That is why you will see people buying Vortex and some people buying Leupold to some going in for Nikon’s and Bushnell’s.

That said there are same features that you should know which will help you select the right binoculars for bird watching.

Magnification – You should go in for a 7, 8or at max a 10 magnification and the reason being that with anything above 10 the overall available area which is called as Field of View will become less and less. That may not be good with bird watching as you need to have a bigger area to view all the birds which are there.

For detailed discussion on magnification so you read this page here.

Objective Lens diameter – this has been discussed here a number of times whoever for the sake of completeness I must say that the best objective lens diameter for birding binoculars is to be tween 30mm – 40 mm. The bigger the objective lens diameter the expensive and bulkier it will be. No doubt it will give more light however there has to be a balance between all three factors.

Exit pupil – The basics about exit pupil can be read here however the best binoculars which are required by bird watchers should have an exit pupil of 4mm.

Filed of View – This is something which is a must to know so that you can view the birds properly. The requirement of birding  binoculars is very different than hunting binoculars when it comes to Field of View and the reason is that you are looking at small creatures as opposed to some large animals like deer etc. Here is a primer on Field of View.

The field view is in inverse relation to magnification. So that means that higher the magnification the smaller will be the field of view. It is here the individual preference will come in and you may need to strike a balance between these two.

Prism design – Roof vs Porro prism design.

You can read about Porro prism and roof prism however the decision on which one to use for bird watching is something that you will need to take. Roof prism binoculars are more costly but they are more lightweight. Take your pick  !

Lens coating and light transmission. – I have done a detailed article on binoculars lens coating and that should be read before you make a decision.

Apart from these I do not think you should be worried about anything while selecting the best binoculars for bird watching. In fact there are a lot of small things like binocular waterproofing and binoculars ruggedness however these are  better left as individual decision as opposed to something which is a must have for selection of a good pair of binoculars.

The Purpose of a Spotting Scope:

Hunters sometimes use spotting scopes as backup for their binoculars – having sighted the game with the lower-magnification devices they will make sure of the species by using a powerful spotting scope. A third scope is then mounted to a rifle for targeting.

However, you can also use scopes for more peaceful pursuits – just watching and cataloging, for example, and you will use more or less the same equipment to do so. You can get attachments for spotting scopes that allow you to use a camera in conjunction with them, saving your sightings for record. This is very useful if you want your bird watching records to include pictures as well as written details.

What To Look For In A Scope:

Spotting scopes for briding should be between 20x to 60x magnification, but this is a wide range and it is really up to you to decide what you would prefer. When buying your first scope it is worth spending some time trying out models of different magnifications to get a feel for the differences.

The diameter of the objective lens is a prime indicator of the scope’s effectiveness at long ranges and high magnifications; a larger lens allows in more light and produces a clearer, brighter image. However, one aspect of the quality of scopes that is difficult to quantify is the quality of the glass – higher quality scopes will produce clearer images simply because more time and effort went into their construction.

Always buy spotting scopes for briding from a reputable manufacturer. Zeiss, Nikon, Bushnell and Leupold are all well-known and respected makers and any scope you buy from them is likely to be very good in terms of quality, weight, and durability.

Photo Courtesy : Bird Watchers Digest

 As far as best hunting binoculars is concerned I done several posts on those and will be giving out reviews of those from time to time but now will be doing the reviews of  best bird watching binoculars .  

Here are the best birding binoculars but let s start with the basics first  

Let us talk about magnification first ..  

You will hear terms like 10×42 or 7×35 and the fact is that the first number is the times the object will be closer to you.  

In the case of birding binoculars the lower is better because the lower ones gives a wider view as opposed to higher magnification ones. They i.e. the lower magnification ones also give a better image brightness.  That is not to say that you should go buy one with the lower magnification but if everything is the same then lower ones will be aptly suited for the birding activity.  

Tip: Always go in for medium range binoculars and do not go in for very low priced ones. The best are the $100 – $400 binoculars. In terms of magnification 8x or 10 x are the best.  

The magnification should always be greater than 40 mm. That ways you will have more light as opposed to choosing something in the 30 mm – 40 mm range.  

Common terminology says that exit pupil measurement should be a must and it is the light in millimeters visible through the eyepiece. Greater exit pupil means brighter image and brighter viewing. As with everything the optimum is the about 3.5 mm – 4mm 

Porro and roof prisms differ in the quality and ruggedness but the porro prism binoculars are less pricey and if you are look at price solely then go for the porro prisms.  

Best birding binoculars are  

Nikon 8×42 Monarch ATB Binoculars

Zeiss 8×42 FL T Binoculars

Eagle Optics Range SRT 8×42

Vortex Viper 8×42

Nikon premier SE 8×32

Swaroski EL 8.5 x 42