Recording Breeding Status

Record information on breeding status and behaviors on the front side of the Field Form. See the Field Form page for more detailed instructions.

Breeding Status

The following breeding status terms represent criteria for assessing breeding activity. They are listed in order of increasing certainty. Check the box for the appropriate protocol period next to the behavior listed on the Field Form. These categories and terms were adapted from state Breeding Bird Atlas programs. The terms are classified under Possible, Probable, and Confirmed breeding categories for BFL purposes.

Possible Breeding

Adult Seen (if uncertain about its gender)
Male Seen
Female Seen
Call Heard
Song Heard
Drumming Heard

Probable Breeding

Pair observed in suitable habitat during breeding season
Territoriality -- adult or pair engaged in territory defense (chasing individuals of same species)
Courtship/Display or copulation observed
Probable Nest Site -- adults visiting probable nest site (presume there is a nest present but not seen)

Confirmed Breeding

Carrying Nest Material such as grass or sticks
Nest Building at the nest site or excavation of a nest hole
Distraction Display or feigned injury
Recently Fledged Young are incapable of sustained flight, restricted to the area around the nest, and dependent upon adults for food.
Occupied Nest -- adult seen entering or leaving nest site (usually cavity nesters or canopy nests)
Adult Carrying Fecal Sac
Begging Call Heard -- young continually calling, generally with a gaping bill
Adult Carrying Food for young (make sure adults don't eat it themselves -- early in the breeding season, adults sometimes carry food to feed their mate. This is called courtship feeding and should be marked as Courtship in the Probable section.)
Adult Feeding Young that is recently fledged
Nest With Egg(s)
Adult On Nest (if uncertain about eggs or young)
Nest With Young seen or heard

Tips for Determining Breeding Status

Following birds to observe their behaviors requires patience and perseverance. Working in teams can improve your ability to observe and record many breeding related behaviors.

The following suggestions may help you determine the breeding status of your study species:

• Familiarize yourself with the breeding terms in this section and descriptions of behaviors in the Species Accounts section before you go into the field.
• Work in small groups to improve your ability to observe and record behaviors.
• If a bird is attracted by your playback, continue to focus on the direction from which the bird came, as a mate or fledglings might be nearby.
• Pay special attention to non-singing birds, which are more likely to be females engaged in nesting activities.
• Watch birds that are carrying food, as they may fly toward the nest to feed young.
• Birds may not be responsive to playbacks during all stages of the breeding cycle. Parents busy feeding nestlings and fledglings may not be concerned by your activities. Listening for high-pitched begging calls of fledglings is an effective strategy for locating breeding birds.
• To detect cowbird parasitism, be alert for sneaky female cowbirds in the underbrush, spotted white eggs in the nest, and/or loud, begging cowbird fledglings (buzzing calls).