{"id":400,"date":"2020-04-11T00:45:25","date_gmt":"2020-04-11T00:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/?page_id=400"},"modified":"2020-04-22T20:15:40","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T20:15:40","slug":"new-to-birding-in-the-pnw","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/new-to-birding-in-the-pnw\/","title":{"rendered":"New to birding in the PNW?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

New\nto birding? Here is some help!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A note from Olivia:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hello soon-to-be birders!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We are excited to have so much interest from folks who are new to\nbirding! I\u2019ve compiled a short list of resources for you to get started. SCROLL\nDOWN to check out the list of resources if you don\u2019t want to read my monologue.\n\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, a few tips. The best advice I\u2019ve stumbled upon for new\nbirders is to start by just observing birds for a few minutes each day. Take a\nfew moments this afternoon and just watch one or two birds from your window or\nbackyard. Note their size, shape, and color. Are they big or small? Do they\nlook like a bird you\u2019ve read about or seen illustrated in a children\u2019s book?\nAre they the same color from crown to tail or is there some pattern to their\ncoloration? How are they behaving? Are they in a tree or on the ground? Are\nthey moving up a tree or down a tree? You might never have noticed so much\nabout a bird before, but these are exactly the characteristics you\u2019ll need to\nstart noticing to learn how to identify birds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, be curious. There is a wealth of free, online resources to\nexplore. Google \u201clearn how to identify birds\u201d to find dozens of articles full\nof advice from those who have made birding a life-long hobby. Search for\n\u201ccommon backyard bird species in the Pacific Northwest\u201d and you\u2019ll soon be\ninundated with pictures and descriptions of the birds you are most likely to\nsee during your surveys. The more you practice observing and the more time you\nspend looking at pictures of birds, the sooner you\u2019ll start to notice\ndifferences between species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third, be patient \u2014 both with the birds and yourself. Birds have a\ntendency to move quickly out of sight just when you get excited that you\u2019ve\nseen something new. The good news is that if you\u2019re quiet and don\u2019t spook them,\nthey might come back and you\u2019ll have another chance to add a lifer to your\nlist! And sometimes you just won\u2019t get an ID. That\u2019s fine. It happens to the\nbest of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, while you are certainly not required to do so, consider\ninvesting in some gear. If you do not already have a field guide to birds, I\nwould personally recommend The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North\nAmerica<\/em>. There are also many great online resources available for free,\nsuch as the Merlin Bird ID app. Binoculars are also useful when birding in\norder to observe field marks that are difficult to see at a distance. I have a\nwonderful pair I bought for just $30. They\u2019re perfect for backyard birding. The\nstaff at the Seattle Audubon Nature Shop are absolutely fantastic and will help\nyou find the field guides and optics that work for you if and when you\u2019re ready\nto buy gear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hope that helps! Happy birding! Please reach out if you have any\nfollow-up questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olivia<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources for beginner birders:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All About Birds<\/strong> is a fantastic website full of information\nabout birds found in the U.S. and Canada. Here is a great primer on the site on\nhow to start identifying groups of birds using size, shape, color, behavior,\nand habitat: https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/building-skills-the-4-keys-to-bird-identification\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This presentation from the UBC Birding Club<\/strong> includes a\ngreat overview of groups of birds. Start at slide 16: https:\/\/ubcbirdingclub.files.wordpress.com\/2011\/07\/birding-101.pdf<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources<\/strong> posted a\ngreat guide to the field marks that can be used to identify species within\ngroups. Learning the different marks (e.g. eye ring, wing bar) is useful when\ndiscussing the birds you\u2019ve seen with others to determine species: http:\/\/www.wvdnr.gov\/publications\/PDFFiles\/birdbrochure2.pdf<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a great guide to birds you are likely to see at your\nfeeder during the wintertime or year round. Change the \u201cwinter region\u201d to\nNorthwest: https:\/\/feederwatch.org\/learn\/common-feeder-birds\/<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a couple of fun lesson plans we found with more\ninformation about field marks and bird behavior:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

http:\/\/www.klamathbirdingtrails.com\/pdf\/craterlake\/plan-cl-birdidexperts.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

