Quick Tips for Identifying Birds

Bird Watching is an art, Science, and a hobby... This passion in you will take you as near to your backyard or as far as in the wonders

of the wilds.. Bird Watchers have a very exciting time.

Appropriate Time For Bird Watchers

Bird watching is done in a quite and serene environment. The best time to watch the bird flying is early morning when birds are hungry and are emerging out of their nest in search of food and the best season is of-course spring.

Nature Of Bird Watchers

Bird watchers can be:

Seeking Rare Species

They are always on the look out for rare birds. Their passion takes them to mountains, deep deserts, sea, river -beds, in the forests etc.

Seawatching

Some love sea birds and will always be found roaming on the shores of the seas and oceans eyeing on sea birds.

Twitching

This means chasing previously found rare bird. Twisters will conduct detail study on rare birds.

Does Bird Watching Require Learning?

Bird watching does not require any formal training as this is a hobby and passion, but if you adopt some tips, then bird watching will become most memorable and an exciting event of your life. One biggest problem that you will face while watching birds is identification.

Shape And Size Of The Bird

Knowing the shape and size of the bird can help you to identify the bird, and know whether it is long or short, fat or skinny, thick or thin, curved or straight? Tails and Wings of different Birds are also different . With different color patterns, shapes and sizes of the birds, you can easily recognize a bird. The most distinct bird is an owl, which can be identified from long distances as it has a round face, very rare among birds.

Color

Some birds are very colorful and display different patches of colors. Some are dull and some have only one color.. Crow or koel can be easily recognized by their color as they are both black.

Habitat

You can also identify the bird by their habitat. Birds have evolved themselves by certain habitat.. If the birds are at the edge of the pond with long bills and pointed beaks then you are sure that these are either Great Blue Heron or a Great Egret. A bird that soars high along rivers and forest margins, watching for carrion (dead animals) are vultures, typical of Central and South America.

With the bird's diet, foraging habits and evolutionary adaptations, you can predict the bird. If you find the bird using its massive bill to pluck fruits and berries, then it could be gaudy keel-billed toucan. It also eats insects and reptiles.

Birds that eat fish can be found near water while birds that eat primarily insects, can be located in fields or forests. A deciduous forest may be a great spot to look for a Red-eyed Vireo and that too in June.

Common Loon

Common loon though looks like a duck is not so when the physical parameters are taken. It measures 28-36" (70-90 cm), has a large, long-bodied, low-swimming waterfowl. They are stout, straight, dagger shaped and dark. They turn grey brown from above during winter . Similar to this is yellow -billed loon, has an inverted yellow bill and Pacific loon.

Swallows

Swallows are of different species. Its size is 5-6" (13-15 cm). Males have metallic blue to blue-green color above and white color below. Females are brown and have a slightly notched tail

Continue to : Ideal Information on How to Identify Birds

Adventures in Bird Watching: Best Trip Destinations
Lost Forever: Ten Extinct Bird Species
Tips on Buying Conures
Learn How to Attract Birds to Your Yard