Bird Silhouette Identification Sheets

Many birds have unique silhouettes that are unique enough to identify them to their basic types (and some to species!).
The following images can be used to help identify many birds by their general shape (making it easier to narrow down what you are looking at) and when you can't see them clearly enough to get detailed impressions.

There are a lot of clues you can use to help you identify the bird(s) you're looking at:
> silhouette/ general shape of bird to narrow down what you are looking at. 
> about how big is the bird? (comparison sizes can help too!) 
> is the bird alone? a pair? in a group?
> what is the bird doing?
> are there any features that really stand out?
>> color(s)         >> beak- beak shape tells you how the bird eats
>> neck/ head shape         >> feet shape- perching? swimming?
> location - use local bird guide or the bird maps in books to see what birds are most similar in the region you are seeing the bird.
> habitat type? woods? shoreline? prairie? 
> season and time of day are also important. some birds are migratory and only live in certain areas at particular times of the year and some birds are only active (or doing certain activities) at particular times of the day.

To copy image, right click and "save image as" on to your computer, then you can print it out for use while birding! (i've had these images for a looong time and have no idea what the sources are, if anyone recognizes any of these pages please let me know!)

Not all of the birds on the silhouette pages are found throughout all of North America (for now i'm focusing on North American birds).

This first silhouette is of perching and standing birds birds...

These birds are ones commonly seen perching on lines...

This page is of birds in flight.

The following two pages are birds commonly found in or near water...

These birds (and one mammal) are often see during the twilight of dusk and dawn...

The following birds tend to be seen in western North America...

I hope these pages are helpful!
We'll be posting some of our bird sightings over the next few days *and* posting more birding tips!

Happy birding! 
(it's amazing how many are out there just waiting for you!)

Participate!!! Great Backyard Bird Count 2017! (20th annual GBBC)

The Great Backyard Bird Count is a science event that everyone can participate in... even from a chair looking out your window!

(the video below was taken from my deck, beware the door squeak!)

Great Blue Heron in Cedar Tree 

When? From Friday, Feb. 17, to Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, for as little as 15 minutes at a time OR as long as you want over the 4 day event.

Where? Wherever you are! From looking out your window to trekking through the woods, across a prairie, sitting in your car at park/ riverside... or wherever you are...

Why? To help understand bird populations (and, really, our world) better!

How? Go to GBBC 2017 and sign up to report your bird sightings! It's *even* easier than it sounds (check back here too, Quest will be posting some bird silhouette identification pages that will help to make identification easier for some birders and more info on birding/ participation).  We suggest that you register a.s.a.p. and review the entry form, that way you have a better idea of what to watch for! (it's good to note day, time, weather, etc.)

"The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations. Participants are asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the four-day event and report their sightings online at birdcount.org. Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from beginning bird watchers to experts, and you can participate from your backyard, or anywhere in the world.

Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share. Last year, more than 160,000 participants submitted their bird observations online, creating the largest instantaneous snapshot of global bird populations ever recorded.

The 20th annual GBBC will be held Friday, February 17, through Monday, February 20, 2017. Please visit the official website at birdcount.org for more information and be sure to check out the latest educational and promotional resources."