Smartest Way to Identify Birds
As a Beginner learn how to Identify birds and discover smart tools which will help you to become a better Birder
There’s a moment when a bird perches in front, we rush for our Binoculars and start noticing their physical appearance but before we figure out, the bird flies away. And then we ask ourselves, "What bird was that?" As a beginner into birding, I never knew how to look and find out clues and the name of the bird which I just saw.
Eventually during my initial working days (in South India) with some birder friends and naturalists, I realized bird identification is actually a process of recognizing physical patterns, awareness about its habitat, vocals and narrowing down other possible identification markers before anything else.
How to learn Bird Identification as a Beginner??
The first step is to learn and spend time with common birds. The ones which are usually seen, their shapes, calls, behaviours, and visiting patterns. More importantly, which height of the tree do they use to perch on? What habitat do they prefer? This process is important because this will lay the foundation as how to look and compare it with the common birds. Also buy Field Guide books available online of the region. Read them, flip pages, photographs and get familiarized every now and then with your coffee.
The SHAPER Method
Unknowingly, most of us used the SHAPER method for bird identification but when I read online I thought to share this to my readers as well.
S – Size (With reference to common birds)
H – Habitat (Where did you see it? Forest, wetland, grassland. And where on the canopy)
A – Action (What was it doing like feeding, hoping, kind of flight – short, long, gliding etc)
P – Profile (Body structure, beak, tail, wings, eyes, talons)
E – Evidence (What colours, markings, patterns and distinctive features it has)
R – Rhythm (What was its sound like, was it calling, singing, whistling or still)
So next time when you see a new bird, use this method. First observe, then narrow down and then find what it is through Field Guide books. Better to take notes or else if possible to click a photograph and let Google get you the Bird name.
The Smartest Way Today
This was the method we all have used for years but in today’s tech world we have extraordinary tools available right in our phone. Bird Count India is a great resource for beginners with tutorials specifically for Indian birders. Another amazing tool is Merlin Bird ID app which identifies birds instantly through sound or photo or description.
I recommend to use Merlin app as well as have binoculars to observe the bird, as these visuals will make it more enjoyable and build that connection with the bird. Also join Birdwatching groups or communities of your region. I have loved photographing birds and getting the shot, but the best experience I had at Birding was/is always with my Binoculars.
Happy Birding !!