Learn to identify your birds

Correctly identifying the birds at your feeder is critical to the quality of the data you submit and to the success of Project FeederWatch. Since relatively few species of birds visit most feeders, these species can become very familiar to you with a little practice and careful observation. We encourage you to acquaint yourself with the birds in your area by studying the Common Feeder Birds Poster included in your first Research Kit. You can download a mini version of the poster for free.

We also recommend that you consult a current field guide to learn more about the species at your feeder and their winter ranges. For more information about identifying birds, visit Bird Identification in the About Birds and Bird Feeding section of this web site. For help with similar looking birds, such as finches, woodpeckers, or accipiters, visit the Tricky Bird ID page. A bird guide for most North American birds can be found on the Lab's All About Birds web site.

Rare birds

If you find a bird at your feeder that you think might be rare, see the Rare Bird page in About Birds and Bird Feeding for information identifying and documenting a rare bird.

If the bird is rare, fill out the Rare Bird form found in your Instruction Booklet or in the Data Entry section of this web site. (You can download a .pdf file of the form here.) Provide as much detail as possible on the form because ornithologists will need these details to confirm your record. (They cannot confirm records that just say “It matched the picture in the field guide” or “I’m sure of my identification.”) Photos are best, but if you can't get a photo, please send a sketch of what you saw along with your report. You can use the bird sketch page found on the back of the Sick or Unusual Bird Form or download a pdf of the sketch page. You may submit a Rare Bird Form for birds seen in your Count Site during the FeederWatch season, even if the bird comes on a non-count day.

Confirmed rare bird reports are posted on the FeederWatch web site and discussed in our reports.

Sick or unusual birds

You may see a bird with a bald head or a strange looking bill or a bird that looks lethargic and puffed up. FeederWatch tracks observations of these unusual or sick birds. Learn more about bald birds, other unusual-looking birds and bird diseases.

If you submit data on paper forms and see a bird that is diseased or aberrent in some way (perhaps it is albino or has a deformed bill), please use the Sick or Unusual Bird Form found in your Instruction Booklet to report your observation. (You can download a pdf file file of the form.)

If you submit data through the web site, use the Unusual Bird Form to report birds with unusual plumage or other features, and use the Sick Bird Form to report diseased birds. Follow the instructions on the forms to send photos or sketches. You can use the bird sketch page found on the back of the Sick or Unusual Bird Form or download a pdf of the sketch page.

House Finch Disease form

FeederWatch scientists are conducting formal study of House Finch disease, or mycoplasmal conjunctivitis, in House Finches and other species. Please use the House Finch Disease Survey Form to report your sightings of birds with this disease.  Visit the House Finch Disease Survey web site for more information.