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How to Start – Be nice to yourself!

First step is to enjoy being outside surrounded by beautiful birds and nature
Invest in good binocs* and a field guide
Start in your backyard or nice outdoor spot and get comfortable. Feel free to sit on your deck or camp chair and let the birds come to you.
The more time you spend in the field observing, the better your ID skills will be
I often can’t do snap IDs – I need to watch the bird to see three or more field marks.
Go out with people you like who can help you get onto and ID the bird, like the Augusta Birding Club or any other group. www.augustabirds.org

* (I like 8x42s, but many people use 7x35s. Just not 10x’s - can’t hold ‘em steady enough. Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 are less than $300. Monarch 7 8x42 are ~$450)

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It helps to know what birds to expect to see when you get there

eBird.org can tell you what birds are likely at any virtually any spot on the planet at any particular time
Before you head out, you could review the birds that have a >20% chance of being seen

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How to ID? Cornell Lab of Ornithology recommends:

Size and Shape
Color Pattern and Field Marks
Behavior
Habitat and Range
Sounds

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Judging size is all relative�This is what Cornell means by “size”

Sparrows: 5” to 6”

Robin:10”

Am.Crow: 17.5”

Canada Goose: 27” to 45”’

These are length measurements from tip of bill to tip of tail

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Songbirds - “Average” birds, making up half of all bird species; includes sparrows, wrens, warblers, robins, and many, many more.
Swimming birds/waterfowl - Birds found near or in water; includes ducks, loons, and grebes.
Seabirds - Birds found out at sea, along the coast, or flying over bodies of water; includes pelicans, gulls, and terns.
Wading birds - Large, long-legged birds often wading in water; includes herons, egrets, ibis, storks, and cranes.
Raptors - Birds that eat meat during the day; includes eagles, falcons, hawks, and vultures.
Owls - Meat-eating birds that hunt at night
Shorebirds -Seen along wet areas, running on ground ; includes sandpipers, plovers, and avocets.
Woodpeckers - Climb along trunks and whack at wood; distinctive group.
Hummingbirds - Tiny, shiny birds that hover at flowers
Pigeons and doves - Small-headed, large-chested birds with short legs.
Chicken-like birds- Includes quail, partridge, grouse, and turkeys.

This is what Cornell means by “shape”

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Field Marks/Color Patterns

All field guides point out the key marks that birders use to ID a bird. These are called “field marks”
No need to stress out and think you have to be a walking field guide. It’s not about memorization, it’s about observation
Birding is iterative – one thing builds upon another. I learn new things every time I go out.

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Applying Cornell’s recommendations: Downy vs. Hairy Woodpecker

SIZE, COLOR PATTERNS, FIELD MARKS	Downy	Hairy
Is bill length just about the same length as the head?	No, it’s shorter	Yes
Black comma mark on upper chest?	No	Yes
Black spots on sides of tail?	Yes	No
Bristle feathers fluffy?	Yes	No
BEHAVIOR: Foraging on twigs or weeds?	Yes	No
SOUNDS: Can you count individual drumming taps?	Yes, slower	No, way too fast
HABITAT	Same	Same

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One additional field mark from Sibley

Downy Woodpecker (left) and Hairy Woodpecker (right). Note differences in the shape and prominence of the white area on the side of the neck - a broad oval on Downy and a relatively uniform band on Hairy. Original gouache and pencil sketch copyright David Sibley.

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Let’s Try it

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Eastern Phoebe

First, are we likely to see Eastern Phoebe on our walk?
Size and Shape: bigger than a sparrow. Kind of a squarish head. Dark. Streaks on breast?
Behavior: bobs its tail up and down almost constantly
Habitat: under eaves of buildings, or perched nearby

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Are we likely to see a Wilson’s Warbler?

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Red-winged Blackbird

Likely to see Red-winged Blackbirds?

Male: All black with red “epaulets” bordered by pale yellow band
Female: dark brown with heavily streaked back and belly.
Both: sharp bill; bigger than sparrow; wetlands

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Tree Swallow

Likely to see?

Adults; about the size of sparrow; square tail with a little notch, clean white breast, blue-green back; open areas; lots of chittering

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Shall we try a few more? We take requests ☺

Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat?
Song Sparrow?
What’s your favorite?

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look, listen, watch, repeat

Look at the bird first, enjoy ☺, try to see details, then check the field guide
If you can’t ID the bird, don’t worry. You’ve still learned something from the outing, which you will build on next time. It’s an iterative process
Go outside, look, listen, watch, repeat!
That’s birdwatching ☺

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Digital Aids to ID’ing birds

Merlin Bird ID app – app is created by Cornell to identify birds in photos and sounds.“listens” to sonograms and can often tell you which bird is singing or calling
eBird app – a real game changer. Created buy Cornell. Records and tracks birders reports. Use the data for habitat preservation and other research. For a tutorial, access the free Cornell course: eBird Essentials https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/product/ebird-essentials/
The Warbler Guide app – fantastic for warblers
Sibley app – good all purpose guide for your cell
iBirdPro app

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How to Practice

Practice with eBird photo quizzes, set to county and “likely”.. https://ebird.org/quiz/
Practice with Sibley app – set to location and “common”
Sign up for Cornell videos: https://academy.allaboutbirds.org/course-list/

Be a Better Birder 1: Size and Shape
Be a Better Birder 2: Color and Pattern
Understanding Bird Behavior

Use Project FeederWatch.org website for “Tricky Bird IDs” in their “Learn” tab

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Notes on Birding

To focus binoculars to ensure that both left and right eyes are calibrated relative to each other: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkPzl-VPmo4
Birding in May is very important: early in the month, males are singing and leaves are still small. As territory and breeding are established through the month, males stop singing, and birds are hidden by leaf growth so more difficult to see.
Bird with people with whom you have a compatible birding style: pace, temperament, encouraging attitude.
Follow the Birding Ethics of the American Birding Association (adopted by MMNP).