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 Challenges in Bird
Identification
Easily confused species
Color variants
Bald-headed birds
Easily confused species
The Common Feeder Birds Poster
shows the birds that you are most likely to observe at your feeder, arranged by size,
shape, and color. If you can’t find a bird on the poster, consult a field guide (see Bibliography).
The table below shows some groups of species that may easily be confused by beginners.
If you think you might be feeding
one of these species, double-check your bird’s field marks and range to be sure of
your identification.
Confusing species |
Identification hints |
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk |
Note
overall body size and shape of tail. |
Hairy Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker |
Note
overall body size, bill size in proportion to head. |
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee |
Note
species ranges and extent of white on wing and outer tail feathers, size of black bib. |
Oak Titmouse
Juniper Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse |
Note
species ranges, rusty flanks, color of crest. Record Oak and Juniper titmice as
"Plain Titmouse". |
Abert's Towhee
Canyon Towhee |
Note
colors of face, crown, and undertail feathers, pattern on throat and chest. |
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow |
Note
colors and striping on head (cap, eyeline, brow, chin, eye ring), color of bill and legs,
pattern on chest. |
| White-throated Sparrow |
Note
that there are white- and tan-striped versions of this species. |
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle |
Note
overall body size, bill size, and tail shape. |
Purple Finch
Cassin's Finch
House Finch |
Note
eye-striping, color of cap and throat, pattern on chest and sides. |
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll |
Note
color of rump. Hoary appears a "frostier" version of Common. |
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch |
Note
color of back and rump; color of undertail feathers. |
American Goldfinch
Pine Warbler |
Note
bill shape, behavior. |
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Female House Finch |
Note
bill shape, color of cap, chin/throat, and wing bars, extent of tail notch. |
| Wintering hummingbirds |
Note
that several species are possible, even in the Southeast. |
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Color variants
Sometimes strange-looking birds
show up at your feeder. For example, you might see a bird that looks like a House Finch
with a white cap. Most likely it really is a House Finch that is partially albino. Many
common birds can have color variations.
Some color variations, such as albinism, are caused by a bird’s genetic make-up.
Other color variations, such as yellow feathers, usually are caused by birds' diets.
Remember that size, shape, and behavior can help you identify a bird whose plumage looks
odd. Check to see if a bird with unusual plumage is otherwise like nearby birds that you
can identify. Try using color variations to help you keep track of individual birds! Here
are some variations to look for:
albinism:
all-white or partially-white plumage
melanism:
extra-dark plumage
xanthochromism:
yellowish plumage (usually instead of red)
erythrism: reddish
plumage
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Bald-headed birds
Each year, FeederWatchers report
"bald-headed birds," mostly Blue Jays and Northern Cardinals. One possibile
explanation for this phenomenon is molting, which is the regular replacement of feathers.
Most reports of bald birds occur in summer and fall, which are typical molting times.
These strange-looking birds may be juveniles undergoing a molt to produce their first
winter adult plumage. For some unknown reason, the bald birds may have dropped all of
their head feathers at once.
Other cases of baldness may be caused by feather mites or lice, or by some environmental
or nutritional factor. No one knows the answer, and the condition has not been studied
widely.
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