Help With Bird Identification! Techniques, Hints And Tips For Beginners

Over the last few weeks the forum has seen many requests for birds to be identified, which has been brilliant and challenging for all members concerned.

For anyone who is totally new to birding it can be quite daunting trying to identify a bird especially if you are surrounded by experienced birders.

It is extremely difficult also for those who are attempting to identify a bird, when given very little imformation.

e.g. what's this small brown bird in my garden?

I hope that information below, helps all birders at all levels.

What you should remember is learning to identify birds is fun, difficult and frustrating.

A field guide can help you attach a name to most of the birds you see, if you don't have a field guide with you then identification is somewhat harder.

With the age of computers there are also many online bird identifiers that can assist in making an ID.

This link will take you to the RSPB identifier http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/

You will also learn that many of the birds you see just can't be identified with 100% certainty. But with practice, you should at least be able to narrow your ID down to the correct family -- was it a Sparrow or a Thrush?

When trying to identify a bird, there are a number of questions that you could ask yourself to aid identification:

1. What is the size of the bird? Is it a similar size to a bird you already know?

2. What is the shape of the bill? Is it long and slender, short and stumpy? Does the bill curve? If so does it curve up or down?

3. Are there any unusual characteristics, such as a crest?

4. Does the bird appear slender or is it rotund?

5. What is the colouring? Are there any unusual patterns to the colours or feathers?

6. Are the legs short or long in comparison to the bird's body?

7. What colour are the legs?

8. What habitat is it in? Does this match what is said your field guide?

9. Does the bird appear solitary? Or is it within a large flock?

It is always recommended that indentification should be taken place whilst looking at the bird in question; however you may not always have your bird identification book with you.

Once you have gained some confidence, the next thing is to start and identify birds by thier calls and songs.

The links below will take you to a website of British Garden Birds

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/

http://www.garden-birds.co.uk/quiz/quiz.php

I have included a link to the quiz section were you can test yourself on Calls & Songs and Photographs.

I hope this will help, also remember don't be afraid to ask any questions.

If any member has any other ideas drop me a note and I will edit this post to include as much advice as possible.

Regards Buzzard