The Opus is Birdforum's own birding encyclopaedia.
There's three main sections:
Birds - there are articles for every known bird species
Locations - places you can visit to see them
Information pages - the terminology and topography
Birds
If you're happy with the identification of the bird but want to know more about it - where it can be found; how many subspecies; what it eats etc etc, simply type the name into the search bar and hit return.
If you want to see more pictures showing different plumages, or how they look in flight, there's a search link to the Gallery at the bottom.
There's also a "What links here" link (in the left hand pane), which will show you if there's any other articles related to the bird in question - i.e. which nature reserves the bird has been recorded at.
Many of these articles also have sound clips added, so you can listen to the song.
Locations
There's now well over 1000 articles covering places to visit world-wide. These will give you information about the place - how to get there, what facilities it has (if any) and what birds and other wildlife might be seen there.
If your favourite reserve isn't listed, it's easy enough to add (see the Opus Discussion forum).
So before a trip or holiday you could check to see what birds are likely to be found there, read up on them by clicking the links and study pictures in the Gallery.
Information Pages
Here we hold the Dictionary and Topography articles.
If you come across a 'new to you' word or phrase, try the Dictionary, (currently in 4 sections A-F, G-L, M-S and T-Z). As it expands there may be 1 per letter.
If the word is missing, it doesn't mean that it is too simple to include - it's just not there yet - flag it up in this thread and it will be added.
Topography
Did you know that the 'nail' is not a part of the foot?
This article shows all the different 'parts' of a bird, with many pictures or drawings, along with explanations when necessary.
There's three main sections:
Birds - there are articles for every known bird species
Locations - places you can visit to see them
Information pages - the terminology and topography
Birds
If you're happy with the identification of the bird but want to know more about it - where it can be found; how many subspecies; what it eats etc etc, simply type the name into the search bar and hit return.
If you want to see more pictures showing different plumages, or how they look in flight, there's a search link to the Gallery at the bottom.
There's also a "What links here" link (in the left hand pane), which will show you if there's any other articles related to the bird in question - i.e. which nature reserves the bird has been recorded at.
Many of these articles also have sound clips added, so you can listen to the song.
Locations
There's now well over 1000 articles covering places to visit world-wide. These will give you information about the place - how to get there, what facilities it has (if any) and what birds and other wildlife might be seen there.
If your favourite reserve isn't listed, it's easy enough to add (see the Opus Discussion forum).
So before a trip or holiday you could check to see what birds are likely to be found there, read up on them by clicking the links and study pictures in the Gallery.
Information Pages
Here we hold the Dictionary and Topography articles.
If you come across a 'new to you' word or phrase, try the Dictionary, (currently in 4 sections A-F, G-L, M-S and T-Z). As it expands there may be 1 per letter.
If the word is missing, it doesn't mean that it is too simple to include - it's just not there yet - flag it up in this thread and it will be added.
Topography
Did you know that the 'nail' is not a part of the foot?
This article shows all the different 'parts' of a bird, with many pictures or drawings, along with explanations when necessary.
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