals, and marine aquariums for hours. And sometimes I do !
@erakfishfishfish
April 1, 2026 at 6:30 pm
This video inspired me to finally try to puzzle out the bird that had been calling out my name all summer growing up in New Jersey. It drove me nuts year after year. It took a while, but I found it: the gray catbird.
@paulao776
April 1, 2026 at 6:55 pm
Such a handsome man.
@ravenmorrigana1093
April 1, 2026 at 8:36 pm
The pure nerdy love he expresses is fantastic.
@synthetic_animal
April 1, 2026 at 8:37 pm
such a delightful episode!
@user77331
April 1, 2026 at 8:39 pm
This is the most wholesome thing I’ve seen on the internet in months ❤
@Enigma457
April 1, 2026 at 8:50 pm
This was great!
@Ve_observer
April 1, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Teleporting little penguins 😁😁😁😁
@Chickadeeznuts0
April 2, 2026 at 9:50 am
I’m a relatively new birder and have fallen in deep. I just love those little Aves. This was a good video.
@purushswaminathan5693
April 2, 2026 at 10:14 am
bloody white eyed vireo 10:24
@m.poppy5678
April 2, 2026 at 10:16 am
I want to go birding with him
@view-camera-queen
April 2, 2026 at 10:28 am
I LOVE him!!! Give him a show stat
@kwackson
April 2, 2026 at 10:58 am
Nice touch with the massive Birds of Paradise plant right behind the birder, very a propos
@aprilhl
April 2, 2026 at 11:36 am
the Chicago building he mentioned that killed so many birds with its windows is the McCormick! 1,000 birds died in one night in Oct 2023 and since then the building has put bird safe window film on all the windows. artist Holly Greenberg and the Chicago Bird Alliance are working on a big project this spring to honor all those birds and bring attention to bird window collisions !
@TammyBrownLA
April 2, 2026 at 11:54 am
What a pleasant surprise to see you here, Chris! 🥰
@alxxxxxx76542
April 2, 2026 at 3:39 pm
Off course your people
@wyatt5199
April 2, 2026 at 12:53 pm
As a birder
@rudzkium
April 2, 2026 at 1:55 pm
“cantankerous” describes hummingbirds perfectly, they’re adorable and tiny and full of rage!
@JB_Emerson
April 2, 2026 at 2:03 pm
I love this man so much.
@DooneynBurke
April 2, 2026 at 2:07 pm
I’m in love
@scottk4100
April 2, 2026 at 2:08 pm
What a great communicator! I am a long time birder but Mr. Cooper (great birder name) was more inspirational and demonstrated how fun birding can be better than anyone else i’ve ever seen. Well done!
@betterbirders
April 2, 2026 at 2:51 pm
Birding is amazing!
@luvitrbs
April 2, 2026 at 3:31 pm
31:38 im surprised he dindt say habitat protection, especially as he later mentioned rainforests being cut down in madagascar later.
@alxxxxxx76542
April 2, 2026 at 3:39 pm
This guy admitted to flying during COVID… disgusting
@QueensRangers
April 2, 2026 at 3:42 pm
A+ no notes. Love this dude!
@elenoreluna
April 2, 2026 at 4:35 pm
I just love your video’s so so so so so so much and i’ve actually learned alot also. Never stop posting pls❤
@Ficon
April 2, 2026 at 4:56 pm
The answer to all of the questions is the Merlin app
@jessicaj7510
April 2, 2026 at 7:50 pm
I could listen to another hour! thank you!
@mina-ala
April 2, 2026 at 8:35 pm
I love birds so much! Plant native plants! Save the native bugs!
@hello-f6q5v
April 2, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Yooo w vid started birding last july its so fun i would definitely recommend it as a hobby.
@tony_tony_bobony
April 2, 2026 at 8:49 pm
When I moved to S. Florida decades ago, I couldn’t figure out what bird was making such a ruckus nearby. Turned out to be a crow. Sure didn’t sound like our crows up north!
@tony_tony_bobony
April 2, 2026 at 8:52 pm
You’ll know it’s a red-winged blackbird if it squawks nearby and your ears start bleeding.
@tony_tony_bobony
April 2, 2026 at 9:01 pm
Heard them seasonally, never seen — whistling ducks that migrate overhead at night.
@jennifers.9569
April 3, 2026 at 2:30 am
Are all blerd birders this handsome and happy???
@MadeleineMontague
April 3, 2026 at 3:21 am
An extremely charming description of the joys – and skills – of birdwatching.
@lestube-x4p
April 3, 2026 at 8:14 am
Give the Wired casting director a raise button 👇
@henberlin
April 3, 2026 at 8:16 am
Dude’s big like a condor and chirpy like a zebra finch, so likeable 😎
@Weirdkauz
April 3, 2026 at 8:40 am
6:36 think it like this: you be scintillating shiny like a million stars … and you still alive? Must be a boss.
@Weirdkauz
April 3, 2026 at 8:44 am
The pidgeons around your neighbourhood know you. They’ll remember you, and they will recognise you in all sorts of different outfits, hats, hairdos, whatever.
@slylover123
April 3, 2026 at 8:49 am
Also Great grey owls have one ear hole up and one down and their face feathers are literally shaped for hearing prey under the snow!
@Weirdkauz
April 3, 2026 at 9:02 am
There are Hummingbirds in NY?!?
@liambroek1480
April 3, 2026 at 10:10 am
watching this cause i watched Listers and now im just interested in these fkn birds
@Thisismynewhandel_666
April 3, 2026 at 10:10 am
This guy is smart… but let’s go toe to toe on bird law and see who comes out the victor.
@jayroger7612
April 3, 2026 at 10:11 am
7:38 One of my favourite things is going birding alone but running into other birders. I love the “did you see anything?” And sometimes we get the same alert that theres a rare bird around and so you see a couple cars pulled over next to a flooded field. I ran into my retired hs english teacher years later both looking for a long billed dowitcher 🙂
@ElkenahThaGod
April 3, 2026 at 10:54 am
The shade on “twitchers” was hysterical😂
@juliettemay2666
April 3, 2026 at 11:11 am
I love pigeons. They are such funny little birds.
@pamelamays4186
April 3, 2026 at 11:22 am
Finally, some positive energy on YouTube.😊🦜
@pamelamays4186
April 3, 2026 at 11:23 am
Teleporting Penguins is going to be my new band name.
@DitherPlus
April 3, 2026 at 11:41 am
This might sound really weird but this guy looks kinda like steve-o but black.
@pamelamays4186
April 3, 2026 at 11:45 am
Just winging it.
Very punny!😆😆😆😆
@Weirdkauz
April 3, 2026 at 1:29 pm
Dogs, yeah, ok, well trained dogs aren’t even interested in birds, or be out there trampling nests…. but CATS!?!? Bird’s biggest nightmares!
@ScytheSergeant
April 3, 2026 at 1:51 pm
I read his book over Christmas! Christian is awesome
@nicolec1806
April 3, 2026 at 3:18 pm
Dude is living my dream
@KagetheNightAngel
April 3, 2026 at 5:16 pm
This man is a treasure. Enigmatic and passionate. Great show
@LDV8Foax
April 3, 2026 at 5:53 pm
Quantum entanglement in their eyes?
Time to go down the research rabbit hole…
@TaelaForsaellon
April 3, 2026 at 7:29 pm
Love his enthusiasm and energy!
@lisaroy9538
April 3, 2026 at 7:34 pm
Love wired but 4 ads in 6 minutes…..Done with this. Youtube is ruining everything
@leenmeenandgreen
April 3, 2026 at 8:00 pm
This was such a lovely episode I have to read this man’s book!