Beginner Birding Tips

Summary: Is birding as a hobby something you’d like to begin but are a bit intimidated by all the things you need to learn? Join Cheryl and Kiersten for some beginner birding tips that will make it easy to get started.

 

For our hearing impaired listeners, a transcript of this podcast follows the show notes on Podbean.

 

Show Notes:

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Beginner Birding Tips

Kiersten - Intro:  Cheryl and I always get people asking us to identify the birds they see in their backyards. We love helping people figure out which feathered friend is visiting their feeders, but we thought we’d share some beginner birding tips with our listeners that will help you identify the birds when we not there to help you. Beware though once you master these tips the addiction has begun and you’ll use them everywhere you go, not just in your backyard!

 

Cheryl – I know when I see a new bird in my backyard, my heart beats a little faster at the prospect of identifying a new species I’ve never seen before. So, I run to get my ID guide to figure out who has come to visit, and by the time I get back to the window, the bird is gone. Of course!

But don’t worry, there are a few quick identifying markers you can take note of when you first see the bird that can help you when you’re able to access your ID guide.

The first one we’ll start with seems obvious but it’s super helpful and that is color. Whether it’s brown, blue, black, yellow, or red; color can be a great start to identifying your visitor. Initially you only have to make note of the main color of the bird. This will give you a good base to build your identification notes. When you get more confident you can add in striping, spotting, and other color markers.

 

Kiersten - Now that you’ve made note of the color, take a look at the body shape of the bird. This is one of the most important identifiers that will help you find which family of birds you should be looking at to ID your visitor.

            There are three qualities you need to notice when looking at body shape. First is the size of the bird. Trying to decide whether a bird is small, medium, or large can be difficult when you first get started. So, I recommend picking a bird you are already familiar with such as a House Finch or Mourning Dove. Whatever you like, it’s doesn’t matter. Then when you’re trying to ID a new bird compare it to the size of your familiar bird. Is it bigger or smaller than a the House Finch? Then you have an idea of what size bird you need to look for in your ID guide.

            Second look at the basic shape of the body. Is it small and round? Is it sleek and long? Is it stout? These are subjective terms but by making yourself memorize the shape of the body as you look at your visitor, you’ll recognize it when you look in your ID guide. Also, a lot of quick refence ID guides have a page where you can begin ID’s with the body shape. Or, if using an app, this may be an option as well.

            Third, make special note of the tail. Is it long? Is it short? Is it v-shaped or square? Can you see a split in it? These three qualities combined will get you well on your way to finding your bird.

 

Cheryl – Once you’ve mastered these first two markers. Challenge yourself to add a few more easily seen characteristics. Look closely at the bird’s eye and see if there is a ring around it. If the bird has one, it will typically be a white, or other pale color. What you want to take note of is whether it goes all the way around, if it’s on the top only, the bottom only, or looks more like the letter C. The eye ring, as it’s called, is a great way to widdle down what bird you’ve seen once you’ve used color, shape, and size to get to the correct family.

 

Kiersten – One last characteristic to look for is bars on the wings. If the bird has wing bars they are often a lighter color than the main color of the wing. They can be very distinctive like bright slashes across the wings or a bit more faded. They can have one or two. These also may vary depending on the season. Adding this to your identification notes can pinpoint your bird!

 

Cheryl – We want to offer you a few other tips to make IDing new birds as easy as possible.

Be prepared. If you have a set of binoculars, place them near the window you can see your birdfeeders from. Having them readily at hand will improve your chances of getting a better look at the bird.

Place a pad of paper and pen next to the window as well. Then you can scribble down the identifiers we just talked about. 

I know it sounds like a lot of things to remember, but don’t worry once you train your brain it will process all this information in a matter of moments.

 

Kiersten – Speaking of training your brain!

Scientific studies have proven that identifying birds can improve brain function! Neuroscientists have shown that gaining expertise in a subject area can rewire your brain. When choosing people to participate in their studies the scientists recruited from all levels of birdwatchers. The more you practice identifying birds the more neurons fire in your brain. As you gain expertise the pathway you are developing in your brain become quicker and easier to traverse.

Over time expertise can change the structure of your brain! Parts of the cerebral cortex can actually grow thicker as you gain more visual and auditory knowledge. This makes it easier for you to add new information in the future. For example, if you’re an expert at IDing birds in Arizoan and you travel to Maine, you may not be able to automatically ID brand new bird species but, it does help you remember them better. You’ve already opened those pathways so adding new information is easy and lasts longer. Now if you’re an expert birder that doesn’t mean you’re going to be great at everything new you try, but it could mean that you might be better at learning new visual skills. The research has also shown that sharpening your birding skills can help you sharpen your focus in other areas. I think this sounds like a great excuse to carry your binoculars everywhere you go!

Closing – Kiersten – So remember color, size, shape, and tail when you see a new bird and you’re on your way to becoming an expert bird watcher! Also pair this podcast with our Birding by Ear episodes and you’ll also work out your auditory brain muscles!