{"id":16356,"date":"2009-04-15T10:44:46","date_gmt":"2009-04-15T14:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/?p=16356"},"modified":"2020-10-05T08:42:02","modified_gmt":"2020-10-05T12:42:02","slug":"four-keys-to-bird-identification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/four-keys-to-bird-identification\/","title":{"rendered":"Four Keys to Bird Identification"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n              <figure class=\"size-large alignnone\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/four_keys_poster.pdf\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4Keys.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4Keys-720x532.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4Keys-768x568.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4Keys-480x355.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/4Keys.jpg 1148w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Download a PDF of the Four Keys to Bird Identification\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\n                <figcaption><em>Click on the image to download this poster.<\/em><\/figcaption>\n              <\/figure>\n            <\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sidebar-alignright sidebar-space order-bottom\"><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" id=\"hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3.png\"  alt=\"New self-paced course: Learn How to Identify Bird Songs, Click to Learn More\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(95627, 'a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3', {}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n<!--<span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">\r\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" id=\"hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">-->\r\n        <!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]-->\r\n        <!--<a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\"  target=\"_blank\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd.png\"  alt=\"Join the Cornell Lab\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\r\n    <\/span>\r\n    <script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script>\r\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n        hbspt.cta.load(95627, '394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd', {});\r\n    <\/script>\r\n<\/span>-->\r\n<!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<p>Bird identification can be tricky when you\u2019re starting out. To identify an unfamiliar bird, focus first on these four keys to identification. They will help you to narrow down the possibilities. Field marks are very important, after you\u2019ve placed your bird in the right group. Practice taking in size and shape, overall color pattern, behavior, and habitat, and you\u2019ll soon become proficient.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Size and shape<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The combination of size and shape is one of the most powerful tools to identification. Though you may be drawn to birds because of their wonderful colors or fascinating behavior, when it comes to making identifications, size and shape are the first pieces of information you should take note of. The Evening Grosbeak (left, above) and American Goldfinch (left, below) are both brilliant yellow, black, and white. But the grosbeak is far larger than the goldfinch, and its beak much thicker.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-list list-style\"><h2 class=\"article-list-header\">Related Stories<\/h2><ul><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AABbanner-BlueGrosbeak-Fellenbaum-494618101-FI-1280x960.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AABbanner-BlueGrosbeak-Fellenbaum-494618101-FI-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AABbanner-BlueGrosbeak-Fellenbaum-494618101-FI-1280x960.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AABbanner-BlueGrosbeak-Fellenbaum-494618101-FI-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AABbanner-BlueGrosbeak-Fellenbaum-494618101-FI-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AABbanner-BlueGrosbeak-Fellenbaum-494618101-FI-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/AABbanner-BlueGrosbeak-Fellenbaum-494618101-FI.jpg 1430w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" alt=\"A brownish plumpish looking bird with a big conical bill.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Building Skills: The 4 Keys to Bird Identification<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/InsideBirding-SS-1280x720.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/InsideBirding-SS-720x405.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/InsideBirding-SS-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/InsideBirding-SS-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/InsideBirding-SS-1280x720.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/InsideBirding-SS-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/05\/InsideBirding-SS.jpg 1566w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" alt=\"Inside Birding\" Size and Shape, Jessie Barry & Chris Wood\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">Inside Birding: How-To Videos for Learning Bird Identification<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/blog-HTrush-Hayes2c.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/blog-HTrush-Hayes2c.png 600w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/blog-HTrush-Hayes2c-480x400.png 480w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Hermit Thrush\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">ID Workshop: Use 4 Basic Keys Plus Migration Timing to Sort Out Your Thrushes<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/li><li class=\"article-item\"><div class=\"article-item-container\"><div class=\"article-item-media  content-article\"><figure class=\"article-item-media-ratio\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Red-eyed_Vireo-Matt_Felperin-451512251-FI.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Red-eyed_Vireo-Matt_Felperin-451512251-FI-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Red-eyed_Vireo-Matt_Felperin-451512251-FI-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Red-eyed_Vireo-Matt_Felperin-451512251-FI-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Red-eyed_Vireo-Matt_Felperin-451512251-FI-480x360.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/Red-eyed_Vireo-Matt_Felperin-451512251-FI.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"brist with a green\/brown back, pale underside, striped head and red eye, perched on a branch.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"article-item-body\"><span class=\"article-item-header\">There&#8217;s a bird in my yard I&#8217;ve never seen before. How can I find out what it is?