All About Identification

Now that the Great Spring Migration has begun, your feeders will be visited by a whole host of different birds.  Feeders are a great place to do some backyard birdwatching but to get the full experience, you will want to be able to accurately identify whichever bird it is that is munching on your seed.  You can do this by looking for specific field marks.  Field marks are what set different bird species apart from one another.  By noting these differences, you can identify to species most birds that you see!  So to help you out, here's a quick guide to field marks and identifying birds.

(Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

This picture tells you the main points to look for on a bird.  These areas will have different colours, patterns, and shapes and a good bird guide will point out these areas for an easy identification.  Any colours that jump out or are different from the rest of the bird will be good indicators of species.  Sometimes the nape will change into another colour on the back, or the breast will be streaked, spotted, or bare.  These are all good things to look at on the body.



Important things to note in this picture are the wings and wingbars.

(Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

The presence or absence of wingbars can be a clue to what species the bird is.  The bars can be white, grey, cream, or other light colours.  Also note any colour changes on the rest of the wing.

(Cornell Lab of Ornithology)

The head and face can hold the biggest clues to exactly what bird is in your yard.  Stripey heads can be quite common and the colour pattern is a huge indicator of the bird.  Check for any different colours as well as the distinctness or brightness of them.  Sometimes eyelines can be quite vivid while others are faint.  The same goes for eyerings (if you can get that close!).

For the best chances at a correct identification, you should have four things quickly available: binoculars, a pad of paper and pen, a camera, and a field guide.  Binoculars give a close-up view of the bird in question and you can jot down any defining characteristics on the pad of paper.  A camera allows you to look back at the bird later and spend time looking at field marks.  And the best way to find field marks is with your bird field guide.

If you do happen to snap a shot and just can't quite figure out what bird it is, I find the Help Me Identify a Bird forum on http://www.whatbird.com/ extremely useful.  You can post your picture and expert birders can tell you what it is, if the picture is good enough!

Happy birding!