332 Roosevelt Wild Life Bulletin 



of the individual of a species varies only slightly. When one has 

 just been looking at a small bird, a large bird appears larger than 

 normal and vice versa. The distance of the bird from the observer 

 is often underestimated, also. Size is nevertheless an important 

 factor, and the beginner should always note his impression of the 

 size of a bird he wishes to identify, comparing it if possible to 

 birds that may be near it and with which he is well acquainted. 



Identification by Shape. Birds as a group show little variation 

 in the shape of their bodies. Since they are built for flight, shape 

 must necessarily be about the same in all species. The principal 

 shape characters are to be found in length or contour of wing or 

 tail, shape of the bill, length of neck or legs and presence or ab- 

 sence of a crest on the head. In some species these are an almost 

 absolute means of identification, determining the resting pose or 

 manner of flight, distinguishable at considerable distances. A King- 

 fisher might be identified by the shape of its head alone without a 

 single color character. The deep fork of the Barn Swallow's tail 

 separates it at once from any other Swallow. The tail of the 

 Grackle, the bill of the Grosbeak, the legs and neck of the heron 

 are all examples of shape characters that are extremely useful as 

 means of identification. The shape of the bill at once indicates 

 whether a small bird is to be looked for among sparrows and 

 finches, or warblers, vireos or thrushes. 



Identification by Habit. Habits of birds, once learned, are ex- 

 tremely useful in identification. Such habits may be flight, meth- 

 ods of feeding, whether flocking or solitary, manner of perching, 

 walking or hopping. The bird sitting alone in the top of a dead 

 tree might be a Kingbird, a Bluebird or a Shrike. It could hardly 

 be a warbler or a vireo. But the bird that flits incessantly about 

 among the foliage, giving the observer scarcely a glimpse of its 

 plumage, is very likely warbler or vireo. Those birds feeding in 

 a flock in the meadow might be Meadowlarks, Cowbirds, Starlings 

 or Grackles, but they would certainly not be wrens or warblers 

 or chickadees. The flights of swifts and swallows are instantly 

 distinct to one who knows these birds although the difference may 

 be difficult to describe. The habit of slowlv lifting and lowering the 

 tail on the part of the Hermit Thrush will separate it from other 

 Thrushes almost as certainly as the color. When a little bird 

 climbing on a tree trunk turns and runs head downward, we know 

 it cannot be a woodpecker, but is either a nuthatch or Black and 

 White Warbler. 



Indentification by Associations.' Birds, with their power of 

 flight, are more difficult to relegate to any one kind of habitat or 

 locality than are most forms of wild life. It is always possible for a 

 bird to be out of its natural environment. Yet birds have decided 

 preferences as to their associations, and these preferences are great 

 helps in identification. We do not expect to find the Bluebird, 

 Grackle, or Kingbird in a dense forest; nor the Oven-bird, vireo 

 or warbler in an open meadow. The Field Sparrow, Towhee and 



