How to Identify a Bird From a Photo

Bird watching brings accessible wildlife into the realm of passion and hobby. Almost all of us see at least two to three bird species each day yet give little thought to them. Begin to familiarize yourself with the urban, suburban and rural wildlife that surrounds us daily by learning the individual bird species. One method of learning the birds is by taking a picture of the avian and then cross-referencing a solid bird field guide. We learn by doing, and by identifying the bird yourself, the knowledge tends to stay with you.

Things You'll Need

  • Magnifying glass
  • Bird field guide
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Instructions

    • 1

      Observe the photo and determine the primary color of the bird. This is the color that occupies the majority of the bird's plumage. For example, a cardinal is predominantly red where an oriole, while it has orange crests, is mostly black. Cross-reference this color in the bird guide (many bird identification guides use color as a main criterion for determining species).

    • 2

      Look over the head and beak shape carefully. Look at the beak and estimate the size of the beak in relation to the head and body. Many large predator birds have beaks that are smallish, occupying up to one-third of the head size, while omnivorous birds that scavenge and hunt have larger bills. Examples of the latter are the Corvidae family of birds that includes crows, ravens, magpies and Steller's jays. Reference the proper section of the book using the bill as a secondary criterion.

    • 3

      Check the wings for any bars or distinct coloration. Once in the dedicated section for your family of birds, begin the pinpoint identification using these secondary criteria.

    • 4

      Determine where the photo was taken. Geography plays a huge role in identifying species. For example, if you have a bird that looks like a varied thrush yet is not in the proper geographic range, you know it is in the thrush family but it is not the varied thrush. Go the to thrush section of the bird guide and begin reading about the various species of the bird and their respective geographic locations.

    • 5

      Look at the tail feathers and their patterns if the photo you have is of the bird in flight. Cross-reference the bird guide's silhouette section and determine the shape of the bird's tail fan and pinpoint your species.