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!
Do you know me?
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
My name is Jay, but they call me Blue.
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 01/08/2009)
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 is a valuable tool for all birders, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder.
South Carolina Birder
South Carolina Birder offers information on wild birds as well as an insight into birding in South Carolina.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAmerica's 100 Most Wanted Birds
America's 100 Most Wanted Birds
Amazon Price: (as of 01/08/2009)
If you want to see a gyrfalcon or a fork-tailed flycatcher, this resource might be your best help in spotting them. Mostly for serious birders intent on adding species to their life lists, America's 100 Most Wanted Birds provides detailed strategies for locating 100 of the most uncommon-to-rare bird species in the United States.
Lizzy's Backyard Birds
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Northern Cardinals
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The Northern Cardinal is one of the most popular birds in the United States. It is one of the first birds a child learns to recognize and most adults, birders and non-birders alike recognize it on sight. Its bright red coloring is distinctive.
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The Rock Pigeon
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The Rock Pigeon, commonly referred to as simply pigeons, are familiar birds. They can be seen scrounging around dumpsters, picking up French fries dropped near the door to a fast food restaurant, and begging from picnickers in the park.
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American Robin
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As a child, I was told that spotting a robin in the yard heralded the arrival of spring. Living in northern Minnesota, that was usually the case, but while most robins migrate southward in the winter, not all of them do. Their breeding range is exten...
101 Ways to Help Birds
101 Ways to Help Birds
Amazon Price: $13.57 (as of 01/08/2009)
101 Ways to Help Birds offers 101 ways for individuals to help birds and bird populations as a whole, and it explains how these actions make a difference. Any bird lover knows that birds and animals alike need our help. Without it, we will lose more and we've lost enough as it is.
Have you seen any interesting birds lately?
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
Another wonderful bird lens as always.
Thank you for adding this lens to the Walk in the Woods Group.
Posted January 05, 2009
OhMe wrote...
Wonderful resource lens for identifying birds. I know the most common ones but would really like to know more. Welcome to the South Carolina Group.
Posted January 05, 2009
naturegirl7 wrote...
Welcome to the Naturally Native Squids group. Don't forget to add your lens links to the appropriate plexos and vote for them.
Posted October 25, 2008
JaguarJulie wrote...
We have some tiny birds that will interact with the cardinals on our bird feeder. Hubby said titmouse, but we're not sure. A while back one of our friendly feral cats brought a bird to our back door. It had a yellow belly and gray predominantly elsewhere with a hint of black. Honestly, I researched that bird so much that I never was convinced I knew the species.
Posted October 11, 2008
WriterBuzz wrote...
Wow, this is a great lens. My friend, Rob is into birds and knows a lot about them. What is the bird that sounds like he's whistling at a pretty girl? Also, thanks so much for stopping by lens. Fun Things For Kids To Do On A Camping Trip
Posted July 26, 2008
Why Birds Do That
Why Birds Do That: 40 Distinctive Bird Behaviors Explained & Photographed
Amazon Price: $10.85 (as of 01/08/2009)
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
