DAVE TAYLOR'S WILDLIFE
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Bird resources

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All images are copyright © 2016 J.D. Taylor Senses of Wildness Inc. These images may not be used in any form without permission. All rights reserved.
                                              The S-System of Bird ID
 
A helpful way of identifying birds is the S-System. Use these 6 words to help identify the birds seen not only on the web cam but anywhere you might run across them.
 
Size: How big is the bird? Compare it to common things in hour life. Is it bigger or smaller than a cup? A glass? A loaf of bread? A microwave oven? Or compare it to a bird that is familiar: bigger than a robin, smaller than a crow. Smaller than a swan, bigger than a duck.
 
Site: Where was in seen? In the forest? A meadow? A stream? A lake’? Soaring overhead?
 
Sight: In this case there are several different ways of interpreting “sight”.
Physical Features
  • What colour was the bird in general?
  • What patterns did you see? What colour was its back? Its head? Its chest?
  • What are its feet like? Webbed? Talons? Were the toes all facing forward?
  • Did the bird have an eye-ring?
  • Were their patterns on its wings? If so what were they like?
  • Was the chest speckled? Streaked? Barred? A solid colour?
  • What was the beak like? Thin? Sturdy? Long? Short?
  • Did have a crest?
  • Was it long legged or short?
  • Other?
 
Behavioural Observations
  • How did it fly? Did soar? Flap and glide? Flap all of the time?
  • Did walk? Hop?
  • Did it land on branches? Was it on the ground?
  • Did carry food away or eat it right then and there?
  • Was it in a flock or was it solitary?
  • Did it mix with other birds or was it alone?
  • Was it nesting?
  • Other?
 Sound: What sound did it make?
 
Shape: What shape is it? Common shapes are:
  • Owl shaped
  • Hawk or Eagle shaped
  • Chicken or turkey like?
  • Song bird like? (Robin)
  • Heron shaped?
  • Duck shaped?
 
Other shapes to look for:
Wings:
  • Long and narrow?
  • Short and wide?
  • Long and wide?
  • Other?
Bills:
  • Thick and short?
  • Curved, hawk like?
  • Very long and spear like?
  • Very thin?
  • Flat, duck like?
  • Other?
 

Season: What season did you see it in?
 

 

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  • About
  • SW YouTube Resources
    • SW YouTube Play Lists
    • SW Videos by Curriculum
  • Media
    • Talks
    • Blogs
    • Photos >
      • Africa
      • Europe
      • North America
      • South America
      • Australia
    • Illustrations
    • Videos >
      • North American Videos
      • Africa Videos
    • Books
  • Education Support
    • Videos by Curriculum List
    • Media Literacy
    • Types of Videos
    • Talks and Visits
    • Questions for Elementary Curriculum >
      • Questions About Wildlife
      • Questions for Grades 1-3
      • Questions for Grades 4-6
      • Questions for Grades 7-8
      • Questions: Birds Nesting
      • Questions: Bird Behaviour
      • Birds at a Feeder Questions
    • Notes on Answers >
      • Answers
      • Answers to Grade 1-3 Questions
      • Answers to Grade 4-6 Questions
      • Answers to Intermediate Questions
      • Notes on Salmon
      • Answers to "Bird's Nests"
      • Birds at a Feeder Answers
      • Bird Feeder Resources
      • Answers About Wildlife
  • Contact