Visual Key for Bird Identification

Intro | Waterfowl | Predatory | Upland | Perching | Song


What grouping best fits the
bird you want to identify?
Click on the links on this side to see silhouette
types in the bird catagories.
Use links on this side to go to Species
Groups under each catagory:
Waterfowl & Marshland Birds


See Visual Types and
Silhouette Comparison

Loons, Grebes, Pelicans & Cormorants, Bitterns, Herons, & Ibises, Swans, Geese, & Ducks, Shorebirds, Gulls & Terns, Rails, Coots & Cranes, Kingfishers

Predatory Birds


See Visual Types and
Silhouette Comparison

Hawks, Falcons, & Eagles,
Owls, Vultures
Upland Ground Birds


See Visual Types and
Silhouette Comparison

Grouse, Quails, Pheasants, & Turkeys, Pigeons & Doves, Goatsuckers & Nighthawks

Perching & Tree-clinging


See Visual Types and
Silhouette Comparison

Cuckoos, Woodpeckers,
Swifts & Hummingbirds

Song Birds


See Visual Types and
Silhouette Comparison

Tyrant Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, Corvids , Chickadees, Nuthatches & Creepers, Wrens & Dippers, Kinglets & Gnatcatchers, Thrushes, Thrashers, Pipits, Waxwings, Shrikes, Starlings, Vireos, Warblers, Tanagers, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Icterids, Fringillids

Note:
Since birds are not usually in hand when identifying, our identification key are based on visual cues. Often birds are seen with binoculars or with the naked eye, and only a fleeting glimpse is available. Using this key will give you some practice in using visual cues to identify birds, but may give a false sense of security in the ability to identify birds.


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Page by Ean Harker & Mike Legler ©2001.