Howcast

How to Identify Birds: The Pigeon

Howcast — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 15:01:51 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s size and shape Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Pigeons are stocky with small heads and short legs, have broad and pointed wings, and have tails that are wide and rounded.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s coloring Consider the bird’s coloring. Pigeons vary in color, but most are blue-gray with two black bands on their wings.
Step 3: Observe the bird’s behavior Consider the bird’s behavior. Pigeons usually gather in flocks while searching for food on the ground. When disturbed, they may take flight, circle several timers, and then land again.
TIP: Pigeons often become tame in cities and town parks, and may feed from the hands of humans. They retain the timidity of wild birds, however, and will startle at the sound of a sudden noise.
Step 4: Observe the bird’s call Consider the bird’s call. Male pigeons have a call that sounds like a deep, guttural cooing.
FACT: Male and female pigeons both produce protein- and fat-rich pigeon milk, which they feed to their offspring.

You Will Need

Binoculars
A field guide

How to Identify Birds: The Starling

Howcast — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:02:20 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s size and shape Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Starlings have stout bodies, short tails and long, slender beaks. In flight their wings are short and pointed, so that the birds resemble four-pointed stars.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s coloring Consider the bird’s color. Starlings may appear black from a distance, but in summer they are iridescent purple-green with yellow beaks. In winter they are brown with white spots and dark bills.
Step 3: Observe the bird’s call Consider the bird’s call. In the spring, starlings sit together in trees and produce a variety of sounds, including squeaks, chatters, chirps, and a whistle.
TIP: Starlings imitate the calls of other birds and animals, and have been heard mimicking the barking of a dog and the mewing of a cat.
Step 4: Observe the bird’s behavior Consider the bird’s behavior. Starlings travel in large flocks, often with other species, and are frequently found sitting on telephone wires, buildings, or trees.
Step 5: Consider the bird’s habitat Consider the habitat where the bird is observed. Starlings like to live around human settlements, and they feed on the ground in spaces they share with humans, such as lawns and parking lots.
FACT: About 100 starlings were introduced into New York City’s Central Park from Europe in 1890.

You Will Need

Binoculars
A field guide

How to Identify Birds: The Northern Oriole

Howcast — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:31:36 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s size and appearance Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Male northern orioles are bright orange with black hoods, backs, and wings, and females are dull yellow-brown.
TIP: The male Bullock’s oriole has a black crown and orange cheeks, while the male Baltimore oriole has a completely black head. The females of both species tend to be indistinguishable.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s habitat Consider the bird’s habitat. Northern oriole’s traditionally make their homes at the edges of woodlands and in open woods, and are often seen foraging in trees and bushes in urban parks and suburban landscapes.
TIP: The Baltimore oriole is found in the Eastern and Midwestern U.S., and the Bullock’s oriole in the far west.
Step 3: Observe the bird’s behavior Consider the bird’s behavior. Northern oriole nests are typically found in free-standing trees, at the boundaries of woodlands, or in city parks.
FACT: Bullock’s and Baltimore orioles have hybridized on the Great Plains, where the two species overlap.

You Will Need

Binoculars
A field guide

How to Identify Birds: The Mockingbird

Howcast — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 13:15:43 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s size and shape Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Northern mockingbirds have small heads; long, thin bills with slight downward curvature; and long legs.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s color Consider the bird’s color. Northern mockingbirds are gray-brown with two white wing bars on each wing. In flight the white wing bars show up as white flashes.
Step 3: Observe the bird’s behavior Consider the bird’s behavior. The northern mockingbird likes to perch atop high vegetation, fences, eaves, or telephone wires. On the ground, it runs or hops.
Step 4: Observe the bird’s habitat Consider the habitat where the bird is observed. Northern mockingbirds are frequently found at low elevations in towns, suburbs, backyards, parks, forest edges, and open land.
TIP: The mockingbird is typically a year-round resident.
Step 5: Observe the bird’s song Listen to the bird’s song. The northern mockingbird’s song consists of a variety of phrases, repeated two or more times, followed by a pause. The songs can last for 20 seconds or more.
FACT: When singing, mockingbirds frequently imitate other birds – and even frogs.

You Will Need

Binoculars
Field guide

How to Identify Birds: The Common Crow

Howcast — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 09:01:36 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s field marks Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Crows are all black, including their bills and legs. Their bills are thick and sturdy.
Step 2: Listen to the bird’s call Pay attention to the bird’s call. Adult crows typically produce a full-voiced caw.
TIP: There can be variations in the crow’s caw. Crows can actually mimic the whine of a dog, the voice of a human, and the squawk of a hen.
Step 3: Observe the bird in flight Observe the bird’s flight pattern. Crows exhibit a methodical flapping of their wings and do not soar like ravens do.
Step 4: Observe the bird’s posture Consider the bird’s posture. Crows perch in a manner that tends to be more horizontal than vertical.
FACT: The oldest recorded age of a wild American crow is 14 years and seven months.

