Birders come in different varieties. If I wanted to be really dorky, I would say they come in different species 
There are birders who travel the world and spend their time hiking in the wilderness for the chance to spot birds through their binoculars or spotting scope. Usually these birders are very attentive to their “life list,” which is a list of all of the birds they have ever seen in their life. Or at least since they started keeping their list. The life list is no small matter, and is often the motivation behind their choice of ecotourism destinations.
Some birders don’t travel the world necessarily, but zig-zag the continent on which they live to do much the same thing. Birding “hotspots” are those places that have extraordinary potential for viewing numerous varieties of birds and are often the location for birding competitions (anyone who doesn’t know what that means…I’ll explain in another post). There are a number of hotspots in North America and they attract birders from all over the world, as well as the locals.
Birders who usually prefer to watch birds around their house are often referred to as “backyard birders.” These birders typically offer a variety of foods in numerous feeders to attract the birds to their yards. Backyard birders understand that they cannot use pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or any other chemicals that could sicken or kill birds.
“Citizen Scientists” are birders that actively participate in programs to help gather data about birds to help increase our understanding of birds and assist in conservation efforts. I learned about Citizen Science at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I cannot say for sure who should get credit for coining the phrase so I will not even try. I do know that there are some large and well-known organizations which often work together and with birders to increase our collective body of knowledge about birds and their habitats. There are some citizens who attain specialized skills and permits to contribute to our knowledge via bird banding and research studies. Many, many others donate their time and resources to projects with specific objectives, like counting birds at urban feeders, counting birds at different times of the year, and collecting data about specific species of birds. These citizen scientists are simply invaluable.
In keeping with my dorky taxonomic theme, there of course can be hybrid species of birders. Mix and match any of the above. Birders can be any age…not just older folks, which may be the image that comes to mind for many non-birders. Also, men and women alike enjoy birding and it is the very happy couple who happen to BOTH like birding!
I’ve picked up on something that many birders of all species have in common - they like to watch birds together. Often birders have birding buddies or groups and go out together to see what they can “get.” Birding with an experienced buddy or a group is also a great opportunity for new birders to learn.
These are my observations about this wonderful and growing community of birders in which I happily include myself. I am some sort of hybrid and may molt (OMG, did I just attempt birding humor?) a few times before I settle into my niche.
Happy birding!
