Quick answer: There are a few key things to look for when identifying a bird including size, shape, color pattern, behavior, habitat, and sound. Consider all these factors together to help narrow down what species it might be. Field guides and apps can provide additional assistance.
To identify a bird, start by noting its overall size–is it tiny like a hummingbird, small like a sparrow, or large like a goose? Also look at the shape of the bird–does it have long legs, short wings, a slender bill, or a crest on its head? Pay attention to the color pattern on the feathers–is it mostly one color or does it have complex patterns of streaks, bars, or spots? Note any distinctive markings like a red crest or yellow eyering.
Watch how the bird moves and behaves as this can be a helpful clue. Consider the habitat the bird is in, as many species prefer specific environments like forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, or feeders. Finally, listen for any calls or songs the bird makes, as many species have distinctive vocalizations.
Using field guides or mobile apps can help you systematically narrow down possibilities by filtering by location, color, size and other factors until a match is found. With practice, patience and good reference materials you’ll become better at recognizing birds by sight and sound.
Size
One of the first things to notice when trying to identify a bird is its overall size. Birds come in a huge range of sizes. The smallest bird in the world is the bee hummingbird, which weighs only 2 grams and measures 2 inches long. On the other end of the spectrum, the largest birds are ostriches and emus that can grow over 9 feet tall and weigh more than 300 pounds.
Most common backyard birds are medium-sized, like robins, jays, wrens and sparrows. But even within these medium sizes there is variation – an American Crow looks gigantic next to a tiny Carolina Wren! When you see a bird, compare it to birds you are familiar with to get a feel for whether it is large, small or medium sized.
Very small birds like hummingbirds, bushtits and kinglets are almost always going to be hard to identify by sight alone, and it helps to note their tiny size right away. Large birds like hawks, owls, vultures, herons and egrets can often be identified to type and even species by size alone. So pay close attention to the overall bulk of the bird when making initial observations.
Examples of Bird Sizes
Very Small | Small | Medium | Large | Very Large |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hummingbird | Chickadee | Robin | Hawk | Ostrich |
Kinglets | Nuthatch | Jay | Crow | Emu |
Bushtit | Warbler | Northern Flicker | Heron | Vulture |
Shape
Paying attention to a bird’s proportions and shape can provide valuable clues for identification. Look at the size and shape of the beak, wings, legs and tail in relation to the overall body. Note specifics like long legs, short wings, pointed vs. rounded beak, presence of a crest, etc.
Related species will share similar body plans. For example, finches have short conical beaks suited for crushing seeds; warblers have thin pointy beaks for grabbing insects; woodpeckers have long chisel-like beaks; and birds of prey have large hooked beaks for tearing meat.
The shape and length of the tail can also be telling. Long forked tails aid agile flyers like swallows, while short round tails help birds that live in dense brush like wrens. Raptors that soar and glide often have wide, fanned tails. Ground birds like quail have short rounded tails. Noticing these kinds of structural characteristics will give you clues about how a bird lives and moves.
Examples of Bird Shapes
Pointed beak | Hooked beak | Short legs | Long legs |
---|---|---|---|
Warbler | Bird of Prey | Swallow | Heron |
Sparrow | Owl | Chickadee | Crane |
Hummingbird | Shrike | Woodpecker | Shorebird |
Color Patterns
The colors and patterns on a bird’s plumage can be very useful for identification. First take note of the bird’s overall or dominant color such as mostly blue, mostly gray, rufous orange, black and white, etc. Then look for any distinctive markings such as stripes, bars, spots, patches of different colors, bright yellow or red crests, eye rings, etc.
Related species will often share similar color patterns. For example, orioles and blackbirds are predominantly black and orange; warblers display complex mixes of streaks, blotches and bars; sparrows and towhees have streaking and spots; and mallard ducks and quail have iridescent patches on their wings.
Males and females of the same species may display dramatically different plumages. Males are often brighter and more vividly colored in order to attract a mate. Comparing an unknown bird to pictures of males, females and juveniles of likely candidate species can help identify its age, sex and exact species.
Examples of Color Patterns
Mostly black with red/orange | Blue and orange | Gray with white throat | Heavily streaked |
---|---|---|---|
Red-winged Blackbird | Blue Jay | Chickadee | Sparrow |
Baltimore Oriole | Bluebird | Titmouse | Junco |
Behavior
Carefully observing how a bird moves and behaves can reveal a lot about its identification. Is it hopping along the ground or gracefully swooping through the air? Does it climb tree trunks or flit through foliage while feeding? Does it wade into water or swim? Is it solitary or in a flock? The habitat a bird is using, how it forages, and its activity level provide helpful clues.
