Affiliate Disclosure
Some links earn us a small commission. None of them change what we recommend. Here's exactly how that works.
Birbs is free to read, and we'd like to keep it that way. One of the ways we cover the cost of building a bird encyclopedia, an ID tool, and honest buying guides is through affiliate links. This page explains what those are, what we earn, and — most importantly — the one thing they never, ever do: change our advice.
As an Amazon Associate, Birbs earns from qualifying purchases.
The short version: if you buy something through one of our links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We recommend it because it's good, not because it pays.
What an affiliate link actually is
Some of the product links on Birbs — especially in our buying guides — are affiliate links. When you click one and make a purchase, the retailer pays us a small percentage of the sale. You pay the same price you'd pay otherwise; the commission comes out of the retailer's margin, not your pocket.
Birbs is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program and may take part in other affiliate programs over time. When we add a new one, it follows the same rules you're reading here.
- You never pay more for using our link.
- We only earn if you actually buy something — there's no charge for clicking or reading.
- Commissions vary by product and retailer, and we don't always know the exact amount in advance.
How we mark them
We don't hide affiliate links and we don't want you to have to guess. We disclose clearly and close to the link, so the relationship is obvious before you click — not buried in fine print.
If a page contains affiliate links, you'll see a plain-language note saying so. This very page is the long-form version of that note, linked from anywhere we earn a commission.
- A visible disclosure appears on pages with affiliate links — typically near the top or right beside the recommendation.
- No disguised links, no fake "deals," no pretending a sponsored pick is an organic one.
- If we ever can't disclose something properly, we don't run the link.
The firewall: money never moves the recommendation
This is the part that matters most, so we'll be blunt about it. A commission has zero influence on what we recommend, how we rank it, or what we say about it. We pick the binocular, the seed, the nest box, or the field guide we'd actually tell a friend to buy — and then we look for an affiliate link to it. Never the other way around.
If the best option in a category has no affiliate program, we still recommend it, and we'll link to it without earning a cent. If a product we earn on turns out to be mediocre, we say so plainly, or we don't include it at all. Being honest about a product's flaws is the whole point of a guide worth reading.
We choose the pick first. We find the link second. If those two ever conflict, honesty wins — every time.
How our buying guides are actually built
Our recommendations start with real information, not a commission table. Where it's relevant, we lean on the same open datasets that power the rest of Birbs — bird biology and ecology from sources like the IOC World Bird List, AVONET, and the IUCN Red List — alongside how a product performs for the job it's meant to do: build quality, fit for the species or use case, value for money, and the practical experience of using it.
No brand can pay to be ranked higher in our editorial. There is no pay-for-placement. Sponsored partnerships, when we have them, are clearly labeled as sponsored and kept separate from our independent picks — a sponsorship buys a brand a clearly-marked spot, never a better review.
- Picks are chosen on merit — quality, fit, and value — not on what pays best.
- No pay-for-placement in editorial. Ever.
- Sponsored content is always labeled as sponsored and never disguised as an independent recommendation.
- Found something off? Our guides can be corrected — tell us at /submit-correction/ and we'll look into it.
Why we do it this way
Affiliate income lets Birbs stay free, stay independent, and keep the lights on without putting our recommendations up for sale. We'd rather earn a little from links you'd want anyway than compromise the trust that makes a recommendation worth anything in the first place.
If you find a guide useful, using our links when you shop is a genuine, no-cost way to support the work — and it's entirely optional. You're always free to buy however you like; we'll still be glad you stopped by.
Want to support Birbs without spending a thing? Sign up for the Daily Birb at /newsletter/ or join the flock at /join/.
Common questions
Does using an affiliate link cost me more?
No. You pay exactly the same price as you would without our link. The commission comes from the retailer, not from you.
Do affiliate commissions change what Birbs recommends?
No. We choose the best pick on its merits first, then look for a link to it. If the best option has no affiliate program, we still recommend it and link to it without earning anything.
How will I know if a link is an affiliate link?
Pages that contain affiliate links carry a clear, plain-language disclosure near the recommendation. This page is the full explanation those notes point to.
Which affiliate programs does Birbs use?
Birbs participates in the Amazon Associates Program and may join other affiliate programs over time. As an Amazon Associate, Birbs earns from qualifying purchases. Any new program follows the same rules described on this page.
What's the difference between an affiliate link and sponsored content?
An affiliate link earns a commission when you buy a product we independently recommend. Sponsored content is a paid partnership with a brand, and it's always clearly labeled as sponsored — it never poses as an independent pick, and it can't buy a better review.
I think a recommendation is wrong. Can I tell you?
Please do. We welcome corrections and they're visible when we make them. Send one via /submit-correction/ or reach us at /contact/.