Tips for Identifying Birds at Your Feeders

You do not have to join a bird watching club and go traipsing through the countryside armed with a pair of binoculars and a field guide to enjoy watching and identifying different birds. You can lure birds to your yard by supplying them with plenty of food, sources of water, and a variety of plant life. Once you have given the birds everything that they could possibly want and they are visiting your yard regularly, you may start seeing birds with which you are familiar. For example, I did not even know that such a bird as a rose-breasted grosbeak [see my article on the Rose-Breasted Grosbeak] existed until one appeared at my feeders -- followed by a flock of about forty more. Birds are attracted to feeders with activity, which means that you may have some really strange birds showing up during the migratory seasons. You want to know the names of these birds and more about them. Identifying birds, however, can be rather difficult. There are some tips, though, that you can use to make identification easier and more accurate.

Invest in a good field guide for your particular region. Not all birds inhabit all parts of the country. I saw lots of roadrunners when I was living in Texas; however, I would be absolutely stunned if I saw one run through my Northeast Tennessee gardens. Regional field guides will only provide you with photographs and descriptions of those birds that are most apt to appear in your particular area. Knowing the regions in which certain birds tend to congregate can help you, for instance, determine if you have a black-capped chickadee or a Carolina chickadee at your feeders. [Refer to my article on Chickadees.]

Note distinguishing marks. Some birds are very distinctive and unique in appearance. No one is going to confuse a blue jay with an Eastern bluebird [read more about the Eastern Bluebird], even though both of the birds are blue. However, you might have a more difficult time differentiating between a chipping sparrow and an American tree sparrow. Before you grab your field guide, fix in your mind the size of the birds, the shape and color of its beak, and especially any distinguishing marks; e.g., wing bars, breast color, markings on the head. You might even want to consider keeping a digital camera handy. (I took a photo of a strange yellowish-green bird that appeared in my yard. I was able to identify it as a scarlet tanager in its fall/winter plumage by comparing my photo with the one in my field guide.)

Do not assume that the first familiar-looking bird that you see in your field guide is the bird in your yard. As previously mentioned, some birds can look very similar with only subtle differences. Take your time when going through the photos in your field guide. If you find a bird that looks much like the one in your yard, read the description and check its territory.

Buy more than one field guide. While you may have a great field guide, sometimes the photos of a bird in that field guide may differ slightly from the photos in another field guide. You might see a photo of a bird in one field guide that does not look exactly like the same bird in another field guide. Lighting varies, as does the environment in which the photographer was able to take the photo. For example, when an indigo bunting first appeared in my yard, I observed a solid blue bird. One book showed a photo of an indigo bunting with black on its wings and tail feathers. I finally found it in the solid blue color in another book. I then learned that indigo buntings are not blue at all. [To learn more about this bird, read my article on the Indigo Bunting.]

You do not have to be a professional ornithologist to enjoy identifying and watching the birds that visit your yard. Place feeders where you can sit in your house and watch them through a window. It is fun and even relaxing. You will soon learn each species' habits and little quirks. Also, remember to feed the birds during the winter months. You might even discover different species that only visit during the colder months of the year.

Tip: Feeding the birds regularly and year-round will encourage a wider variety of birds to visit your yard. Some you may only see in the spring or late fall months when they are migrating; however, you will soon learn their habits and actually start expecting them. Others will take up residence in or around your property. When this happens, you will be able to delight in the fledglings being taught how to feed by their parents at the feeders you have installed.