Identifying Song Birds
Ms. Slates
S
How can we identify
song birds?
Make a list of all the ways!!
S
How do we Identify Song Birds?
5 Ways to Identify Song Birds!
1.
Habitat
2.
Bird shape
3.
Field Marks (not just color)
4.
Behavior
5.
Songs and Calls
Habitat- Different birds live in
different places!
S Birding by probability!
S Sparrows like rusty hedges
S
Swamp-Swamp sparrow, woods-chipping sparrow, fence line- field
sparrow
S Other helpful hints!
S Use range maps
S Check the time of the year
S Find out what your likely to see!
Bird Shape
S Become familiar with silhouettes
S Judge by size
S What sizes of birds can we compare?
S Judge against birds in the same field of view?
S Apply size and shape to parts of the bird
Field Marks
• Eyebrow stripe (or superciliary, line over
the eye)
• Eyeline (line through the eye)
• Whisker mark (also called mustache or
malar stripe)
• Throat patch
• Color of upper and lower beak
• Color of the lore (area between base of
beak and eye)
• Crown stripe (stripe in the midline of the
head)
• Eyering (ring of color around eye)
• Presence or absence of crest
• The color of the eye itself (iris) can also be
very useful
• Wingbars (stripes across the folded
wing)
• Wing patches (blocks of color on
the wing)
• Wing lining (the feathers covering
the underside of the wing)
• Primaries (the long flight feathers
on the outer half of the wing)
• Secondaries (the flight feathers on
the inner half of the wing)
• Speculum (the patch of colored
secondaries that helps identify many
ducks)
• Wing tips
Color Pattern
S Focus on Light or Dark First!
S Bold or Faint?
S Outrageous Color
Behavior
S Posture
S Horizontal vs. vertical
S Movement
S Flight Pattern
S Roller-coaster
S Strait path- fluttering wings
S Feeding Style
S Flocking
Songs & Calls
S This is tough!
S Tells where the bird is and what it is
1.
Watch and listen
2.
Learn from an expert
3.
Listen to recordings
4.
Say it yourself
5.
Listen for details
With more then 800
species of birds in the
US it takes practice!
S
The ones you need to
know!
S
Black-capped
Chickadee
S Black-capped
Woodpeckers
1
2
S Pileated
S Red-bellied
S Red-headed
S Downy
5
3
S Hairy
4
Blue Jay
S
Size & Shape
A large, bold songbird with a straight bill and triangular
crest
S
Color Pattern
Bright, almost sparkling blue above, with a black necklace
and gray-white underparts
S
Behavior
Inquisitively explores woodlands and yards, moves in long
hops; piercing calls
S
Habitat
Forest edge, woodlands, urban and suburban parks and
yards
Sparrows
1
S White – throated
S Fox
S Chipping
2
3
Finches
1
S American Goldfinch
S House Finch
2
S Purple Finch
3
Grosbeaks
1
S Evening Grosbeak
S Rose-breasted Grosbeak
2
Indigo Bunting
S Summer bird
S Forest edges and roadsides
S Male dark blue, Female plain brown
Female
Wrens
1
S House Wren
S Carolina Wren – more red in color
White stripe by eye
2
Orioles
1
S Orchard
S Baltimore
S Summer months, look high in trees!
2
Female
Cowbird
S Male- Black, Female- Brown
S Usually seen on the ground
Female vs. Male
Brown Thrasher
S Larger then thrushes
S Stripes on stomach
S Dense thickets/brush
Starling
S Found in the United States and Canada year round
S Probe in the grass for food
Nuthatches
1
S White Breasted Nuthatch
S Red-Breasted Nuthatch
2
S Brown-headed Nuthatch
3
Tufted Titmouse
S Found here year round
S Large among the small birds
S Often flock with chickadees
S Known for their song
Brown Creeper
S PA- Winter non breeding
S Tiny woodland bird
S Eat insects and spiders
Chimney Swift
S PA- Summer for breeding
S It spends a lot of time in flight
S Long claws
S Do nest on chimneys!
Common Grackle
S PA-Year-round
S Long, lanky, long-legged
S Appear black from a distance
S Diet- Corn, garbage, ect.
Swallows
1
2
S Barn Swallow
S Tree Swallow
S Purple Martin
3
House Sparrow
S Not related to other North American Sparrows
S Chunkier, flatter chest, shorter tail
S PA year-round
Gray Catbird
S PA-Summer for breeding
S Found in thickets and brush
S Distinct call
Northern Mockingbird
S Found in Pa year round
S Wires, fences
S Mimics other birds
Northern Cardinal
S Male and Female
S Don’t migrate
S Don’t molt in the winter
Wood Warbler
S American Redstart
1
2
S Yellow-rumped Warbler
S Pine Warbler
3
Feeding Birds
S
Bird Feeder
S Ground
S Small Tube Feeder
S Large Hopper
S Suet Cage
S Large Tube Feeder
S Nectar Feeder
S Platform
S Small Hopper
Ground
Many species of birds, including sparrows and doves, prefer to
feed on large, flat surfaces and may not visit any type of
elevated feeder. Song Sparrows, Fox Sparrows and many
towhee species, for instance, will rarely land on a feeder, but
they will readily eat fallen seed from the ground beneath your
feeders.
