Have a comprehensive guidebook on hand. You’ll want a guidebook that is relative to your region, and has has all of the following information in an easy to find format. Studying and familiarizing yourself with this information at home can help save time “in the field." First-time birdwatchers may want to join a birdwatching tour or walkabout with more experienced birdwatchers who can point out birds and their individual traits, as well as answer questions.
Size & Form
The first thing you will notice is the size and shape of the bird in question. Even the most novice birdwatcher can usually narrow down birds to some extent via form and size. Is the bird a small songbird or larger like a pigeon? Is it definitely an ocean-going bird like a gull or pelican? Is it tall and spindly like a crane, egret, or heron, or something large and predatory, like an eagle or osprey? The shapes of owls are fairly unmistakable, while recognizing the difference between an American crow and a fish crow can be a matter of knowing that American crows are larger. More advanced birdwatchers will begin to notice that birds in flight have different shapes to their wings and tails.
Beaks & Bills
Raptors have curved beaks for tearing into flesh. Certain shorebirds have distinctively long, narrow beaks made for digging in the sand after crustaceans and insects. Flamingo’s bills are unmistakable, as are the large, soft mouths and tiny beaks of nightjars. For smaller birds, you can ask yourself whether the bird’s beak looks more useful for catching and killing insects or cracking open nuts and seeds.
Legs & Feet
Does the bird have webbed feet or talons? If it has neither, does it have four toes with three forward and one back, or two toes forward and two back? Legs can be very long like a heron or stubby as a kingfisher’s, and the colors of legs and feet are also a indicator as to many species.
Feather Colors & Markings
This is a tough subject to master. Birds of the same species can vary to remarkable degrees within this category. In many species, a juvenile, a male, and a female will each have its own coloring or marking. Some species have different coloring for summer and winter, or for the first three years of their lives, or will sprout crowns or plumage only during breeding season. However, there are also instances where color and marking will help you immediately. For example, a blue jay or male northern cardinal can be instantly recognized by distinctive color and markings. Markings to look for include masked eyes, stripes on the tail, lines or rings around the eyes, “crests” (coloring on the chest) or bars in the wings or tail feathers
Behavior
Is the bird hopping on the ground, pecking at a tree, or floating on a lake? Certain behavior will give you big clues to the bird’s identity. You should begin to notice that not all songbirds perch alike: some hang from tree trunks, some sit upright, some sit cocked at an angle. Certain songbirds may perch with their tail pointed downwards, others with upright tail-feathers. Is the bird relaxed around humans, or aggressive toward other birds? A bird’s personality is often a good indication of its species.
Remember, practice makes perfect! The more you’re out there watching birds, the easier it will become to recognize different species according to their physical traits as well as behavioral patterns. Soon, you'll be able to identify many birds on sight.
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