Look at the bird’s size and shape
One of the first things to look at when trying to identify a bird is its overall size and shape. Birds come in a huge range of sizes from tiny hummingbirds to large birds of prey. Pay attention to the bird’s proportions – does it have a slender body and long tail or a stocky body and short tail? Make note of key features like the size of the bill, length of the neck, how long or short the legs are. The bird’s silhouette and profile can provide great clues to start narrowing down what species you might be looking at.
Compare to common backyard birds
If you saw the bird in your own backyard or neighborhood, chances are it is one of the more common species that tends to frequent backyards. Start by familiarizing yourself with birds like sparrows, finches, chickadees, jays, doves, crows, etc. Compare your bird’s size and shape to these well-known birds. For example, is your bird smaller and rounder than a robin? About the same size but slimmer than a cardinal? This can help you rule out or zero in on possible bird families.
Consider key markings and color patterns
Now look more closely at the specific coloration and markings on your bird. What are the main colors you notice? Does it have any stripes, spots, or bright patches of color? Where on the body are these markings located? Pay special attention to the wings, chest, head, belly, and tail. For instance, a mostly gray bird with a red patch on its belly could be a red-bellied woodpecker. A yellow bird with black on its wings could be a goldfinch. Taking note of where colors and patterns are will provide more clues.
Listen for distinctive bird songs and calls
Bird vocalizations are another great way to help pinpoint what species you have. Songbirds like sparrows and warblers have distinctive songs, while other birds like crows and jays have loud, raucous calls. Try mimicking or describing the sounds you hear. For example, is it a musical warbling song or a harsh, scratchy “caw caw”? Pay attention to the pace and pitch too. Calls and songs can vary from low hoots to rapid high-pitched chirping. Being able to describe the sounds you hear will help bird experts match it to possible species.
Use a bird call app
To make identifying bird sounds easier, consider using an app that contains recordings of common bird songs and calls. Apps like Merlin Bird ID, iBird Pro, and Larkwire can help you search through their sound libraries by describing the vocalizations you want to match. You can browse by descriptors like a “fast, repeated chirp” or “melodic warble.” The more details you can provide about the bird’s song, the better the apps can suggest possible matches. Then listen through the results to hear if the recording matches what you heard from your bird.
Observe behavior and habitat
Don’t forget to observe where and how you saw the bird behaving. Was it up high in a tree or on a power line? Foraging along the ground? Splashing in a marsh? Different birds occupy different habitats and ecological niches. A bird seen wading through water may be a heron or egret, while a bird perched on a feeder is more likely a finch or sparrow. Watch for behaviors too like undulating flight patterns, woodpecker drilling, swallows catching insects in flight, etc. Habitat and behavior combined with physical features will help complete the picture.
Consult a bird field guide
A great resource that every bird watcher should have is a good field guide. Field guides contain illustrations and descriptions of birds organized by family and species that you can flip through to compare to the bird you saw. Look through the guide for birds with similar attributes and markings to your bird. Read the descriptions to learn key identification traits, habitat, behaviors, and vocalizations to match against your observations. Field guides like the National Geographic Guide to the Birds of North America, Sibley Field Guide to Birds of North America, and Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America are all excellent.
Look up your state or region’s common birds
To simplify your search, look up what birds are most commonly seen in your particular state or region. Print out lists and photos of these local species to browse through. Seeing pictures of birds known to frequent your area will make it easier to zero in on possibilities. You may be able to quickly rule out or match certain species. Free printable lists organized by state and province are available online from resources like Audubon and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Study the drawings and compare size
When using a field guide, look closely at the drawings of each bird species. Note key field marks like wing bars, eye rings, streaking patterns and more that match up with your observations. Also pay attention to relative sizes and scale in the illustrations. If your bird is much smaller or larger than the species illustrated, you can likely eliminate that as a match. Examining the guide drawings in detail along with the descriptive information will help pinpoint the species.
Get expert help identifying the bird
If you’ve exhausted field guides and don’t have any luck determining the bird species, it’s time to seek out some expert help. There are a number of online forums and groups dedicated to bird identification that you can post questions and photos to. Resources like Reddit’s “What’s This Bird” forum, Facebook bird ID groups, and birding community sites like eBird allow you to get suggestions from knowledgeable bird enthusiasts. They will examine your description, photos, location and other facts to offer possible ID help.
Visit a local nature center
Your local nature preserves, parks and environmental education centers are also great places to take your bird ID question. Staff naturalists are experienced with the bird species native to the area. Present them with your photos, notes and details on when and where you spotted the bird. Onsite naturalists will enjoy the challenge of examining the evidence to solve the bird mystery. Nature centers often provide classes, hikes and programs to help hone your bird identification skills too.
Hire a birding guide
For expert one-on-one assistance, you can hire a professional birding guide to help identify the species. Guides offer private tours to share their extensive knowledge of bird watching, behavior and identification. Present your mystery bird details and photos to the guide. Their years of experience with local and migratory birds in the region will be invaluable in conclusively determining what species you found. Tours and hiring a guide may cost money, but provide informed answers.
Use identification resources responsibly
While solving bird ID mysteries can be fun and rewarding, make sure to be responsible and ethical in your pursuit:
- Do not trespass onto private property or disturb natural habitats to get photos.
- Do not play bird sounds at high volume or for extended periods to try and attract birds.
- Be respectful of rules and closure periods if visiting protected areas and reserves.
- Submit records of rare species to proper state and federal wildlife agencies.
- Support conservation efforts to protect birds and their environments.
Following best practices while identifying birds can ensure continued opportunities to study and enjoy avian wildlife.
Conclusion
Identifying an unknown bird takes patience and practice. But armed with some basic tools and knowledge, any bird enthusiast can work through the clues to put a name to that mystery bird. Carefully observe size, shape, markings, sounds and behaviors. Compare to birds known to be found locally. Consult field guides and online communities dedicated to bird ID. Seek out experts from nature centers, forums and professional guides. And remember to be responsible and ethical in your quest to put a name to the birds you observe. Happy birding!
