Independent birding advice
We know our stuff, and we show our work.
Birding gear and app advice without the fluff or the fake "top 10" lists. We work from the makers' own spec sheets and official app pages, and we tell you what we haven't tested.
Three places to start.
Binoculars, spotting scopes, feeders, bird seed and smart feeders today; digiscoping, field guides, apparel, bags and tripods on the way. Specs come from the makers.
Read on →
How to get free rare-bird alerts for your area from eBird. A ZIP-code finder and a state-by-state news feed are coming soon.
Read on →
Merlin, eBird, Audubon, iNaturalist, BirdNET, Birda and Sibley: what each is good at, and what costs money.
Read on →
A few modern, compact binoculars from NOCS Provisions that caught our eye. Every number below comes from NOCS’s own product pages. We have not tested these ourselves.
The pocket one
NOCS calls it their most packable binocular: small and light, with fully multi-coated lenses and BaK4 roof prisms.
The in-betweener
The mid-size option: a larger objective than the Standard Issue, with what NOCS calls HiFi fully multi-coated lenses.
The full-size one
NOCS’s top binocular line: phase-coated BaK4 prisms and broadband fully multi-coated optics, in a 42 mm body.
Specs and product descriptions: NOCS Provisions, checked October 25, 2026. Field of view is NOCS’s figure for the 8x model. Illustrations are ours, not NOCS photos; NOCS is a trademark of its owner. Bird Bro is not affiliated with or endorsed by NOCS Provisions, and we do not currently earn a commission on these links. Check NOCS for current pricing and availability.
A short weekly note on birding gear and apps is in the works. There is no signup yet. Questions in the meantime? Email [email protected].