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ETTING STARTED IN BIRDING
by Christine Hanrahan
So you want to be a birdwatcher, but you just don't know where
to begin? And the thought of trying to distinguish a nighthawk
from a nuthatch reduces you to despair? Don't worry, help is at
hand! The following information will provide you with everything
(well, almost everything) you need to launch you safely into the
beguiling world of birding.
We'll start with the "four Ss" of bird identification. With
these basics, together with the rest of this package, you will soon
find yourself rhyming off the names of at least the most common
species. So, grab your field guide and binoculars and begin. Good
luck and good birding!
Shape or silhouette
When you spot a bird, you automatically process several things about it. One of the most
important is its shape. Is the bird's general outline rounded or elongated? Is the tail long or
short? Is the head relatively large or small? If it's flying, are its wings round and short, long
and pointed, or some other combination?
Train yourself to look at the silhouette of flying and perching birds and compare them
with birds you are familiar with. Most people can point out a heron, a duck, or a gull, even if
they don't know the species name. These three groups of birds each have a distinctive shape,
as do hawks and owls.
Some of the perching birds may present more problems at first, but with experience
you'll find yourself distinguishing between the silhouette of a robin and a sparrow, for
example, or between a nuthatch and a chickadee.
As you become more familiar with birds and birdwatching, you'll be able to identify
different species within a group just by their shape. A Cooper's Hawk, for instance, which
looks a lot like a Sharp-shinned Hawk, can be distinguished by the shape of its tail (the tip is
rounded compared with the square shape of the Sharp-shinned's tail).
Size
Size is also important in identification. Again, compare the unknown bird with one you are
familiar with. Is the bird smaller than a robin? Bigger than a crow? You might also try to relate
it to something nearby, like a leaf or flower.
Site (or habitat)
Because birds generally inhabit characteristic sites or habitats, the area in which you find a
bird can help you identify it. For example, you wouldn't expect to see a Virginia Rail in a
deciduous woodlot nor a Hermit Thrush in a meadow.
Take time to learn a little about the habitat requirements and preferences of various
birds. Even a general overview will help a lot when it comes to identification. For instance, if
you have decided that the size and shape of a bird indicate a sparrow, next consider where it
is. If the bird is in a meadow, it could be a Savannah Sparrow. But if it is in a moist or swampy
area, it is probably a Swamp Sparrow.
Sound (or song, calls, chip notes)
Birds make a variety of sounds. In addition to singing, they utter short, sharp notes or "chips."
When alarmed, they produce a very different call. Songs are easier to learn than chip or call
notes, which can take a long time to master. Familiarizing yourself with the songs of at least
the common species will make identification that much easier. In fact, if you become very
good at recognizing bird songs, you will be able to identify some birds before you see them!
And because many birds are heard rather than seen, this is a definite plus.
Identifying bird songs can, at first, seem akin to magic. But with practice you can learn
a surprising number of common ones in a relatively short time. Recordings of bird songs on
cassette tape, CD, or even video can be found at one of the local specialty bird stores (see list
below).
Some birders use words to help them "fix" songs in their mind. The Audubon Society
Field Guide to North American Birds, Eastern Region, and the Peterson Field Guide to the Birds East of
the Rockies both describe many bird songs in easily understood terms. Of course, many birds
"say" their own name, so their names are a guide to their song or call note. Here is a partial,
very selective list of some familiar bird songs and calls and the words associated with them:
- Killdeer kill-deer
- Black-billed Cuckoo cucucu cucucu
- Barred Owl who cooks for you? who cook for you-all?
- Whip-poor-will whip' poor-will
- Olive-sided Flycatcher quick, three beers!
- Eastern Wood Pewee pee-a-wee, pee-ur
- Alder Flycatcher fee-be-o
- Least Flycatcher che-bec
- Eastern Phoebe phoe-be
- Great Crested Flycatcher wheeep!
- Black-capped Chickadee fee-bee, chicka-dee-dee-dee
- Veery vee-ur, vee-ur, veer veer
- Wood Thrush ee-o-lay
- Red-eyed Vireo here I am, where are you?
- Yellow Warbler sweet-sweet-sweet-shredded wheat
- Chestnut-sided Warbler please-please-pleased-to-meet cha
- Black-throated Blue Warbler beer-beer-beer-bee
- Black-throated Green Warbler zoo-zee-zoo-zoo-zee or zee-zee-zee-zee-zoo-zee
- Ovenbird teach'er, teach' er, teach'er
- Common Yellowthroat witchity-witchity-witchity-witch
- White-throated Sparrow old Tom Peabody Peabody Peabody
- Red-winged Blackbird ok-a-ree
A few other birds make distinctive sounds that are harder to "translate." For example, the
Gray Catbird and especially the Brown Thrasher are mimics.
