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What Kind of Bird is it? Bird Identification Keys – Habitat

October 30, 2009

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October 30, 2009

Avocet

For bird watchers and backyard birders alike, wild bird identification is a fun and sometimes challenging activity. Recognizing and identifying wild birds is easier when the four keys to bird identification are used – Size & Shape, Color Pattern, Behavior and Habitat.
Bird Identification – Bird Habitat

A habitat is where a bird lives, eats and sleeps, and all birds are uniquely suited to survive in a particular area or environment. Habitats are broken down into four general categories, including Forested Woodlands, Water or Aquatic areas, Scrub Shrub areas or Open Habitats.

Bird Watching and identification is about the probability of seeing a species of bird in their habitat during a particular time of year. Bird watchers who know what birds are likely to be seen in a habitat have a identification head start – a short list of birds they expect to see, and a quick visual cue for birds that require an extra look.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has created an excellent video series to help the beginning birder develop their wild bird identification skills. Below, is the fourth and last in the series – Recognizing Birds – Bird Habitat. The other videos in the series can be found here – Size & Shape, Color Pattern, and Behavior.

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What Kind of Bird is it? Bird Identification Keys – Behavior

October 29, 2009

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October 29, 2009

American Woodcock

For bird watchers and backyard birders, recognizing and identifying wild birds is easier when focusing on the four keys to bird identification – Size & Shape, Color Pattern, Behavior and Habitat.
Bird Identification – Bird Behavior

The way a bird acts is a big clue to what kind of bird it is. Unlike it’s plumage, a bird’s behavior is consistent throughout the year. Recognizing how a bird moves, flies and forages will provide many clues to its identification. Notice the posture of the bird. Does it stand more upright or horizontal while perched in a tree? How does the bird forage for food? Does its’ body repeatedly bounce up and down as it hunts for food? Also, study the flight style of the bird. Does it have a quick wing beat? Does it hover or fly directly to its destination? Along with the other three keys to identification, these behaviors will help to identify the bird.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has created an excellent video series to help the beginning birder develop their wild bird identification skills. Below, is the fourth and last in the series – Recognizing Birds – Bird Behavior. Other videos in the series include – Size & Shape, Color Pattern and Habitat.

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/bird-identification-key-behavior/

What Kind of Bird is it? Bird Identification Keys – Color Pattern

October 28, 2009

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October 28, 2009

Western Meadowlark

For beginning birders, it is often a wild bird’s brilliant color that attracts them to birding. Field guides are filled with detailed and beautiful illustrations and photos of wild birds, but the images can be misleading because field marks change throughout the season. Recognizing and identifying wild birds is made easier by using the four keys to bird identification – Size & Shape, Color Pattern, Behavior and Habitat.
Bird Identification – Color Pattern

When using color to identify a wild bird, it’s best to take an overall color inventory of the bird. Notice how the color arranged on the bird’s body, rather than trying to specifically match the colors to those found in the field guide. Ignore the subtleties of the color and placement (plumage changes throughout the season), and check patterns in places like the wing bar, eye ring or spectacles.

The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has created an excellent video series to help the beginning birder develop their wild bird identification skills. Below, is the second in the series – Recognizing Birds – Color Patterns.

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/bird-identification-key-color-pattern/

What Kind of Bird is it? Bird Identification Keys- Shape & Shape

October 27, 2009

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October 27, 2009

Look at the bird’s body, head, bill, wings and tail. Does it have a round or long thin profile or silhouette? Is it’s bill short and stout, or long and thin? Does it have a long or short tail? Using these observations and a field guide, you can put the bird into a group or family of other birds. Then comparisons can be made to other birds, as well as to the bird itself to create a short list of possibilities, and then move on to the other identification keys – color pattern, behavior and habitat.

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Permanent link to this article: http://blog.newenglandbirdhouse.com/backyard-birding/bird-identification-key-shape/