Diwittner’s Weblog

I am frequently asked to identify wild birds, in the field and in the hand. A good ‘birder’ can identify many species by the silhouette alone but that takes a lot of practice! Whether you’re looking through binoculars or watching a feeder, there may be very little time to make your observations. There are a few simple things you should look for to increase the likelihood of making an accurate identification in a hurry.

First of all, don’t stress about always having your field guide handy. By the time you’ve looked up a potential candidate, your living subject may be long gone. It’s better to have a paper and pencil to jot down a few key points that will be useful when you consult the guide book later on.

There are several physical characteristics to watch for to help in the identification process.

• Beak size and shape. The beak tells you a lot about what kind of life style a bird lives: meat eater, insectivore, fish spearer, mud prober, seed eater, etc. Is the bill curved, and if so, which way does it curve, up or down? Is it hooked, abnormally thick, long and slender, or perfectly triangular?
  

  Note the seed-crushing bill of this Pine grosbeak.

• Tail length and shape. Is the tail long? Is it rounded at the end or square? Is it notched in the middle? Are there any unusual markings such as outer patches of white or a black band across the end? A good case in point is the Mourning Dove, whose tail is diamond-shaped and has outer white flashes when in flight. While resting, these features are not visible. Conversely, in other species, the shape may be more easily determined while perching.
• Wing shape and markings: This may only be visible in flight but watch for the relative length and shape of the outstretched wing. Furthermore, are there distinctive markings on the leading edge of the wing or spots underneath? What about colour patterns?
• Eye ring: If you could see the colour of the eyes, that would be helpful but it’s not easy to do. On the other hand, the presence or absence of an eye ring can be a great clue and is much easier to observe.
• Distinctive plumage: Watch for stripes on the head, neck, tail, and wings. If there are bright, obvious colours, the species will probably be simple to identify and you’re not likely to forget it. However, there may be subtle wing bar patterns or a bold stripe above the eye. If so, count the number of stripes and try to note where they start and stop as well as their colour. This will be important later when you get your field guide open.
• Legs: Some birds are feathered all the way down to their toes while others have bare legs. The presence of feathers and how far they extend can be key. However, if legs are bare, what colour are they?
• Geography: Though birds can occasionally be ‘off course’, it may be helpful to know which species live in which areas at certain times of the year. For example, if you see a waxwing in Alberta in January, it is almost certainly a Bohemian waxwing, simply because that fits with their migratory patterns. The other waxwing found in Alberta is the cedar waxwing, but it is only found in Alberta in the summer breeding season. Be careful, however, as there is a brief migratory period when one species is coming while the other is going and they may overlap for a short time.