Gray Catbird Call sounds like a cat mewing. Song is somewhat like a Brown Thrasher,
but phrases not in pairs and not as musical.
Brown Thrasher Song a long, very musical set of phrases, each phrase usually sung in a
pair.
More on identifying birds
Now that you've mastered shape, size, site, and sound, here are some other things to look for.
Colour: You might think that the colour of a bird is the most important identifying factor, but
keep the four Ss of birding in mind. For example, the red colour of a partly obscured bird
could mean either a Cardinal or a Scarlet Tanager. The shape can help you distinguish
between them, for each has a distinct silhouette.
Field marks: Field marks are distinctive "trademarks," like wing bars, striped crowns, barred
tails, and so on, that make identification easier. Many field marks are visible only when a bird
flies the white rump of the Northern Flicker or Northern Harrier for example. Others, such
as wing bars, are easier to see when the bird is sitting.
One of the best ways to familiarize yourself with the field marks of different species is
by reading through your bird guide as often as you can and applying what you learn in the
field.
Behaviour: Bird behaviour is often a key element in solving identification problems. For
example, if you have determined that the bird you are watching is a small flycatcher but aren't
sure whether it is an Eastern Wood Pewee or a Phoebe, tail-bobbing behaviour is a clear
indication that it's a Phoebe.
Observing the behaviour of birds is fascinating and far more satisfying than merely
identifying species. Donald and Lillian Stokes have produced three volumes called A Guide to
Bird Behaviour that reveal intriguing facts about even the most common species. Studying
behaviour will ensure that you will never grow bored with birdwatching.
Rating the field guides
Field Guide to the Birds of North America (2nd edition), National Geographic Society This is
undoubtedly the best field guide around for North American Birds. The superior illustrations
show both adult and immature plumage, as well as regional variations for many species.
Includes range maps.
A Field Guide to the Birds East of the Rockies by Roger Tory Peterson The first and, for many
birders, still the best field guide. The illustrations are very good. Best of all, this guide covers
only birds found east of the Rockies, so you won't have to bother wading through a lot of
species that just don't occur here (except perhaps as accidentals). This makes identification a
bit easier. Includes range maps.
A Guide to Field Identification Birds of North America by Robbins, Bruun, Zim and Singer (also
known as the Golden Guide) Like the National Geographic guide, this one covers all the
birds of North America. Depicts some immature plumages, and is both simpler and less
intimidating than the National Geographic guide. A useful book if you're just getting started in
birding and want all North American birds, but don't want to be bothered with too many
details.
Where to go birding in Ottawa
Information Sources: There are many places in our region to go birdwatching, and most
birders have their own favourite sites. A good way to discover local birding hot spots is to join
the Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club (OFNC) and participate in their many field trips. As an added
bonus, a skilled leader will help you increase your birding skills along the way. The FWG
Interpretive Centre has a "map wall" with birding areas flagged in blue.
The following publications provide ample information on local birding locations:
- Ottawa birding locations compiled by C.R. Bowen, Birds Committee,
OFNC
- Brunton, Dan. 1988. Nature and Natural Areas in Canada's Capital. $10 Available at the
FWG and area bookstores.
- Sankey, John. 1987. Enjoying the Birds of the Ottawa Valley. $7.95. Available at the FWG
and area bookstores.
- Trail and Landscape, the newsletter of the OFNC (free to members), is a goldmine of
information on local birding spots. Some back issues are available at the FWG.
- A Birder's Checklist of Ottawa ($1) an OFNC publication, contains a map showing 38
birding areas within 50 km of Ottawa. Available at the FWG and local bird specialty
stores.
Maps: Topographic maps are essential for locating some of the birding areas described in
the sources above. The National Capital Commission (NCC) also produces useful trail maps for
the Greenbelt and Gatineau Park.
Local birding areas a brief selection: The following spots are considered some of the
best places to go birding because they offer diversity, good shore birding, and opportunities
to see certain birds close up.
- Mud Lake and Britannia: Good for migrating songbirds, especially along the ridge and in
the woods. Look for water birds on the lake and gulls and ducks on the Ottawa River.
- Ottawa Beach: When the water along the Ottawa River is low, the exposed mudflats are
among the best places for shorebirds.