You Will Need

Binoculars
Field guide

How to Identify Birds: The Song Sparrow

Howcast — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 10:15:34 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s size and shape Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Song sparrows have stout bills and rounded heads, their tails are long and rounded, and their wings are broad.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s color Consider the bird’s color. Song sparrows have brown streaks on their white chests and flanks, although the color of shading and degree of streaking vary considerably across North America.
TIP: There are more than two dozen subspecies of the song sparrow in North America.
Step 3: Observe the bird’s behavior Consider the bird’s behavior. Song sparrows are usually found in dense, low vegetation or low branches, occasionally in open areas. Males sing from exposed perches.
Step 4: Observe the bird’s song Consider the bird’s song. The song sparrow’s voice starts with zeet-zeet-zeet, and then switches to a buzz.
TIP: There is essentially no variation in the bird’s song across subspecies throughout North America.
Step 5: Observe the bird’s habitat Consider the habitat where you observe the bird. Song sparrows are typically found in open, brushy habitats such as overgrown fields and backyards. Song sparrows are common visitors to bird feeders and often build nests in residential areas.
FACT: Female song sparrows are noted for their tendency to henpeck their mates by opening their mouths and giving small pecks.

You Will Need

Binoculars
Field guide

How to Identify Birds: American Robin

Howcast — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:02:14 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s size and shape Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. American robins are about 10 inches long and have large, round bodies, long legs, and an elongated tail.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s coloring Observe the bird’s coloring. American robins are grayish brown with dark heads and breasts that can vary in color from light brown to brick red. The heads of females are paler than those of males.
Step 3: Observe the bird’s behavior Pay attention to the bird’s behavior. American robins stand erect, with their beaks tilted upward when looking over their surroundings. When they land on the ground, they often flick their tails several times.
TIP: American robins are frequently seen running across lawns and meadows in search of earthworms. They also eat insects and berries.
Step 4: Observe the bird’s habitat Examine the bird’s habitat. Away from humans, robins prefer deciduous woodlands, pine forests, shrub lands, and regenerated forests. Closer to people, they may occupy gardens, parks, yards, golf courses, fields, and pastures.
FACT: The average life span of the American robin is about two years.

You Will Need

Binoculars
A field guide

How to Identify Birds: The Mourning Dove

Howcast — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:15:48 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Observe the bird’s size and shape Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Mourning doves have plump bodies and long pointed tails, short legs, small bills, and small heads.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s coloring Consider the bird’s coloring. Mourning doves are grayish-brown in color and have black spots on their wings and white tips with black borders on their tail feathers.
Step 3: Observe the bird’s behavior Consider the bird’s behavior. Mourning doves fly rapidly using strong wing beats and may take flight or land suddenly while stretching their tails behind them.
TIP: Mourning doves are usually seen in pairs in summer.
Step 4: Observe the bird’s habitat Consider the bird’s habitat. Mourning doves are fond of fields and bare ground where they forage for seeds, but may also be found sitting on overhead telephone wires.
TIP: Although some mourning doves winter in the northern parts of the U.S., most do not arrive until mid-spring.
Step 5: Observe the bird’s call Consider the bird’s call. The male mourning dove has a call that sounds like a drawn-out, mournful lament.
FACT: The mourning dove is the most frequently hunted bird in North America.

You Will Need

Binoculars
A field guide

How to Identify Birds: The Meadowlark

Howcast — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:31:17 +0000

Instructions

Step 1: Note the bird’s appearance Consider the bird’s appearance through binoculars and compare it with the pictures in your field guide. Meadowlarks are stocky with short tails; they have yellow throats, bellies, and have a black V across their chests.
TIP: The western meadowlark has a yellow mustache stripe beside its yellow throat. Eastern meadowlarks have white mustache stripes.
Step 2: Observe the bird’s call Consider the bird’s call. The eastern meadowlark has a clear, melodious whistle and the western meadowlark’s song tends to be long and flute like.
Step 3: Consider the geographical locale Consider the region where the bird is observed. Western meadowlarks are found from the eastern border of the plains and prairies to the Pacific coast. The eastern meadowlark lives in the southwest and eastward from the prairies of the Midwest and Canada to the Atlantic coast.
FACT: Eastern and western meadowlarks only recognize the songs of their particular species.

You Will Need

Binoculars
A field guide