While it is relatively easy to observe birds that feed on the ground or in low shrubs, it can be a challenge to identify species that inhabit the forest canopy. Scarlet tanagers, wood pewees, red-eyed and yellow-throated vireos, olive-sided flycatchers, crossbills and many warblers are among the birds that tend to favor the treetops.
Novice birders are often frustrated by these species and even veteran bird watchers find it difficult to observe canopy birds without getting a serious case of neck strain. One of the better ways to solve this problem is to find a birding location that offers a view across (or even down to) the forest canopy. Rocky outcrops on the rim of a gorge or clearings on a wooded hillside are two examples. Such vantage points offer a comfortable and unobstructed view of the treetops and foster the patience that is often required to observe and identify these species. Of course, many parks and nature centers provide observation towers that serve the same purpose.
