Best way to learn to ID birds? (1 Viewer)

Sorry if this has already been answered, I couldn't seem to word it in a way for the search engine to give me any relevant older threads.

Is it better to learn to ID birds just by going out and watching and identifying after the fact based on what you've seen (or photos), or is it better to try to learn field marks, habitats, behavior, calls, etc before going out and trying to find them?

Perhaps a little better phrased: Will trying to memorize identifiers help my birding, or is it something that you just have to see to really become familiar with?

Do both!

When you're "in the field" pay close attention to the birds you see, taking in as much as possible before turning to a guide to assist in ID...and in between sessions, study your guide to familiarize yourself with the identifying details of birds likely to be seen in your area (and recordings of their calls, if you're learning to bird by ear).

jamerbean said:

Will trying to memorize identifiers help my birding, or is it something that you just have to see to really become familiar with?

Click to expand...

Yes, memorization will definitely help your birding, and studying a field guide and memorizing field marks can make you a better birder. Often you'll get only a fleeting glimpse of a bird, and you'll only be able to focus on the relevant features at the time if you know what they are beforehand. But there's a lot to learn and even expert birders can't always remember everything, so don't think you have to learn everything at once. Applying field marks to photos after the fact, or checking a guide while in the field, are also often a good way to help remember things. Going birding on trips with your local club can also be a good way to increase your knowledge.

Best,
Jim