For example, swallows will be flying swiftly near water, woodpeckers cling to vertical surfaces while pecking, chickadees and titmice stay high in trees moving actively, doves walk along the ground in the open, and ducks float calmly on the water surface. Pay attention to whether the legs are long or short which indicates how it prefers to move. Also note any behaviors like crest raising, wing flashing, tail fanning, or aggressive territorial displays.
Putting all these kinds of behavioral clues together creates a profile of how the bird fits into its environment, which helps match it to potential species. This is especially useful for identifying birds when details of color and markings are difficult to discern.
Examples of Behaviors
Swimming | Wading | Climbing | Hopping |
---|---|---|---|
Ducks | Herons | Woodpeckers | Sparrows |
Grebes | Egrets | Creepers | Juncos |
Loons | Bitterns | Nuthatches | Towhees |
Habitat
Noting what habitat or environment you observe a bird in can instantly narrow down what species it could be. Birds have adapted to thrive in certain habitats so knowing where a bird likes to live provides a useful filter for identification.
Some examples of bird habitat preferences include:
- Forest birds: woodpeckers, nuthatches, thrushes, vireos, tanagers
- Grassland birds: meadowlarks, bobolinks, grouse, larks
- Wetland birds: herons, egrets, ducks, swans, geese
- Coastal birds: gulls, terns, sandpipers, alcids
- Arid land birds: quail, pigeons, roadrunners, hummingbirds
- Urban birds: pigeons, house sparrows, starlings, grackles
If you see a warbler, your first thought can be woodland habitat. A bird near reeds and cattails is likely a marsh bird. A soaring raptor indicates open areas. Feeder birds like chickadees, titmice, finches and woodpeckers favor suburban parks and yards. Consider habitat together with other clues to identify species within those environments.
Examples of Habitat Preferences
Forests | Grasslands | Marshes | Coastlines |
---|---|---|---|
Woodpeckers | Meadowlarks | Bitterns | Seagulls |
Jays | Larks | Moorhens | Terns |
Thrushes | Sparrows | Rails | Sandpipers |
Sound
Listening for the sounds a bird makes can be a very helpful identification clue, as many species have distinctive songs, calls or drumming. This is especially useful for birds that remain hidden in dense foliage, moving leaves or brush. Tunes and tones vary widely between species and families.
Some examples:
- Owls: Hoots, screeches, whinnies
- Hummingbirds: Buzzing
- Woodpeckers: Drumming, tapping
- Tanagers: Bursts of chips, buzzes and whistles
- Flycatchers: Harsh whit, fitz-bew, wheep
- Warblers: Strings of sweet whistles, twitters and trills
If you can record and later match the sounds to samples, apps like Merlin Bird ID can help confirm the species. Understanding bird songs takes time and practice but listening provides one more helpful clue to add to your identification toolkit.
Examples of Bird Sounds
Raptors | Woodpeckers | Songbirds | Gulls/Terns |
---|---|---|---|
Screeches | Drumming | Warbling | Laughing |
Chirping | Tapping | Trilling | Squawking |
Whistles | Hammering | Whistling | Screaming |
Use Field Guides
Field guides and mobile apps are extremely helpful for walking through the process of bird identification in a systematic way. Guides break down birds by family, genus, species and geographic location. They contain illustrations, range maps, and tips on how to distinguish lookalike species.
Start by narrowing down the family using your observations, then flip to that section of the book. Scan for illustrations that match what you saw based on colors, markings, shapes and behaviors. Read the descriptions to hone in on species, paying special attention to details on habitat, sound and range to confirm the match.
Great field guides for North America include:
- National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
- Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
- Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America
- Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
Use them alongside Merlin Bird ID, iBird Pro, eBird, and other apps with extensive photo galleries, bird finder quizzes, and songs and calls libraries to systematically identify what you see and hear.
Practice Makes Perfect
Bird identification takes patience and practice. No one expects you to instantly recognize every species. Start by learning the most common birds in your area, noticing shape, size, colors, sounds and behaviors. Over time you will develop sharper identification skills and be able to distinguish more species.
Pay attention to subtle differences like bill shape, feet size, wing bars, eye rings and tail patterns that can distinguish lookalikes. Quiz yourself with apps and guides. Get to know birds in your backyard and neighborhood before exploring further afield. Immerse yourself and it will get easier with experience. Soon you will have the joy of knowing many birds by sight and song!
Conclusion
Identifying birds takes a keen eye, patience, practice, and using several clues in combination. Pay close attention to size, shape, color patterns, behavior, habitat preferences, and sounds. Consider all these factors together to narrow down possibilities. Use field guides and technology to confirm suspicions. Sharpen your skills with time in the field. Bird identification is a very rewarding lifelong learning process!