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AOU measurement of birds USA (1 Viewer)

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Bob D

Well-known member
Bird guides provide the length of a specific bird. Is that the length of a live bird from the tip of the tail to the tip of the bill? Or, to the base of the bill. Or, from tip of the legs to tip of the bill. Realistically it would seem to be from the tip of the tail to the base of the bill.

Tried to locate the measurement method as per the American Ornithological Union to no avail. Do bird guides use a different method than an "official method"

Is it the same measurement as for a dead bird which may be stretched more?

Thanks.
 
I believe they measure from bill tip to tail tip. Whether it's on live or dead birds I'm not 100% sure but I believe it's on live birds which have been netted.
 
Bob D said:
Bird guides provide the length of a specific bird. Is that the length of a live bird from the tip of the tail to the tip of the bill? Or, to the base of the bill. Or, from tip of the legs to tip of the bill. Realistically it would seem to be from the tip of the tail to the base of the bill.

Tried to locate the measurement method as per the American Ornithological Union to no avail. Do bird guides use a different method than an "official method"

Is it the same measurement as for a dead bird which may be stretched more?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

Good question. The Sibley guide says simply " length is measured from bill tip to tail tip". My National Geographic Guide says the same.

Best,
Jim
 
Total length is not at all easy to measure in live birds without injuring the bird and is NOT one of the ususal measurements (wing, culmen, tarsus, tail) taken during ringing/banding operations.

So I'd suggest that most total length measurements come from dead birds that have ended up as museum specimens and carefully measured before being prepared as study specimens or for display. Most museums will have all these measurements collated in databases where they are available to the writers of handbooks, field guides, etc.
 
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