Bird watching is a popular hobby around the world, with millions of people enjoying observing and identifying wild birds in their natural habitats. Many bird watchers are passionate about their hobby and some take it to another level by traveling long distances to spot rare or unusual species of birds. These dedicated birders are often referred to as “twitchers”.
What is a twitcher?
A twitcher is a type of hardcore bird watcher who will go to great lengths to see a rare or unusual bird that has been sighted in a particular location. The term “twitcher” originated in the United Kingdom and refers to the twitching or jerky movements and frenetic energy a birder exhibits when they hear news of a rare bird sighting.
Twitchers will often drop everything and travel long distances, even internationally, to spot and identify a bird on their “want list” before it disappears. Some characteristics of twitchers include:
- Obsessive about birdwatching and seeking out rare species
- Willingness to travel long distances at short notice when rare birds are spotted
- Keeping detailed lists of all the species they have sighted
- Engaging in “big days” to spot as many species as possible in 24 hours
- Visiting renowned birding hotspots around the world
- Spending lots of money on optics, travel, and other birding gear
Twitchers vs. birders
While all twitchers are bird watchers, not all bird watchers are twitchers. The main difference is the level of dedication and extent someone will go to spot rare and exotic species. Here are some of the key differences:
| Twitchers | Birders |
|---|---|
| Obsessed with seeing the rarest species | Enjoy seeing common backyard and local birds |
| Willing to drop everything and travel far distances instantly | Casually watch birds on weekends and vacations |
| Keep exhaustive life lists of species sighted | May keep loose lists of birds seen |
| Regularly engage in “big day” challenges | Conduct bird counts for fun occasionally |
| Spend lots of money on optics and travel | Use binoculars and spotting scopes judiciously |
As you can see, twitchers exhibit more extreme dedication, time commitment, and willingness to drop everything when a rare bird is sighted compared to regular birding enthusiasts.
Famous twitchers
Some well-known twitchers include:
- John Weigel – American birder who spotted over 8,000 species and traveled extensively worldwide in search of rare birds.
- Phoebe Snetsinger – Spotted over 8,500 species globally before passing away in 1999. She was the first person to see over 8,000 species.
- Tom Gullick – English gardener who spotted nearly 7,000 species. Traveled up to 12,000 miles a year birdwatching.
- Jon Hornbuckle – British twitcher who held the year record for most bird species seen globally in one calendar year during the 1990s.
- Sandra Fisher – Californian birder who spotted over 6,800 species by traveling to hotspots in North and South America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
These are just a few of the many famous twitchers who have traveled the globe extensively chasing birds. They have inspired legions of new twitchers with their passion and world-record setting life lists of bird species sighted.
Notable twitching events
Some well-known twitching events that draw top twitchers from around the world include:
- World Series of Birding – Annual 24 hour “big day” held in New Jersey each May since the 1980s. Teams identify as many species as possible.
- Biggest Week in American Birding – Popular 10-day event held in Ohio each May, attracting tens of thousands of birders.
- Camp Colorado – Birding camp-out held in Lamar, Colorado that attracts twitchers searching for rare species.
- Space Coast Birding Festival – Large event in Florida each January featuring workshops, tours, and birding trips.
- Fraser’s Hill International Bird Race – Competition held at Malaysia’s top birding hotspot every June.
These are some of the biggest twitching events that allow enthusiasts to spot rare species, swap tales, and compete to see the most birds.
Rare bird alerts
Dedicated twitchers rely on rare bird alerts to know when and where to travel next. Some sources for alerts include:
- eBird – Online database where birders enter sightings. Features email alerts for rare species.
- Birding forums – Forums like BirdForum have sections dedicated to posting rare bird alerts.
- State listservs – Email groups like CALBIRDS for California bird sightings.
- Facebook groups – Many regions have local Facebook groups for reporting rare birds.
- RBA hotlines – Telephone hotlines give prerecorded alerts on recent rare bird sightings.
By monitoring these sources regularly, twitchers stay informed on rare bird movements so they can drop everything to successfully “twitch” a new bird for their list.
Conclusion
Twitchers are birding enthusiasts who exhibit an extreme dedication to spotting and identifying rare bird species. They are willing to travel long distances instantly when a special bird is sighted. Twitchers keep detailed life lists, engage in big day challenges, and frequent renowned birding hotspots around the globe. While an obscure hobby to some, twitching is deeply gratifying for the birders who pride themselves on their life lists and love the thrill of the chase after elusive bird species.
