
- BGG rank
- BGG #7,088
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Birds of a Feather: Western North America
- 1–7 players
- 15–30 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2022

2015
Rules assistance for Birds of a Feather
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 1 player

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Birds of a Feather is a board game released in 2015 for 1–7 players, 15 minutes per game, and ages 9 and up. It was designed by Teale Fristoe and its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Simultaneous Action Selection.
Every year, the most enthusiastic (or maybe just crazy) birders across the country embark on a big trip, where they try to see as many birds as they can. For some reason, you've decided that this year will be your big year. You'll explore wonderful habitats on a quest to see as many beautiful birds as you can. But whenever you see a bird, word will get out. Anticipate the crowd to see more birds than anyone else! Birds of a Feather is a fast, friendly, easy to learn card game for 1-7 players. The game is easy enough for children to learn and enjoy, but surprisingly strategic, making it a great filler for more hard core gamers. At the beginning of the game, each player is dealt a large hand of cards. The game takes place over several rounds. In each round, each player chooses a card to play simultaneously. This determines not only which bird that player sees that round, but which habitat that player visits. Players check off the birds they see on a score sheet, seeing their own bird plus any other birds in the same habitat. Additionally, all birds are available to be seen for an additional round, giving players the opportunity to see rare birds they missed the first time. Once all players have played through their hands, scores are tallied based on which birds each player saw. Seeing all birds in a habitat gives a substantial bonus. In the end, whoever saw the widest variety of birds is the winner!
Birds of a Feather supports 1–7 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Birds of a Feather is 15 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Birds of a Feather for ages 9 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Birds of a Feather has a complexity rating of 1.2 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Birds of a Feather belongs to these categories: Card Game, Animals, and Educational. Its main mechanics are Hand Management, Set Collection, and Simultaneous Action Selection. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Birds of a Feather are: Teale Fristoe. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Birds of a Feather as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.