Like many people who like to observe birds, I’m largely self-taught. Identifying birds takes a rather complex skill set, and it is the rare individual who grasps them in the first instance. Often bird watching or birding grows from encounters with birds, be it at a feeder or on a walk, and the question "Hmm, I wonder what kind of bird that is?"
Once the desire to identify the birds starts, just where does one begin to learn the skills you need to put a name to the myriad and often confusing different species of bird? For me, apart from an early curiosity in all things natural, it began with the gift of a Peterson Field Guide to the Birds (Eastern) from my Grandfather. It is still the guide I most often reach for, I love its familiarity. Thumbing through the book at the illustrations I gradually learned to narrow down my choices by family, to look for the field marks, those subtle differences in a bird that help identify it, that help to put a name to it. As my skill sets grew I got better and better at confusing species, at the differences that are found in individuals.
I didn’t have a mentor, someone who could pass on their knowledge and skills. A mentor (or mentors) is probably the best way to learn these skills, and I know I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Early on I relied too heavily on illustrations alone, and not things like range maps, species descriptions and the like. It could prove to be embarrassing. On a trip to the tropics our guide noticed that I was keeping a list and asked to see it. When he looked it over he asked where I saw a particular bird I had listed, and smiled when I told him. The bird I thought I’d seen high in the mountains was a particularly secretive bird of the lowland rainforest, and much larger than the bird I thought I’d seen. Relying too much on an illustration I made an error that I vowed I wouldn’t again.
So, again, apart from a mentor or teaching yourself through trial and error, what can the beginning birder or bird watcher do to learn the skills they need to put a name on that bird in the binoculars. There is a new tool available. Finding Your Wings (A workbook for beginning Bird Watchers) by Burton Guttman (published by Houghton Mifflin Books) is a great new tool for, primarily, beginning bird watchers, although I’d suggest it would be a help for all but expert birders. The book is set up as a course in learning bird identification, complete with exercises designed for doing at home and in the field. It is designed to be used in conjunction with the Peterson Field Guide to Birds, either Eastern or Western version.
The book is well thought out and logically organized, and the exercises take one through from the basics right through to problematic groups of birds, such as raptors, gulls, warblers and sparrows. It is an excellent resource, one I wish I had when I was starting out. Mr. Guttman has done an excellent job, and I like the way he approaches bird watching, for instance his admonishment that knowing a birds name is only a start, not the most important thing about bird watching…
"… the belief that knowing the name of something gives you power over it, and that you know something important about a thing – a bird, for instance – when you know its name. But all you know is a word. The real importance of knowing a bird’s name is that you can start to learn something significant about it – its life, its habits, where it lives, how it lives, and so on. Please don’t be satisfied with just knowing its name."
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11 responses
I had not heard of this–but it sounds like a worthy recommendation–thanks!
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a knowledgeable person at your elbow as we go cruising along.
I had parents who knew every bird, by latin name–and would talk about them regularly as we went “tramping.”
What i would do to have paid better attention–but at least i retained the larger lesson–love nature and you will be richly rewarded.
Sounds interesting. I learned bird watching from my step-father — he gave me my first Peterson’s. But, I can’t say he became a mentor to me in bird watching — too many years of irritation and poor communication during college for that to happen. I have come back to bird watching as an adult and we do talk about it but I am largely self-taught. I get around the mentor thing by taking pictures of birds and spending hours pouring over pictures on the Internet as well as looking at local lists and the like. Of course there are misidentifications but I generally know I’m unsure and am prepared for that. This book sounds really interesting. I’ll add it to my wishlist! 🙂
This book sounds like it is exactly what I need! There is such an enormous influx of birds here in the summer, but I am not very good at identifying them. Last summer there were some small green birds that really drove me crazy as I compared what I saw (which changed depending upon the angle of the sun) to the photos in books and internet resources. I will definitely be ordering this one…thanks so much for sharing it!
Clare, I think it’s time you got some of the late,great, Townes Van Zandt on your listening list!
You certainly have gotten the larger lesson Nina, the appreciation of nature.
I think that most of us catch a mentor later in this game than sooner Liza. I tend to be more contemplative and observant alone, but learn so much quickler with someone else. I do enjoy solitude in nature more though.
I’m trying to guess what your small green birds would be Kimberlee, but your avifauna is so different, and there are all those asian accidentals over in Alaska
I do have Townes VZ Jim, it’s just never playing when I’m updating my list. I was listening just the other day to his cover of the Rolling Stones Dead Flowers .
What no Crowes on the list? Ever. Sounds like you need the new Warpaint CD. Just happen to have an extra one coming from their website (to access a huge saving on other stuff)so look for a care package in the next couple of weeks. Off to Brandon and Calgary so will send when I get home! Love you brother!!!
And good luck with the DIEt. Hard to enjoy the important things in life without your health. I could afford about 25 pounds myself so you’re not alone in your pain…
thanks for the great book reference…I will look into getting it..really enjoy your site as it is very diverse.
Bro, again I have some Crowes, they just are never playing when I update my list. I’ll resolve that today. I’m looking forward to the new CD. And its not really a diet, I’ve just started working out again. Hopefully in a week or two the pain will end.
Thanks islandrambles. Welcome to the House.
About the green birds…I finally settled on Arctic Warblers. Though they seemed much brighter green in person than any of the photos or illustrations that I found, Arctic Warblers seemed to make the most sense in terms of timing and location, etc. We have been birdless until last month when two ravens returned with gusto! They have been extremely vocal and have made sure everyone knows they are back. Snow Buntings shouldn’t be too far behind…
I’ve already ordered the book you suggested along with the All Things Reconsidered that you have listed in your sidebar. I’ve seen that book before and was thinking of ordering it. When I saw that you recommended it…I was sold! 🙂
Another possibility might be female Yellow Warblers Kimberlee. I’ve never seen an Arctic Warbler but all my guides describe them as dull green above.
I’m glad your ravens are back. Ours stay with us all year long.