How to Identify Wild Birds in North Texas
A favorite pastime for centuries, birdwatching, sometimes known as "birding," is a hobby to enjoy for years to come. When you travel, learn to identify exciting new species. If you see an unfamiliar yet beautiful bird while hiking, add the species to your list of bird encounters. Set up a feeder by your favorite window to observe avian visitors throughout the changing seasons. Find an abundant variety of birds to enjoy in North Texas.
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Instructions
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Visit an area in North Texas where birds are commonly viewed, such as a game preserve, state park or simply a bird feeder in your own backyard.
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Use your binoculars to get a close-up look at the birds congregating in the area. Choose a bird you are unfamiliar with. Snap a few pictures with your camera, if time permits. A camera with a zoom lens is particularly handy for confirming the visual details needed for an identification.
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Jot down in your notebook the physical characteristics of the bird. First identify its size by comparing it to a bird you are familiar with; for example, you may write: "bigger than a sparrow, but smaller than a blue jay." Note details about its tail, body, neck, bill shape, wing, song, for example.
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Observe the color of the bird. Does the bird have a pattern such as stripes or spots? Take notice of your surroundings. Is the bird in the forest, in an open field, or near water? Observe if the bird has any noteworthy behavioral traits such as dancing or displaying, and note all these details in your notebook. If you are artistically inclined, sketch the silhouette of the bird.
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Develop the photos you took of the bird. Open your field guide to identify the bird and search first by size or habitat. Compare the notes you took regarding the details of the bird to those in the field guide. Locate the bird that most closely resembles the one you saw.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep a journal or a scrapbook of the pictures and identifications of the bird species you have encountered.
Note that identifications made in this manner may not always be exact. Take your picture and your identification to a local bird expert at a game preserve or state park for verification.
References
- Photo Credit Red Tail Hawk image by Albert from Fotolia.com