<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<p><strong>Habitat<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A habitat is a bird\u2019s home, and many birds are choosy. Narrow down your list by keeping in mind where you are. The Great Crested Flycatcher (right) and Western Kingbird (above) are both medium-sized flycatchers with yellow bellies, and can both be found in a narrow strip in the center of the continent. But the Great Crested Flycatcher is found within or at the edges of forests and woods, usually hunting within the upper tree branches. The kingbird hunts from fences, wires, and snags in open country.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Color Pattern<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Observe the overall pattern of light and dark, and the main colors and patterns. Both the Chipping Sparrow (right, below) and American Tree Sparrow (right, above) have eye stripes and rusty caps. But the Chipping Sparrow has a more dapper look thanks to the black eye stripe, bordered with white above. The American Tree Sparrow\u2019s face has a softer, more subdued look because the brown eye stripe is bordered above and below with gray. The American Tree Sparrow\u2019s dark \u201ctie tack\u201d spot can clinch your identification.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Behavior<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Behavior can sometimes lead you to an ID in the blink of an eye. The Black Phoebe (left) and many Dark-eyed Juncos (below) are slate-gray except for the white belly. But the junco feeds on the ground, often in flocks, and its posture is horizontal. The phoebe sits more vertically atop perches or rocks, often wags its tail, and flutters out to grab flying insects.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group well-gray has-lightgray-background-color has-background\">\n<h4>Get a Full-Size Poster<\/h4>\n<p>Want to put this poster on your wall? It&#8217;s easy \u2013 simply download it at a convenient size:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/four_keys_poster.pdf\">Low resolution<\/a>: this version prints on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and is about 650 kB<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/bbimages\/aab\/images\/birdscope\/four_keys_poster_hires.pdf\">High resolution<\/a>: this large file (20 MB) will print at full size, 23 x 18 inches. You&#8217;ll need to print it on several pages and tape them together<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The poster was painted by Natalie Koscal, a Cornell junior and the Spring 2009 Bartels Science Illustration Intern at the Cornell\u00a0Lab of Ornithology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Originally published in the April 2009 issue of <em>BirdScope<\/em>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bird identification can be tricky when you\u2019re starting out. To identify an unfamiliar bird, focus first on these four keys to identification. They will help you to narrow down the<a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/four-keys-to-bird-identification\/\" title=\"ReadFour Keys to Bird Identification\">&#8230; Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":17655,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc":0,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc_title":"","_birdpress_featured_image":false,"_birdpress_hero_toggle":false,"_birdpress_hero_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_image_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_style":"default","_birdpress_hero_ratio":"","_birdpress_hero_h1":"","_birdpress_hero_media_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_media_array_id":[],"_birdpress_hero_media_array":[],"_birdpress_hero_media":0,"_birdpress_hero_video_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_video":0,"_birdpress_hero_youtube":"","_birdpress_hero_content":true,"_birdpress_hero_byline":"","_birdpress_hero_byline_bottom":"","_birdpress_hero_button_link":"","_birdpress_hero_button_text":"","_birdpress_hero_button_color":"","_birdpress_hero_date":false,"original_guid":"","_birdpress_hide_search":false,"_birdpress_page_width":"","_birdpress_global_cta":false,"_birdpress_widget_sidebar":"","_birdpress_next_article":0,"_birdpress_next_article_title":"","_birdpress_prev_article":0,"_birdpress_prev_article_title":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_sub_navigation":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_title":false,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation":"","_birdpress_postType":"both","_birdpress_categoryID":0,"_birdpress_tagID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostTitle":"","_birdpress_menuID":0,"_birdpress_menuName":"","_birdpress_listHeader":"","_birdpress_listLayout":"card-display","_birdpress_listColumns":"","_birdpress_maxItems":12,"_birdpress_listPaginate":true,"_birdpress_displaySort":true,"_birdpress_sortOrder":"DESC","_birdpress_sortBy":"date","_birdpress_listID":"","_birdpress_listClass":"","_birdpress_displayImages":true,"_birdpress_displayCaptions":false,"_birdpress_displayExcerpts":false,"_birdpress_attTop":"","_birdpress_attBottom":"","_birdpress_showLogos":false,"_birdpress_post_logo":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_topic":0,"wds_primary_content-format":0,"wds_primary_cornell-lab-project":0,"wds_primary_host-project":0,"wds_primary_read-more-tag":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[1047,1042,998],"content-format":[1055,1060],"cornell-lab-project":[],"host-project":[],"read-more-tag":[],"class_list":["post-16356","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-art-news-and-features","topic-bird-watching-news-and-features","topic-news-and-features","content-format-article","content-format-download"],"metadata":{"associated-posts":[""],"wpa_off":[""],"_edit_lock":["1675720575:4"],"_edit_last":["1"],"_thumbnail_id":["17655"],"wdsi_message_id":[""],"wdsi_do_not_show":[""],"custom-byline":[""],"banner-video":[""],"banner-image":[""],"fallback-videobanner-image":[""],"original_guid":[""],"banner-text-style":["light"],"featured-image-display":["no"],"_birdpress_next_article":[""],"_birdpress_prev_article":[""],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_image":[""],"dsq_thread_id":["4030903827"],"_wds_meta-robots-adv":[","],"banner-style":["default"],"hide-from-search":["no"],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_description":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-nofollow":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-noindex":[""]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16356","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16356"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16356\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbi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