Birding and birdwatching can mean the exact same thing for some people, but others like to distinguish between the two. Birding typically refers to actively seeking out and identifying birds both by sound and sight, involving a more engaged and purposeful approach. Birdwatching, on the other hand, is often considered a more passive activity, where one enjoys observing birds in their surroundings.
Additionally, accessibility considerations now recognize that people without vision can go birding, making "birdwatching" a misnomer for their experience.