52 BIRD FRIENDS 



magnifying three diameters, may be obtained for 

 six dollars from the National Association of Audu- 

 bon Societies. 



Points to observe. Color is the best aid in the 

 identification of birds in the field. When a new bird 

 is seen, a record should be made at the time, in a 

 notebook provided for the purpose, of the color 

 markings and their location, whether on head, back, 

 tail, wings, or breast. The size should be noted in 

 comparison with some well-known bird, like the 

 robin or English sparrow. The shape of the bill is 

 also a help in identification. Shapes of wings and 

 peculiarities in method of flight should be noted. 

 Some birds are on the wing almost constantly. 



Some birds have white lateral tail feathers, which 

 show only in flight, and these make good field marks 

 for identification. These are found on the vesper 

 sparrow, junco, meadowlark, and towhee. 



Some birds are usually found on tree- trunks; as 

 the woodpeckers, the nuthatch, and the brown 

 creeper. The nuthatch can be told by its method of 

 hopping down the tree-trunk head first. 



One of the best ways of identifying birds is 

 through their songs. Birds can thus be identified 

 at a long distance and when hidden in the foliage 

 of trees and shrubs. It is diflScult to make a record 

 of these songs that will help any one else, but some 

 record made at the time may help the one making 

 it in identifying the bird later. 