Large Hopper
A hopper feeder is a platform upon which walls and a roof are
built, forming a “hopper” that protects seed against the
weather. Large hoppers attract most species of feeder birds and
will allow larger species, like doves and grackles to feed. If you
would prefer to discourage these larger birds, try using a
smaller hopper feeder.
Large Tube Feeder
A tube feeder is a hollow cylinder, often made of plastic, with
multiple feeding ports and perches. Tube feeders keep seed
fairly dry. Feeders with short perches accommodate small birds
such as finches but exclude larger birds such as grackles and
jays. The size of the feeding ports varies as well, depending on
the type of seed to be offered. Note that special (small) feeding
ports are required for nyjer seed in order to prevent spillage.
Nectar Feeder
Nectar feeders are specially made to dispense nectar through
small holes. Choose a feeder that is easy to take apart and
clean, because the feeder should be washed or run through the
dishwasher frequently.
Platform
A platform feeder is any flat, raised surface onto which bird
food is spread. The platform should have plenty of drainage
holes to prevent water accumulation. A platform with a roof
will help keep seeds dry. Trays attract most species of feeder
birds. Placed near the ground, they are most likely to attract
juncos, doves, and sparrows.
Small Hopper
A hopper feeder is a platform upon which walls and a roof are
built, forming a “hopper” that protects seed against the
weather. Small hoppers will attract smaller birds while
preventing larger species, like grackles, from comfortably
perching and monopolizing the feeder.
Small Tube Feeder
A tube feeder is a hollow cylinder, often made of plastic, with
multiple feeding ports and perches. Tube feeders keep seed
fairly dry. Feeders with short perches accommodate small birds
such as finches but exclude larger birds such as grackles and
jays.
Suet Cage
S Suet or suet mixes can be placed in an onion bag or a
specially made cage. Suet also can be tied to trees or
smeared into knotholes. Cages that are only open at the
bottom tend to be starling-resistant but allow woodpeckers,
nuthatches, and chickadees to feed by clinging upside down.
Food Types
S Hulled Sunflower Seeds
S Oats
S Mealworms
S Peanut Hearts
S Millet
S Safflower
S Milo
S Suet
S Nyjer
S Sugar water
Hulled Sunflower Seeds
S Sunflower seeds with the shell removed
S “no mess” seeds
S Will attract any bird that like sunflower seeds
Mealworms
Larvae of the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, and they
provide a high protein treat for many birds. Birds like
chickadees, titmice, wrens, and nuthatches relish this food and
mealworms are one of the only food items that reliably attract
bluebirds.
Sunflower Seeds
S The most common type of seed offered at feeders in North
America is black-oil sunflower seed. This small sunflower
seed is high in energy and has thin shells, making it the
preferred food item for a wide variety of birds. Black-oil
sunflower is among the favorite feeder foods of cardinals,
chickadees, finches, and sparrows.
Cracked Corn
Whole corn is a favorite of Wild Turkeys and ducks, while
cracked corn will attract doves, quail, and sparrows. To attract
these birds, try mixing cracked corn with millet and feeding a
scoopful on the ground or a platform feeder.
Fruit
S Various fruits can prove quite attractive to many species of
birds. Oranges cut in half will often attract orioles which
will sip the juice and eat the flesh of the orange. Grapes and
raisins are a favorite of many fruit-eating birds.
Mockingbirds, catbirds, bluebirds, robins, and waxwings are
all species that are likely to feed upon fruit. Many species
will also be attracted to the dried seeds of fruits like
pumpkins or apples
Millet
S A small, round grain, millet is commonly found in seed
mixes. Millet is a favored food of many smaller, ground
foraging birds. A handful of millet sprinkled on the ground
will keep your juncos and sparrows happy.
Milo
S A reddish-colored, round grain, milo is often a major
component of inexpensive seed mixes. Unfortunately, it is
not a favorite of most birds, and the seed often goes to
waste. Western birds tend to consume milo more than
eastern birds. In the east, it is best to avoid mixes with large
amounts of milo.
Nyjer
S Often called "thistle" seed, nyjer is not related to North
American thistle plant native to Africa. This imported seed
has become increasingly popular in recent years, largely due
to its ability to attract finches including American
Goldfinch, Pine Siskin, and Common Redpoll. Because
nyjer seed is so small it requires a special feeder with very
small feeding ports.
Oats
S Oats grown for cereal or livestock feed are also eaten by
many species of birds. This grain is rarely found in modern
bird seed mixes, but you can try offering oats on a platform
feeder or in a hopper. Species most likely to be attracted to
oats include doves and quail.
Peanut Hearts
S Peanut hearts for bird feeding are small pieces of peanuts
without the shells that are best offered in a small hopper or
on a platform feeder. Chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and
jays are most likely to take advantage of this food. Peanuts
are high in energy and protein for your birds.
Peanuts
S They are not true nuts but are actually legumes--and many
birds love them! You can offer peanuts shelled or in the
shell. Larger birds like jays may grab several peanuts at a
time and fly off to hide them for later consumption. Smaller
birds like chickadees, nuthatches, and titmice will have more
success feeding on shelled peanuts.