Identifying the Birds You See
Spotting a bird is one thing, identifying it is another story. With over 10,000 species of birds in the world, no one is an expert right from the start. It takes time and practice. Follow the steps listed below and you will be on your way!
Preparation.
There are several things you need to do before you can graduate from simply watching and enjoying the birds to identifying them.1. You need a field guide for your area. A field guide is a book with pictures and tips for identifying birds. There are several excellent books on the market today. For help in selecting a bird watching field guide check out Selecting a Bird Watching Field Guide
2. You will need a notebook or journal to record identifying features and other pertinent data.
3. You need a pair of binoculars or a scope to see the birds. Some birds, like the Robin and Cardinal can be identified with the naked eye, others cannot. With a pair of Binoculars, you will be able to see the details needed to identify the bird.
4. Become an expert on the birds in your area. It will narrow down the choices when it comes to identifying a new species visiting your yard.
Popular Birdwatching Field Guides
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition
Amazon Price: $16.32 (as of 12/05/2009) 
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/05/2009)
A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America
Amazon Price: $12.97 (as of 12/05/2009)
National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds--E: Eastern Region - Revised Edition
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/05/2009)
The Backyard Bird Lover's Field Guide: Secrets to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Birds of Your Region
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 12/05/2009)
Spotting and identify a bird.
1. Note the size of the bird.2. What color are various body parts (wings, head, tail, etc.)
3. Does it have any distinct markings?
4. Where did you see it?
5. What time of day was it?
6. Was it eating? If so, was it drinking nectar, eating fruit, insects, or seeds?
7. Listen to its bird calls and songs. As you gain more experience, you will be able to identify birds by their sound.
8. If you have a camera, take a picture of the bird in question. You can use the picture for further study if you do not identify it on the spot.
Hey! This is MY house!
Be Patient
The speed with which you can identify a bird will increase as your knowledge and skill develop. Consider joining a local birding group. Most bird watchers will be more than happy to share their tips and techniques with you. Before you know it, you will be the expert helping a beginner determine if the bird they see is a Purple Finch or a House Sparrow. Common Birds and Their Songs
Common Birds and Their Songs (Book and Audio CD)
Amazon Price: $14.96 (as of 12/05/2009)
This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Common Birds and Their Songs will be valuable to anyone interested in birds, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder.
Selecting a pair of Binoculars
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Selecting a Pair of Bird Watching Binoculars
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When I look out my window and watch the birds flutter around the birdfeeder, I really don't need a pair of binoculars or a scope to enjoy the sight. I frequently stop by the window and watch the birds for a minute or two between household tasks. (Occ...
Peterson's Field Guide to Birds
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
Amazon Price: (as of 12/05/2009)
An absolute must have for anyone with an interest in watching the birds.
Some of My Favorite Backyard Birds
The Bold and BeautifulThe American Goldfinch
The Blue Jay
The Northern Cardinal
Cheerful Singers
The European Starling
The Northern Mockingbird
The American Robin
The Shy Ones
The Eastern Bluebird
The Carolina Wren
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
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Reply
- perfumereviews perfumereviews Sep 21, 2009 @ 1:36 pm
- Lizzy, this photos are beautiful! As a kid I had a cards that identified a wide range of the world's birds. Amazing! But also pretty useless. I need to get one of these regional guides you talk about. :)
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Reply
- AndyPo AndyPo Jun 7, 2009 @ 8:24 am
- Very useful. I'm not very good at identifying birds, but I try. It's easier in England where we have fewer varieties, but when I'm in USA I'm always amazed at how many similar ones you have.
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Reply
- OpticsPlanet OpticsPlanet May 14, 2009 @ 11:21 am
- Love what you did with the lens and the animated birdies!
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Reply
- tdove tdove Jan 14, 2009 @ 7:22 pm
- Thanks for joining G Rated Lense Factory!
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Reply
- mbgphoto mbgphoto Jan 13, 2009 @ 8:27 am
- Nice lens. Beautiful photography. Thanks.
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About the Author
Lensmaster ElizabethJeanAllen has been a member since March 16 2008, has rated 3,982 lenses, favorited 445, and has created 200 lenses from scratch. Lizzy Jean donates their royalties to Squidoo Charity Fund. This member's top-ranked page is "The Mallard Duck". See all my lenses
Why Birds Do That
Why Birds Do That: 40 Distinctive Bird Behaviors Explained & Photographed
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 12/05/2009)
Birds are fascinating. Their behavior is complex, often comical. Some sing while others do not. Why Birds Do That explains forty distinctive bird behaviors and is enhanced with numerous photographs. It is a must have book for both the backyard bird watcher as well as the avid birder.
Resources used to construct this page.
Peterson, T.P. & Peterson, V.M. 2002. Birds of Eastern and Central North America, Fifth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, N.Y.
How to ID Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Beginning Birding - Ten Tips for New Bird Watchers
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by ElizabethJeanAllen
I tell my students to Learn from the Past, Live in the Present, and Plan for the Future. With Squidoo I can do all three.
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