Posture

Striking a Pose

Posture clues can help place a bird in its correct group. Watch an American Robin, a common member of the thrush family, strut across a yard. Notice how it takes several steps, then adopts an alert, upright stance with its breast held forward. Other thrushes have similar postures, as do larks and shorebirds.

Vertical Posture

Certain bird groups have distinctive vertical posture when perched on a branch. Flycatchers, hawks, and owls typically sit in an upright pose with tails pointing straight down.

Horizontal Posture

Other birds perch horizontally on vegetation with tails pointing out at an angle, for instance vireos, shrikes, crows, and warblers.

Distinguishing Similar Birds

Distant perched crows and hawks may look alike, but paying attention to their different postures may help to tell them apart. The Red-tailed Hawk perches upright, whereas the similarly-sized American Crow perches horizontally.

Field Marks

In order to describe a bird, ornithologists divide its body into topographical regions: beak (or bill), head, back, wings, tail, and legs. To help with identification, many of these regions are divided still further. This diagram of regions of the bird's body shows some of the commonly used descriptive terms.

Birds display a huge variety of patterns and colors, which they have evolved in part to recognize other members of their own species. Birders can use these features - known as field marks - to help distinguish species.

Pay particular attention to the field marks of the head and the field marks of the wing.

Field Marks of the Head

When identifying an unknown bird, the following field marks of the head are particularly important:

• Eyebrow stripe (or superciliary line, above the eye)
• Eyeline (line through the eye)
• Crown stripe (stripe in the midline of the head)

• Eyering (ring of color around eye)
• Throat patch
• Color of the lore (area between base of beak and eye)
• Whisker mark (also called mustache or malar stripe)
• Color of upper and lower beak
• Presence or absence of crest
  

Beak shape and size are also important identifying characteristics.


Field Marks of the Wing
In a few groups, notably warblers and vireos, the presence of wing markings gives positive identification even if the bird is in non-breeding plumage. In other groups, such as flycatchers and sparrows, the absence of any wing markings may be an important distinguishing characteristic. Note the presence or absence of the following:

• Wingbars
• Wing patches

Silhouette

Cardinal

• Medium-sized finch-like songbird with long tail
  
• Strongly conical, seed-eating bill
  
• Crested head

Crow

• Large size
• Stout body, medium-length tail
• Heavy, strong bill

Dabbling Duck

• Typical duck shape, with heavy body
• Short tail, held above water's surface
• Horizontally flattened bill

Dove

• Plump body, with short legs and neck
• Small head
• Pointed wings
• Slight swelling at base of upper bill

Finch

• Small to medium size
• Conical, seed-eating bill
• Notched tail

  

Grackle

• Slender body, long tail
• Strong, slightly curved bill

Jay

• Mid-sized crow-relative with long tail
• Some have crest on head

Kestrel

• Small bird of prey
• Typical streamlined falcon shape, with long pointed wings and long tail
• Short raptorial (sharply hooked) bill, feet with sharp talons

Kingbird

• Medium-sized perching bird with relatively large head
• Broadly-flattened, typical flycatcher bill

Kingfisher

• Large head, often with shaggy crest
• Very short legs and tail
• Long, strong, pointed bill

Meadowlark

• Chunky body, short tail
• Strong legs
• Straight, strong, pointed bill

Mockingbird

• Long, slender body, long legs and tail
• Small, slender bill

Nuthatch

• Small size, chunky body, short tail
• Straight, slightly upturned bill
• Strong legs and feet
• Clings to tree trunks, usually head downwards

Plover

• Small to medium-sized shorebird
• Relatively large head, short neck
• Short, rather thick bill, sometimes slightly swollen at tip
• Ground dwelling

Quail

• Chunky, rounded body, with short tail
• Small head, very short neck
• Ground dwelling

Screech-Owl

• Small nocturnal bird of prey
• Chunky body, large head
• Feathered tufts on head resemble ears
• Upright stance

Shrike

• Medium-sized predatory songbird
• Relatively large head
• Perches horizontally
• Bill with strong hook at tip

Starling

• Chunky body, short tail
• Strong legs and feet
• Straight bill

Swallow

• Small size
• Very slender body, short legs, and long, pointed wings
• Small bill with wide gape

Vireo

• Small, tree-dwelling bird
• Small, cylindrical bill (slight hook at tip, visible only at close range)
• Perches horizontally, often leans forward while foraging

Warbler

• Very small, tree-dwelling bird
• Perches horizontally
• Slender insect-eating bill

Woodpecker

• Clings to tree trunks, head upwards
• Uses tail as prop as it hitches its way up tree trunks
• Strong but short legs and strong feet
• Straight, strong bill for excavating wood

Wren

• Very small size
• Compact body, with relatively long legs
• Thin, slightly curved bill
• Holds tail upright
• Skulking habit

Identifying birds.

Are you amazed at how quickly birders can identify birds? Actually, it's just like getting to know your human neighbors. When you move into a new neighborhood everyone is a stranger, but soon you recognize people based on their characteristics, such as habits, shape, styles of walking, and the places where you see them.

Paying attention to individual differences can help you identify birds, too. You can recognize many birds simply by noting their shapes, even if seen only in silhouette. Other useful characteristics are a bird's posture, size, flight pattern, and the kind of habitat in which the bird was seen.

Start by learning to identify general groups of birds-- warblers, flycatchers, hawks, owls, wrens--whose members all share certain similarities. As your observation skills improve, familiarize yourself with the field marks--colored or patterned areas on the bird's body, head, and wings--that help distinguish species.

Choosing your pet bird

If you're a bird lover, a beautiful bird is hard to resist. But before you buy a bird on impulse, careful consideration of all that is involved with the specie before you choose will insure a long and happy companionship in the best possible home for the bird. Consider the following before bringing a bird home to be a part of your family.

Initial Cost Parakeets and Cockatiels can be had for less than $100 whereas Macaws and Parrots sometimes cost thousands. Factor in the cost of the cage, toys, and veterinarian fees as part of the initial cost. Do your research first, and then give yourself permission to fall in love with a bird that fits your budget.

Life Expectancy With proper care many pet birds live for many years. When choosing a family bird remember that the time investment, and the costs for food, supplies, and healthcare will last for years. Make sure that you project a monthly budget. For instance, if you're planning to retire soon you may have added time to care for a bird, but decide if your finances will allow you to take care of an expensive bird over an extended period of time.

Diet Some birds can eat pre-packaged bird food with occasional supplements of fruits, grains, nuts and vegetables, while other birds like Lorikeets need a special diet of nectar and fruits rather than seeds. And of course a larger bird will need more feed than a smaller bird meaning more expense to you.

Socialization Some birds seem to need less human interaction than other birds such as parrots who are very social and will not do well unless they interact with people. Your lifestyle should dictate which sort of bird you choose. If you have the time, a more social bird might be the perfect choice.

Maintenance Some birds have a reputation for being messier than others when eating and defecating. Other species such as African Greys, Cockatoos, and Cockatiels create more powder from wing dust. This may not be the best choice for those who suffer from allergy and asthma. Regardless of the bird you're considering, make sure you are aware of their traits as these will not change. Birds such as these will need to have their cage, and surroundings cleaned more frequently to insure that you and your bird stay healthy.