How to spot birds

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Bird watching  is an exciting and interesting hobby. You can start in your own garden .When you go on holiday you can visit different places to watch birds living in different habitats.

As a guide:

Make yourself as unnoticeable as possible. Wear dull coloured clothes maybe wear a hat! remember you may be caught out in the rain, keep warm and dry. Lots of deep pockets come in handy. Make use of available cover  and do not stand out in the open. Use natural cover, such as trees and bushes, to break up your outline. If there's a bird hide available; use it.

Keep a notebook and jot down what you see. Add a bird identification guide book to your Christmas/birthday list. Keep it small so you carry it in your pocket or bag.

Remember birds have good eyesight and hearing and will fly away if disturbed.  Keep quiet, be prepared and be patient.

What bird?

Note down as much as possible while the birds are in front of year, if you've got a camera. use it.

How big is it?, compare it to a bird you know.

 Silouette of Robin        Silouette of Starling        Silouette of Crow 

  Robin                                   Starling                                       Crow     

 

What is it's shape?

 

Silouette of Wagtail                                      Silouette of Grouse

Is it long and thin like a wagtail?                                                   or short and plump like a grouse?

 

 

Shape and length of Legs & Beaks/Bills!

Silouette of Sparrow                    Silouette of Puffin         Silouette of Curlew

Short beak and legs?                      Broad bill  and short legs?                Long legs and long curved bill?

Sparrow                                           Puffin                                                Curlew

 

 

What are it's main Colours

 
Blue tit collecting mealworms Blue crown, small black bill, underside yellow, upper parts olive green, dark blue neck bar, tail greyish blue

 

 

 

 

 

  

If you get the chance, draw a simple sketch in your notebook.

Start with 2 circles as an outline for the head and body then add to it, Include other information such as markings/colouring 

Bird parts & outline outline diagram

 

  

How does it fly, what its flight pattern?

                                                         

Flight path diagrams

 

 

Habitat

 
Cliff Habitat Habitat Arable Land Woodland Habitat

Where did you see your bird, where does it live?

On or by the water, lake, canal or sea?

In woods, out on the fields?

In your garden, in the hedge, hopping on the ground, flying around in the air?

What time of year was it, could it be may be a migrant - a summer/winter visitor from another country?

 

Birdsong

Singing Song Thrush  Finally listen to your common birds, can you identify them by song or call, try and describe it.

For example Sparrows chirrup 'chilp chev chilp chelp hurp' . The Great tit's song a cheery  'Si yutti  Si yutti .ti.tuui.  The Grey Heron  a loud harsh croaking  'Kah-ahrk'. The curlew a rising melancholy whistle 'Cour-lii . The Goldfinch call a skipping cheery 'tickelitt, litt, telitt'.  The Blackbird a hard clacking  'Chack ack ack ack'.  The Tawny Owl a well known call  'Kewick'  shrill and repeated. or it's song drawn out  'hooooouh....ho, ho ho ho hooooooouh'  !! 

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Registered charity no. 207076
Unless otherwise stated,  copyright Laura Bimson/RSPB.)