If you like bird watching, it is a certainty that you’ll want to learn how to identify these birds. It can be exciting to find a bird you haven’t seen before, but it’s even more exciting to be able to identify them. It’s not always a simple thing to do, though. It can be frustrating if you don’t have the proper information to work with. Having a good field guide is a good way to start. However, you’ll have to have some knowledge of your own even to be able to accurately use the field guide. So, if you are a beginner at bird watching, the following are a few tips that can help you more accurately identify birds.
The Size of the Bird
One of the most important factors in identifying a bird will be its size. Is it the size of a robin, a small sparrow, a chicken, or even an ostrich? Would you characterize the bird as long or short, plump or skinny? The entire body should be taken into consideration, including the size of the beak, the size of the tail, and the size and shape of the wings as well.
What Color or Pattern Is the Bird?
The colors are another important thing to note when trying to identify birds. As you learn which colors certain birds tend to be you’ll soon learn how to identify some birds by color alone. However, colors can trick you from time to time. The lighting may affect the color that the bird appears. Be sure to check the colors that are on each part of the body as well. Are the legs of a certain color, or are the wings? Are there any specific and unique markings anywhere on the body that you could use to help identify the bird? With a good pair of birding binoculars the features of these feathered creatures can be viewed more closely.
Where Are You?
You can also identify birds by location in many cases. Where are you when you bird watch? Are you on the water, inside a large forest? Are you enjoying some backyard birding? Certain birds stay within one particular habitat. If the bird’s in the water, wading or swimming, can it actually climb a tree, too? Does it fly, and if so, where and how? How does it move its tail? All of these things will help you when you want to identify the birds you watch.
Listening to Identify Birds
One of the most important tips for beginner bird watchers that want to identify birds is to listen. Many species of bird can be identified by their songs. If you are listening carefully, this can help you spot birds you’d never have noticed otherwise - remember, each bird species has a unique song. It won’t always be a definite identification, especially from a distance, but it can certainly aid in identifying birds.
Next time you go on a bird watching, keep all of these tips in mind. They’ll help you identify the birds you see and have a more fun and rewarding experience out in the wild.
Tags: Outdoors Activities