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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. 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. If you’re just starting out as a bird watcher, then, there are a few things you can do that will help you identify birds more accurately.

What’s the Bird’s Size?

One of the most important factors in identifying a bird will be its size. Is it about the size of a large ostrich, maybe chicken size, about the size of a small sparrow, or perhaps the size of a robin? Also, consider whether the bird is plump, on the skinny side, short, or very long. Take the entire body into account, including the beak, tail and wings (both size and shape) when making this evaluation.

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 can affect the color so that the bird appears a different color than he or she really is. In addition, make sure you note colors on each part of the body as well. Are the legs a certain color, the wings a specific color, or does it have any specific markings anywhere on the body? 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?

Knowing where you bird watch is also going to be a help when you identify birds. 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.

Listening to Identify Birds

One of the most important things to keep in mind when you’re watching birds is that how they sound can help you figure out what they are, too. Every bird species has a unique song; if you listen, you may be able to identify the bird you’re watching just by what you can 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.

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, Hiking, Boating & Camping