FeederWatchers help us track large-scale patterns in the occurrence of rare, sick, or unusual birds.

Rare birds

A rare bird is one that is clearly outside its typical winter range. Learn more about 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. Photos are required to confirm a rare bird report, but if you can't get a photo, or if you can only get a poor quality 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 page. You may submit a Rare Bird Form, even if you see a bird outside of your Count Days, as long as the bird was in your Count Site.

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. Both forms are found by clicking on the "Report rare, sick, or unusual birds" link on the Data Entry home page. Follow the instructions on the forms to send photos or sketches. You can draw a sketch on our bird sketch page, which can be found on the back of the paper Sick or Unusual Bird Form page, or download a pdf file of the 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.