How to Look at a Bird: A Nature Journaler’s Perspective

One of the most common pieces of advice I give to people starting a nature journal is this: slow down and really observe. That's exactly the spirit behind How to Look at a Bird by Clare Walker Leslie, a book that feels like sitting down with a mentor who reminds you how to see the natural world again.

When I first came across this guide, I was deep into improving my own bird sketching skills, and reading it genuinely changed how I approach both birdwatching and drawing. If you're curious about this book whether for casual appreciation, sketching, or deeper understanding, this little book will feel like a personal guide.

Clare Walker Leslie has a gift for making observation accessible, joyful, and doable for everyone. With her signature nature journal illustrations and simple prompts, she teaches you how to notice the important details—not just color or size, but behavior, habitat, and season. It's the kind of perspective that not only helps with birdwatching but enriches all aspects of nature journaling and drawing animals.

When I first started birdwatching, I made the classic mistake: I focused only on identifying birds by species. I would flip through my bird guide frantically, trying to match a quick glance of a bird with a picture. It made the whole experience stressful instead of joyful. Clare’s book reminded me that observation isn't just about identification. It’s about paying attention, getting curious, and asking the right questions—a mindset that's also critical if you're interested in drawing nature.

How to Look at a Bird: First Impressions of the Book

When I first opened How to Look at a Bird, I expected it to be another typical field guide. Instead, it immediately felt more personal, more focused on experience than data. Clare organizes her advice around real-world questions: Where are you? What season is it? How is the bird behaving? This makes the book super friendly for beginners, but even after years of sketching nature, I found myself learning new ways to engage with the birds I see every day.

The book feels more like a journal or a mentor's notebook than a technical manual. The pages are filled with hand-drawn sketches, little notes, and observations that make you feel like you’re being invited to explore, rather than instructed to memorize. That personal feeling made me want to grab my sketchbook immediately.

Key Points

• Focus on behavior, not just appearance. Noticing movement, feeding style, and social behavior will deepen your bird knowledge and sketching skills.
• Ask yourself location-based questions. Habitat and season clues will make identifying and appreciating birds much easier.
• Use simple observational prompts. Questions like “How is the bird moving?” and “What sounds is it making?” keep you present and curious.

What Makes How to Look at a Bird Special

Unlike heavier field guides, this book invites you to become a better observer by being curious rather than by memorizing facts. Clare uses simple language and her own drawings to show you that anyone can do this, even if you think you aren't an “expert.”

One thing I loved was how she encourages you to notice everything: posture, how a bird eats, how it flies. Even the tiny details, like how a bird flicks its tail or cocks its head, become important. These tiny observations have completely changed my own nature journaling excursions. I find myself drawing little notes about behaviors now, not just colors and shapes.

She also focuses on birds you are likely to see around you: at a backyard feeder, in a city park, or on a walk through a local nature preserve. It's a refreshing shift away from feeling like you need to travel to an exotic location to enjoy birdwatching. I’ve used the techniques in this book during nature journaling in Australia and even sitting on my own back porch.

Helpful Features of the Book

Here are a few specific parts of How to Look at a Bird that I found really valuable:

• Simple, engaging prompts that help you ask the right questions while observing.
• Charming nature journal sketches that make you feel like you're flipping through an artist’s field notes.
• Practical advice for beginners, but layered enough that experienced birders and nature journalers will still learn something.
• Lightweight and portable design, making it easy to bring on nature walks.

Another thing that stood out to me: Clare’s emphasis on joy. In a world where so much feels serious and heavy, it’s nice to read a book that simply says, “Hey, go outside and be delighted.” That’s a big part of why I recommend it to anyone interested in the benefits of nature journaling or looking for nature journaling ideas.

Why I Recommend How to Look at a Bird

Birdwatching often feels overwhelming at first. You see a flutter, a flash of color, and before you can focus, it's gone. How to Look at a Bird slows you down in the best way. It reminds you to look first, draw connections second, and only then try to identify the bird.

In my experience leading nature journaling workshops in the wild, this mindset is what keeps beginners from getting discouraged. The journey is in noticing, not labeling.

If you’re someone who keeps a nature journaling bag ready to go, I would absolutely tuck this book inside. It’s that light, accessible, and inspiring.

It also ties beautifully into the broader benefits of nature journaling for adults—building patience, wonder, and connection with the world around us.

And if you're interested in growing your own skills, it pairs nicely with deeper resources like The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds and A Field Guide to Nature Journaling.

How I’ve Used It in My Own Practice

Since reading this book, I’ve changed how I start my nature journaling sessions. Before, I would jump right into trying to sketch or label. Now, I spend at least 5–10 minutes just observing.

I’ve found this practice especially helpful when I'm watercolor nature journaling. Watercolor can feel rushed because it dries fast, but slowing down first actually improves my sketches and color choices.

I also use Clare's location-based questions in my journaling prompts. It helps me stay more connected to the moment, which is something I emphasize when talking about international nature journaling week and building that global practice of mindful observation.

Whether I'm sketching a Red-Masked Conure in my backyard or a pelican during a nature journaling adventure, I now always pause and ask:

• Where am I?
• What is the weather like?
• What is the bird doing?

That simple habit has made me not just a better observer but a happier one.