Bird Identification

Most beginning bird watchers start trying to identify birds form pictures or descriptions. Experts have those pictures as well as other clues in their heads. Here are a few of the clues that help expert birders identify birds.

Size
While not always the case size can be a good indicator of the species of the bird you are watching or trying to identify. Learn the general size of common bird types to help you with identification. As an example most song birds such as Robins, Blue birds, or Cardinals fit into a certain size group. Raptors or birds of prey like Eagles, Hawks, and Owls will usually be larger. Birds like Ducks, Herons, Canadian Geese or other waterfowl will fit another size. Although this is very general it can help you pick out a single bird that is a different size than the others in a group or flock.

Shape
Bird shape and posture are the most important characteristics used to identify birds. Most experts can identify a bird from its shape or silhouette because this is the least likely characteristic to change.

Things to look for are: Body shape. Is it compact, stocky or thin? Is the beak conical like a Cardinal or long and narrow like a Humming bird? The wings may be thin and pointed like a Swallow or rounded like a quail. The tail of a bird can have many variations. The tail can be notched like a swallow, long like Thrashers or Wagtails or rounded like a Blue Jay. The legs can be long like a Crane or Flamingo, or short like a Duck. Birds of prey will have distinctive hooked beaks and claws or talons for tearing meat. Almost everyone can identify an Owl, Eagle or Duck just from the shape of their heads.
Click for bird shape identification pages.
Color and Pattern
Birds like Cardinals, Blue Jays, Parrots, and Orioles can all be identified by color. Many birds can be identified from a distance by distinctive patterns. Examples of birds that can be identified by patters are The Red Winged Blackbird with its distinctive red shoulder, Red Headed Woodpecker or flying waterfowl.
Behavior
With experience many birds can be identified from behavior. Many birds fly, walk or swim in identifiable ways that can be detected from far away.
Songs and Calls
Most birds can be identified by their sound. There are two major types of bird sound. Songs are usually by adult males during nesting or mating season. Calls are used all year long and can be warnings or interactions with other birds.
Habitat
Many bird species have specific habitats. The most obvious are Ducks, and Gulls being water birds. Experienced Birders learn the habitats and range of different birds.
Bird Watching Time
Bird Watching is growing in popularity. Early morning before dawn is probably the best time for birding. Songbirds are more likely to be seen shortly after dawn. Eagles and Hawks can be seen soaring high while they hunt after sunup. Owls are more likely to be seen in the evening.
Bird Watching Equipment
Some items that might make more enjoyable are binoculars, a camera and some kind of system for keeping notes. The binocular-camera combination may be a convenient choice. Take a good field guide to identify birds.  You are best off wearing clothes with dull colors that blend into the background. Depending on the birds you are watching you may want to get rain gear, rubber boots and warm clothing.  For birds such as Owls that you might look for in the evening a strong flashlight is also handy.  

Bird charts and posters