- Jack Pine Trail: Popular in winter when the OFNC-maintained feeder attracts lots of
Chickadees, as well as Evening Grosbeaks, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Red-Breasted Nuthatches, and other species. Great Horned Owls and Barred Owls have
been found in the woods. A section of the trail continues across Knoxdale Road.
- Shirleys Bay trail system: Although promoted for cross-country skiing, the area's
network of trails offers great year-round birding particularly for species that require
shrubby thickets and scattered small trees. The unmarked entrance is on Carling Ave
just west of Moodie Drive, opposite Nortel (formerly BNR).
Look for White-breasted Nuthatch, Veery, Black-capped Chickadee, and Ovenbird.
- Stony Swamp: Main access off Moodie Drive, continues across Richmond Road at
unmarked parking lot. Wetlands and mixed forest provide great birding.
Look for Great Blue Heron, Barred Owl and a good assortment of songbirds.
- Mer Bleue: Three trail systems form part of this large area east of Ottawa. The Mer
Bleue boardwalk is at the end of Ridge Road, Dewberry Trail is on Dolman Road, and
the EMR trail is opposite the EMR complex on Anderson Road. Woods and bog give an
interesting mix of birds.
Look for Wood Thrush, Eastern Wood Pewee, White-throated Sparrow, and sometimes
a Great Horned Owl.
- Gatineau Park: The NCC's Gatineau Park map shows all the trails, but perhaps the best
known birding area is the trail system beginning at the Champlain Lookout.
Look for Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Red-headed Woodpeckers have been found in some of the wooded swamps where standing
dead trees occur.
- Marlborough Forest: Best access is from Roger Stevens Drive just west of Dwyer Hill
Road. Only one trail is signposted, the rest are unmarked.
- New York right-of-way: Abandoned rail line with access from Leitrim Road just east of
Anderson Road.
- Abandoned rail line near Highway 7: Access from Jinkinson Side Road or Dwyer Hill Road
south of Highway 7.
Habitat guide to birding
A habitat can be defined as a place where a bird finds the combination of water, food, cover,
and space that it needs to survive. Different species require different habitats, and although
some birds are generalists, able to use several habitats, most are linked to specific types.
Knowing a species' habitat can help you identify it. The following lists show the habitat
preferences of some common birds in the Ottawa region, but it is by no means exhaustive.
Some birds are listed several times, reflecting their use of different habitats.
| Coniferous forest |
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Hermit Thrush
Golden-crowned Kinglet | Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Purple Finch |
| Eastern hardwoods (deciduous woods) |
Red-tailed Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Ruffed Grouse
Great Horned Owl
Pileated Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood Pewee
Blue Jay
American Crow | Black-capped Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Wood Thrush
Veery
Red-eyed Vireo
Ovenbird
American Redstart
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak |
| Fields, meadows, farmland |
Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Harrier
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Common Nighthawk
Chimney Swift
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Purple Martin | American Crow
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
Loggerhead Shrike
Yellow Warbler
Bobolink
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Song Sparrow |
| Brushy borders of fields and woodlands (edge habitat) |
American Kestrel
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Norther Flicker
Eastern Kingbird
Black-capped Chickadee
House Wren
Gray Catbird | Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Yellow Warbler
Baltimore Oriole
Northern Cardinal
Indigo Bunting
American Goldfinch
Rufous-sided Towhee
Field Sparrow |
| Wetlands (marshes, swamps, fens), wet or moist woods |
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
American Bittern
Mallard
American Black Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Wood Duck
Osprey
Virginia Rail
Sora Rail | Common Moorhen
Common Snipe
Spotted Sandpiper
Black Tern
Tree Swallow
Marsh Wren
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Red-winged Blackbird
Swamp Sparrow
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| Ponds, streams, rivers, riparian (streamside) zones |
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Canada Goose
Mallard
American Black Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
Wood Duck
Hooded Merganser | Common Merganser
Osprey
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Common Tern
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Purple Martin
Yellow Warbler |
| Human habitation (farms, town, parks, houses, gardens) |
Rock Dove
Common Nighthawk
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Tree Swallow
Purple Martin
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee | House Wren
American Robin
European Starling
Chipping Sparrow
House Finch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow
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Many birds may stop over in backyards, parks and other urban settings during migration, so
expect to see a wider variety than listed here. Over time, some birders have counted more
than 100 species in their city backyards.
MORE INFO
- The Canadian Wildlife Service has added its great Hinterland Who's Who series to its web site. Many of these
superb publications deal with our common species of birds. Check the index for everything from the Black-capped
Chickadee to the Bald Eagle. Also available in French.
- For excellent photographs of most North American birds and lots of other information on bird
identification, check out the Patuxent Bird Identification Info Center.
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