Bird Identification

Action
   Swimming
   Walking, wading, running
   Hopping or climbing
   Still perching
   Continuous flying

Size
   Larger than robin
   About same size as robin
   Smaller than robin

Shape
   Neck long
   Tail long
   Tail forked
   Bill long, as long or longer than head
   Bill thick, as thick or thicker at base than length of bill
   Head crested

Color
   Mostly white
   Mostly blackish, or dark gray, bluish black, etc.
   Mostly black and white, or other dark color and white
   Mostly brownish, or with many brown streaks or spots
   Mostly dull green or brownish green
   Rust color present
   Red present
   Yellow or orange
   Blue or bright green (not dull green)

Markings [diagram]
   Round spots on body
   Streaks (long spots)
   Cross barring
   Underparts plain
   Bold markings present (patches or blotches of black, white, or color)
   Head stripes or bands
   Crown patch
   Eye ring
   Tail stripes (along)
   Tail bands (across)
   Wing bands or bars

When and Where
   North summer (June through August)
   North winter (November through February)
   South summer (June through August)
   South winter (November through February)

Habitat
   Wood habitat
   Field habitat
   Marsh habitat
   Flats or beach habitat

Location
   Continuous flying high (near or above treetops when flying)
   Continuous flying low (below treetops when flying)
   Perched high (generally above middle of trees when perched or foraging)
   Perched low (generally below middle of trees when perched or foraging)
   On ground (walking, wading, running, hopping, or resting on ground)

Behavior
   Soaring flight (gliding or circling on set wings)
   Zig zag flight (many irregular twists and turns)
   Bounding flight
   Short forays (flies out from perch and returns)
   Jerks tail or body (repeated dipping of body, or flipping or pumping of tail)
   Occurs in flocks (from 4 or 5 to thousands)

Calls and Signals
   Rasping harsh calls
   Smooth, clear calls (can be imitated by human singing voice or whistling)
   Soft, low calls
   Staccato and twitter call (short sharp notes or rapid series of notes: tinkling, trilling, sputtering, or percussive)

Song
   High or thin song (high pitched and weak; lisping, sizzling, or hissing quality)
   Harsh or buzzy song (pitch intermediate; rasping, buzzing, or grating quality)
   Melodious song (pitch variable; smooth, sweet, or rich quality; pattern generally complex)

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