Outdoor Recreation Resources

If you enjoy watching birds, you might want to know how to identify them, too. It is exciting when you are able to correctly identify a bird while out bird watching. This isn’t as easily done as said, however - it can be very difficult at times. Of course having a good field guide is an excellent idea. However, you’ll also need to glean some knowledge on your own before you can even use the field guide properly. So, if you are a beginner at bird watching, the following are a few tips that can help you more accurately identify birds.

What’s the Bird’s Size?

Take a look at the size of a bird if you don’t know how to identify it. Is it the size of a robin, a small sparrow, a chicken, or even an ostrich? Also, consider whether the bird is plump, on the skinny side, short, or very long. 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.

Note the Colors

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. In addition, make sure you note colors on each part of the body as well. For instance are the wings differently colored than the rest of the bird? These details are important in identifying birds. Be certain to look at any markings the bird may have. With a good pair of birding binoculars you can take your time to study the birds up close without scaring them away.

What’s Your Location?

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 types of bird tend to live in certain types of terrain. Is the bird in the water, is it wading or swimming, does it actually climb the tree, how and where does it fly, and does it move its tail? All of these things will help you when you want to identify the birds you watch.

Use Your Ears

Beginners at bird watching need to know to listen to birds too. Every single bird has a unique song that they sing and if you listen you may be able to identify the bird just by what you hear. 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.

So, next time you go out bird watching adventure, keep these tips in mind to help you in your efforts. They will help you in identifying the birds you see (and even just hear) out there, giving you a more rewarding and enjoyable outdoor experience.