According to some accounts, there are some 45 million birders in the US. Even if the stats are off by several million, that’s still above 15% of the US population – which would make bird watching one of America's favorite hobbies. And when you imagine a birder, you probably think of them with binoculars in hand. But what if we told you that many claim that a monocular for bird watching is better?

There’s heavy debate on this topic, but we’ll give you the short of it – both have advantages and it comes down to personal preference. In this article, we’ll discuss the features you should consider when choosing a monocular for bird watching, before expanding on the binocular vs. monocular debate. So let’s get to it.

The Most Important Features of a Birding Monocular

When you’re searching for a monocular for bird watching, the features you should check out are the magnification, weight, durability, whether it has some additional functions, and, of course, how much it costs.

And just because you want a reasonably-priced birding monocular, that doesn’t mean you have to compromise. The most expensive monoculars can provide as much as 40x magnification and can get run over by a car and still work, but do you really need that?

The answer to the first question is – no. You neither need nor want such magnification. The answer to the second one is – maybe? Or you could just be a bit careful instead of paying exorbitant sums for a monocular. In any case, let’s discuss the most important feature of a monocular for bird watching – the magnification.

What Magnification Is Best For Birdwatching?

This is a highly contested topic among birders, but it’s mostly about what you prefer. In general, anything between 8x to 10x can be a good choice. A monocular with higher zoom power will provide you with a more detailed view of the bird you’re watching. However, a monocular with more magnification is harder to aim and you need steadier hands.

You can think about it like this – every shake of your hands is magnified by the zoom power of your monocular. The difference between 8x and 10x is small enough that you might not notice it, but going up to 20x magnification makes a considerable difference.

Yes, you’ll be able to make out every detail of the bird you’re watching, but any movement will cause you to change your perspective and your field of vision is much narrower. If you are hoping to spot a hawk swooping down towards its prey, it’ll be nigh on impossible with a very high-powered monocular.

In short, the best monocular for bird watching has between 8x to 10x magnification.

How the Monocular Acts in Low Light

Besides the magnification, it’s important how the monocular works in low-light settings. In general, the larger the objective lens, the more light it will gather and perform better. One advantage of monoculars is that if you look at monoculars and binoculars comparable in size, the monocular will usually have a larger lens.

Consequently, a monocular will typically perform better than a comparable binocular in a low-light setting. Naturally, this is only important if you plan to go bird watching at dusk or very early dawn. If you habitually only go bird watching while it’s bright outside, there’s no reason to consider how a monocular acts in low light.

Image Quality

The optics of the monocular is also another key feature, particularly if you also take photographs. Lenses fully coated in multiple layers and treated prisms will provide clearer, sharper, and better images and capture more details. On the other hand, monoculars with better optics are more expensive, so you might not need them if you are just starting out.

The Size and Weight of the Monocular

One of the main reasons people choose monoculars for bird watching is portability. So, you want a good birding monocular that is relatively small and lightweight, which most monoculars with 8x or 10x magnification are. A monocular with more zoom power is larger and will force you to carry around a whole stash of equipment. Plus, they need time to set up. All of this quickly gets tiresome.

The Durability of the Monocular

Presumably, you’ll be using your monocular when going on bird watching expeditions. So your monocular for bird watching should be able to take a few bumps and hits without getting damaged. Generally, this shouldn’t be an issue.

A birding monocular is small and compact (once again magnification factors in), which also makes them more durable. In addition, it needs to be able to withstand a bit of moisture – unless you will always use your monocular in a dry environment (which is highly unlikely), your monocular for bird watching should be waterproof.

Is the Monocular Compatible with Phones or Cameras?

Then, you should consider what extra uses your monocular can have. In case you like to take pictures while bird watching (as most birders do), make sure that your monocular for bird watching can be attached to a phone or regular camera. This will let you capture much clearer images than if you used the zoom feature on your phone.

The Price of the Monocular

Finally, we get to the price. And what features you need and how much you are willing to pay is purely your choice. Monoculars for bird watching are generally on the lower end of the price range because they have lower zoom power and are relatively small, which is precisely what you need.

What Is Better for Bird Watching – Binoculars or a Monocular?

There’s no one right answer when choosing between a monocular and binoculars for bird watching. It boils down to what you’ll use it for and where your preferences lie.

The advantages of a monocular for birding are:

  1. It is lighter and more portable than binoculars, which makes it better when you are going on longer trips where you need to optimize the gear you’re carrying.
  2. When comparing a monocular and a set of binoculars in the same/similar price range, the monocular will perform better in a low-light setting because it usually has a larger lens.
  3. Monoculars with similar magnification and optics are typically cheaper than a set of binoculars.

The advantages of binoculars are:

  1. Better depth and distance perception; you use both eyes when you look through binoculars, which enables better three-dimensional viewing. Conversely, the images you see through a monocular may seem a bit flatter.
  2. Binoculars cause less eye strain, so they can be the better option if you don’t plan to take any breaks while bird watching. You can easily test this out – close one of your eyes for 10, 15 minutes and see how strained your other eye will get.

Think You Know How to Choose a Good Monocular for Bird Watching?

If you still aren’t sure how to pick the best birding monocular, check out the Go-Anywhere Monocular. It has 10x magnification, has a fully multi-coated lens, an ergonomic design to reduce eye strain, and is water- and shock-proof.

On top of that, you can easily attach it to your phone or any other device to capture crystal clear images. In case you are looking for a compact and portable monocular for bird watching to be a constant companion on your trips, the Go-Anywhere Monocular is a perfect choice.