Jizz is a birding term to describe a birds unique overall character and impression using shape, proportions movement etc.
Once you become familiar with a species you pick up on the jizz to make a quick ID. Sometimes it gets you to a bird family quickly, or sometimes straight to a particular species.
The words origin is unknown- the WW2 origin is probably wrong as the term apparently appeared first in the 1920s
S
For advice about Birding, Identification,field guides, binoculars, scopes, tripods, etc - put 'Birding Tips' into the search box
For an interesting debate on jizz see-
rdp1710.wordpress.com/.../jizz-birding-and-all-that-jazz
Thanks Seymour - an interesting read.
SB
ps - By the way, nice to see you on here, hope you are well.
There is something new to learn everyday...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylark58/
Thanks for coming up with a better description of jizz than mine Seymour,mine was what we were told in the old Royal Observer Corps days,dates me a bit that does.I still find it useful in the field when you cannot get those textbook i.d. points
Pete
Birding is for everyone no matter how good or bad we are at it,enjoy it while you can