Bbc Guide To Bird Identification (1 Viewer)

BBC Guide To Bird Identification

Imagine the scene. "It is, I'm sure it is. I remember that gait and I'd recognise that long neck and silhouette anywhere - Joe Bloggs. Long time no see!"

Amazing isn't it? Every single one of us is possessed with
eyes, ears and a brain that can memorise, store and process so much information that we can recognise just one individual out of, quite literally, millions.



The identification of Joe Bloggs was based on memory (born out of
in-depth familiarity not just of facial appearance, but also subtle
shapes and mannerisms), sight (observation of details) and mental argument: rationalising that a combination of features amounted to 'trade marks' so well known to his finder that they become diagnostic.

Let's construct a premise for bird identification based on the above incident. The argument runs like this: if you can recognise just one person out of so many, then surely you can learn to identify each of the 'mere' 550 bird species on the British List? The answer is, of course you can - if you try.

Identification is fun. It is also absorbing and a skill which can be
honed to such fine standards that there are identification experts in
all walks of life, not just birds. The basic principle of noticing the
unfamiliar based on a prior knowledge of the familiar holds true in most
cases but, when applied to birding, a wonderful range of opportunities
opens up.

Visual and hearing skills form just the starting point of a process,
which draws upon place, season, knowledge of habitat, and - nowadays -
access to a wealth of reference material. Like all the best challenges,
the learning curve climbs higher the harder you try but never,
absolutely never, reaches an end-point. No one will ever be a complete
master.

Why is it so enjoyable? The aesthetics of the subjects themselves have
a lot to do with it, but the thrill of developing skills through
looking, learning and adding to a store of personal experience and
knowledge are powerful motivators in their own right. There will always
be a simple satisfaction in correctly identifying the birds you see.

So if there is a golden rule in bird identification, what should it be?
'See for yourself.' It sounds simple but it is so vitally important.
Study of written articles, field guide illustrations and even
photographs is no substitute for first-hand observation in the field.
Indeed, it is often not until you have studied something in life that
the full and proper benefit of other reference sources can be
appreciated. The legion of advances in identification that are with us
today have not arisen out of blasé 'I'll name that bird in one look'
techniques. They are the product of minds that were self questioning,
prepared to take time and absorb impressions of the bird in the field
(by noting, sketching and researching) and - at times just as important
- prepared to be sceptical. So-called experts and the popular literature
may be wrong - and about common birds too!

Most species have 'absolute' characters which will always identify
them. For example, a robin's red breast, the stumpy tail of a wren or
the hovering habit of a kestrel. However, there are many supporting
characters which can also be learnt or discovered for yourself. These
come into play when views are brief or distant, or when you get a hunch
that something looks odd. Let's pretend you see a brown bird with a
spotted chest. It is marked like a thrush but it is too small and,
unlike true thrushes, it is streaked above. Actually, it is a pipit.

Size and plumage details will readily identify it but, compared to a
thrush, it has lots of character differences too. For example, it walks
with a hesitant gait (thrushes hop) and habitually bobs its tail
(thrushes seldom do). It is looking for insects on the ground and darts
about a lot. In flight it calls a squeaky 'sit, sit' and its action on
the wing is jerky and erratic. Armed with this experience, the next time
you find a pipit the thought of c
onfusing one with a thrush will never
enter your head.

But not every pipit-like bird is a pipit. In fields and open country
the main confusion species is likely to be a skylark. They too feed on
the ground, share a basic plumage pattern and are only slightly larger.
This is when familiarity with supporting characters proves invaluable.
Unlike pipits, skylarks like to crouch or run low close to the ground.
Their flight is strong and direct and their rippling 'chirrup' calls are
diagnostic. While there are a range of plumage differences separating
skylarks from pipits (for example skylarks have a short crest), these
can be subtle and your view may not be good enough to check them. Yet,
even on a mediocre flight view of a calling silhouette, it should be
easy, with practice, to recognise either bird.

So identification features (often referred to as field marks) include
behaviour, mannerisms, silhouette and sound. Check as many as you can.
Just because most birds can be recognised by referring to one or two
salient points, the identification process shouldn't stop there.

Acquiring a knowledge of plumage terminology and learning the different
parts of a bird is the next step to improving your identification
skills. This may sound daunting, but it isn't. Believe it or not, bird
topography is very similar to that of people. Hence, terms such as
forehead, throat, nape and back are common to both. Furthermore, those
550 species recorded in the British Isles may come in all shapes and
sizes and display a bewildering array of plumage but one thing they
share is structure. From an albatross to an avocet you will always find
the same configuration of head, body, wings and tail. And, because the
layout is similar, you can practise naming the various parts on common
species any time. Not only will this improve your knowledge of them
(important in itself) but it will also give you a demystifying insight
into general bird structure.

Here is a short list of points to concentrate on and use as an
aide-memoir.

Overall size especially compared to other birds present.
Note the bird's shape and silhouette.
Break down plumage patterns by area, eg black head, brown back, white
belly, red bill.
Behaviour and actions at rest and manner of flight.
Calls. Most birds tell us what they are simply by the sound they make!

I suppose that this idea is a start to bird identification but there are flaws in the argument. The reason why you recognize Joe Bloggs is that you have seen him lots of times before at different angles and at different distances and remember, he is not in a field guide. You have learnt to recognise Joe Bloggs in the field so to speak. Now, most birders will probably have not seen even half of the 550 species and even if they have seen more than half, some will be a one sighting only and maybe not in the best conditions. The only real way to learn bird identification is to get out into the field and keep working at it. Another way to help is to take the usual birding magazines and try to identify the species in the photographs using field guides to help you if necessary and without resorting to the captions. You will be surprised how many times you will find that the captions are wrong. However, due to my new title I am not really one to comment on any of this.



Eddie

the worlds worst birder

I have the same problem with both people and birds....... the face looks familar, but what's your name again.

Jeff, I have exactly the same problem. I'd even go so far as to say that I recognise people I've met only once - maybe on a train, in the street, etc. and then agonise over whether I should have said hello because I know their face but cant remember their name.... ).

Eddies point is valid - it's *usually* frequent familiarity that enables one to remember someone / something. As one doesnt get to see all the UK's birds on a regular basis (unless they're very lucky), I wonder how much studying of video footage rather than field guides / photos would improve identification in the field?

Eddie: the point of this thread is to start a discussion about bird ID. Everyone has a different method. Some people look at books, CD's and videos - anything to familiarise themselves with the basics of a particular bird. Then they try to identify it in the field.

Of course, there is no substitute for actually going out and about. What I'm hoping is that BF members will put forward tips about how to identify birds to make it easier for everyone!

With regards to calls can anyone add to these:

yellowhammer - 'little bit of bread and no cheeeeeessssee'

Great tit - 'teacher, teacher, teacher'

blue tit - 'peices of eight'

Mistle thrush - 'what u doin'

I find these aids very useful - any others.

Willow Tit has rufous undertail coverts and Marsh has white ones. If you can't remember which is whose like I do sometimes just note the colour and look it up when you get home. I simply try to remember the W's 'Willow is not White'.

Peter,
I think I did contribute to a discussion on bird id as my post has been commented on that I have a valid point. To add to Andrews Marsh and Willow Tit id tip, the Marsh Tit has a glossy black to the head where the Willow is not, thus to remember it, it is similar to what Andrew has said, The M arsh Tits head is NOT M att. Remember the 'M's.


Eddie