I would suggest you google Steve Perry and look at some of his wild life photography papers and videos. He gives good sound advice and I believe it is applicable to any camera brand. You might be able to determine the features you would like from reviews like his and then determine the camera/lens package to best meet those requirements. Also Linda on this forum offers lots of good advice and has chronicled her progression. Watch for her comments and postings. With your budget you have a world of choices and good luck choosing.

Really torn on choosing the right camera. I have been a point and shoot girl with a Sony Cybershot DSC hx 300 on automatic settings for a few years now. I have learned that my zoom is not sufficient for many of the shots I take of eagles owls and ospreys. One friend (Larry) suggested the new bridge camera from Sony RX 10 IV. I watched a review that called it the Mommy camera that the whole family can use. As a woman, this turned me off even though some of the reviews are great. I am more then an amateur photographer with a huge passion for photography but I suck at all the techy aspects of figuring out the best camera for me. I use auto settings but hope to expand my abilities beyond this in baby steps. Looking for suggestions in the $3500 range. I was comparing Nikon versus Canon. Love all the Nikon reviews but may be out of my price range. I bought a friend the Canon Rebel last year and I liked the weight and feel of that camera. I am not opposed to buying a used camera body and new lenses but am unsure who would be reputable for a used purchase. I am very lucky to have great subject matter around me and want to capture and create better finished products. Any advice would be appreciated.