http:\/\/4h.okstate.edu\/literature-links\/lit-online\/environmental-science\/wildlife-and-fisheries\/NREM%20622%20Bird%20Identification.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This a reference guide put together by Lane Community College<\/strong>.\nThere\u2019s a lot of great info in here about birds generally if you want to learn\nmore about this group of animals, but there are also pictures and descriptions\nof common backyard birds in the PNW. That starts on page 8: https:\/\/www.lanecc.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/sustainability\/bird_reference_guide.pdf<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re really getting into this and you want to start learning\nhow to identify birds by ear, here is a good guide for getting started: https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/how-to-learn-bird-songs-and-calls\/?pid=1059<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We highly recommend searching for videos of birds you see in your\nbackyard on YouTube to watch clips of them calling and singing. There are also\nCDs of PNW birds if you can get a copy from your local library to listen to.\nLearning bird calls is like learning any other song \u2014 if you listen to it a\nlot, you\u2019ll learn the lyrics, and know the artist! You can also learn bird song\nusing the app Larkwire: https:\/\/www.larkwire.com\/<\/a> (Note\nthat this app isn\u2019t free.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merlin Bird ID is an amazing, free bird ID app that can help\nbirders identify birds in the field: https:\/\/merlin.allaboutbirds.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, here is a short list of the species that you are likely\nto see in urban and suburban neighborhoods in the PNW. Focus on learning the\nones in bold font. If you search for them in All About Birds (https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/guide\/<\/a>) or Bird\nWeb (http:\/\/www.birdweb.org\/birdweb\/<\/a>) you\u2019ll\nfind lots of pictures and videos!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finches<\/strong>: House Finch<\/strong>, American Goldfinch<\/strong>\n
\n
\nSparrows<\/strong>: House Sparrow, Song Sparrow<\/strong>, White-crowned Sparrow
\n
\nKinglets<\/strong>: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet<\/strong>
\n
\nWarblers<\/strong>: Townsend\u2019s Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wrens<\/strong>: Bewick\u2019s Wren<\/strong>
\n
\nThrushes<\/strong>: American Robin<\/strong>
\n
\nWoodpeckers<\/strong>: Downy Woodpecker<\/strong>, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated\nWoodpecker, Northern Flicker
\n<\/strong>
\nHummingbirds<\/strong>: Anna\u2019s Hummingbird<\/strong>, Rufous Hummingbird
\n
\nChickadees<\/strong>: Black-capped Chickadee<\/strong>, Chestnut-backed Chickadee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Treecreepers<\/strong>: Brown Creeper<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swallows<\/strong>: Violet-green Swallow
\n
\nJuncos<\/strong>: Dark-eyed Junco<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bushtits<\/strong>: American Bushtit<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Towhees<\/strong>: Spotted Towhee<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Waxwings<\/strong>: Cedar Waxwing<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starlings<\/strong>: European Starling<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pigeons<\/strong>: Rock Pigeon<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuthatches<\/strong>: Red-breasted Nuthatch<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Corvids<\/strong>: American Crow, Steller\u2019s Jay<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Notes on commonly\nmisidentified species, from eBird regional reviewer Dave Slager:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Purple Finch:\nRelatively rare in urban and suburban habitats, where House Finch is very\ncommon. Note that male House Finches have purple coloration. (Olivia adds that\nmale House Finches may have red or purple coloration, which is somewhat\ndependent on lighting.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western Gull: Pure\nWestern Gulls are rare in Seattle. New observers should use\nWestern\/Glaucous-winged Gull when reporting the large gulls common in the Puget\nSound, or “gull sp.” if they are not able to confidently get it to\nWestern\/Glaucous-winged type.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ring-billed Gull:\nThis species tends to be rare at saltwater locations, and seldom occurs at more\nthan a few at a time in Seattle. A common confusion species is Mew Gull. Also\nbe aware that immature gulls of various species can show a ring around the\nbill. Gulls are difficult; when in doubt, use “gull sp.” (Olivia adds\nthat she still can\u2019t identify gulls in the PNW to species.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharp-shinned\nHawk: This species is quite rare in Seattle. Cooper’s Hawk is common, and male\nCooper’s Hawks are much smaller than females and approach the size of\nSharp-shinned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Harrier:\nRare in Seattle area. Many observers confuse this with Cooper’s Hawk, which is\ncommon and can also show white near the rump in some flight postures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greater Scaup:\nThis species is rare at most of the frequently birded locations in Seattle, and\nLesser is much more common. When in doubt use Greater\/Lesser Scaup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Canada Goose:\nBirds in pairs or small groups along ponds and waterways are likely Canada\nGeese. Large flocks of dozens or more birds flying over in migration are likely\nCackling Geese, a recent split. When in doubt, use Cackling\/Canada Goose or\ngoose sp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Eagle:\nThis is very rare in Seattle. Some ages of immature Bald Eagles lack white in\nthe head and tail. (Olivia recommends looking up pictures of juvenile Bald\nEagles for reference.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hairy Woodpecker:\nGenerally only occurs in our largest forested parks, and even there is much\nless common than Downy Woodpecker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hutton’s Vireo:\nGreatly outnumbered during April and early May by the Ruby-crowned Kinglet,\nwith which it is often confused. Generally only occurs in forest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

White-breasted\nNuthatch: The Seattle metro area is outside of the range of this species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a\nbeginner birder, know that you should only report species that you are\nconfident you observed to eBird. While you are building up your birding skills,\nyou can always report groups of birds (i.e. sparrow species, hummingbird\nspecies, etc.) instead of specific species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New to birding? Here is some help! A note from Olivia: Hello soon-to-be birders! We are excited to have so much interest from folks who are new to birding! I\u2019ve compiled a short list of resources for you to get started. SCROLL DOWN to check out the list of resources if you don\u2019t want to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/400"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=400"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/400\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":412,"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/400\/revisions\/412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/depts.washington.edu\/sefsqel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=400"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}