Duck Pond
Four Easy Steps to Birdwatching!
10 out of 10 Ducks Recommend
The first step in identifying birds is shape and size. A Canada Goose is a very large bird and has a distinctive goose silhouette. While Bushtit is extremely small, about the size of a cotton ball. With these two examples in mind you would know that a Bushtit is not a goose based on size and shape.
The next step is color and pattern. The Indian Peafowl is a great example of this, as males and females can often be distinguished by their striking colors. However, some bird species have no discernible differences in color or pattern between males and females.
Behavior varies between bird species while Peregrine Falcons dive at extremely high speeds to catch their food. Anna’s Hummingbirds are constantly on the lookout for brightly colored flowers to drink nectar from. Based on behavior you’d be able to tell apart two bird species even if they looked similar to each other.
Finally, birds tend to be selective about their habitats. For instance, it would not be common to spot a Great Blue Heron in the middle of a desert because these birds rely on fishing for their food. Instead, you would be more likely to find them near a local pond, river, or creek.
