Project FeederWatch home page
Canadian FeederWatch page
innerpagebanner2000.GIF (6206 bytes)
Overview Instructions and Updates Data Entry link Data Retrieval News About Birds & Bird Feeding

Bird Identification

Return to About Birds & Bird Feeding Index Page

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Most people run for a field guide when they see an unfamiliar bird, even those of us who know better. The best thing to do when you see an unfamiliar bird is to quickly write down everything you can remember about the bird. If you can do this while you are still looking at the bird, all the better.
Draw a quick sketch that allows you to point to different parts of the bird and label colors or features. For example, point to the top of the head and write down any coloring you observed on the head. Having the sketch will help you think of all the different parts of the bird to describe.
Pine Warbler sketch by Genie Rising, Citra, Florida
Only after you have written down all that you can remember is it time to consult a field guide.
The Common Feeder Birds Poster (shown below), which participants receive in their project kit, features paintings of some common feeder birds arranged by size, shape, and color. For a more complete bird guide, consult a field guide. See Backyard Feeding Resources for a list of field guides.

If, after consulting a field guide, you are still unsure of a bird's identity you can:

  • Find some knowledgeable birders in your community for help. Call a local nature center or Audubon and ask for someone who is familiar with local birds.
  • Send your sketch or photo of the mystery bird to Project FeederWatch for assistance. Be sure to include the following helpful information:
    • a description of the bird
    • location (city and state or province)
    • a description of the habitat in which you found the bird
    • any behavioral observations, including feeding behavior and type of food consumed
    • which species the bird was associating with
    • the size of the bird in comparision with a common bird

Even the best of birders are unable to identify every bird they see. Sometimes a bird is in a transitional plumage between winter and summer plumages, for example, and sometimes a view of a bird is just too blurry, quick, or distant. If you are new to birding, start slowly. Study the birds at your feeder until you can identify them at a glance. Then gradually add more birds to your repertoire, always taking time to study them and learn all their nuances, if possible. Sparrows, shorebirds, and gulls tend to be the most difficult, so you may want to save those for last.

Learn more about bird identification on the Lab's All About Birds web site.

© 2005 Express written permission required for use of images or text on these pages.
FeederWatch is a joint research and education project of:
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Home Page
Bird Studies Canada