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| Learning bird anatomy is important for using field guides and pinpointing identifications. Click the image above to enlarge. |
Correctly identifying birds is a daunting task for beginners, and even veteran birders can struggle with tricky groups such as flycatchers and shorebirds. It’s important to remember that the vast majority of birds that one routinely encounters are easily identified and can be learned quickly. Mastering the identification of any group of organisms is largely a process of elimination. Learning to place an unknown bird into the correct family eliminates a tremendous number of options and greatly narrows the possibilities. This is why a good bird guide should be arranged taxonomically, or by family. It is important to learn the relationships that different bird families have to one another, as an understanding of these relationships ultimately makes identification simpler.
About 421 species of birds have turned up in Ohio to date. That seems like a lot, and it is. But even the newest birder, upon seeing a confusing female Blue-winged Teal, will probably know that it is a duck. By making that simple connection, the birder has correctly placed the bird into the family Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans) and narrowed his or her search to about 43 species, many of which will be quickly eliminated as possibilities. To identify this teal – or any other bird – learn to carefully examine key features. Make note of color, pattern, behavior, size, etc. This is when a good field guide is vital in order to sift through the possibilities and make a match. We are in the era of the field guide, and there are at least a dozen good ones that cover Ohio and eastern North America.
In order to see a bird’s details with clarity, good optics are essential. As with field guides, there is a wide range of different options in regards to binoculars. Decent field glasses can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. It’s probably best to begin with well-made entry level binoculars, which will probably cost around $400.00. There are scads of reviews and comparisons of all available binoculars on the Internet and it’s wise to do some research before making a purchase. One basic question that ranks high among the most important decisions when selecting a binocular involves its power. Binoculars always have a designation such as 8 x 40, or 10 x 50. The first number is the power, and if it is 10-power, this means that it appears as if you are seeing an object ten times closer than it really is. The second number, such as 50, refers to the diameter of the front lens. The larger the lens, the more light that can enter the binocular and the brighter the image will appear.
While having more powerful binoculars, such as 10-power, seems to make sense on the surface, there are tradeoffs when compared with lower power optics. The higher the magnification the harder it is to hold the binoculars steady and keep the object in crisp clear focus. Generally, higher powered binoculars also let less light into the optics creating darker images. Finally, the more power that a binocular has, the less closely it will focus on an object. One might have to be 15 feet away from the subject to focus with 10-power binoculars, while good 8-powers might focus clearly from six feet. The latter is important if you enjoy butterfly or dragonfly watching in addition to birding. Probably the best overall type of binocular for beginning birders, and those interested in looking at a range of subjects, is either 8 x 32 or 8 x 40 binoculars.
There will be countless times when magnification that transcends any binocular will be handy, such as when viewing distant waterfowl, or shorebirds on a mudflat. A spotting scope is indispensable in such situations and nearly all serious birders eventually end up purchasing one. As with binoculars, there are countless reviews and other information on the Internet. A major revolution that has vastly increased a scope’s utility is the angled eyepiece, which is now available on most models. An angled eyepiece is almost always preferable over a straight eyepiece. They allow the scope to be set lower on the tripod which reduces tripod shake, create an easier setup for people of varying heights to use without making adjustments, and permit the observer to look nearly overhead with much greater ease. The latter capability means that angled eyepiece scopes can be used to view songbirds high in trees; situations that are awkward at best with straight eyepieces.
One extremely important aspect of becoming a better birder doesn’t even involve optics or vision. All birds make sounds, and many species create beautiful songs. Knowing these vocalizations will help a birder find many more birds than they otherwise would, and in many instances aid in identifying them. Learning bird calls and songs is like learning a new language and for many people this is much more challenging than learning to visually recognize birds. But nearly anyone, at any age, can learn an enormous number of songs and calls. The Ohio Division of Wildlife has developed four different CDs and accompanying guidebooks to Ohio’s birds, and these are available for free by contacting the Division at 1-800-WILDLIFE.
Finally, seek the help of other birders. Bird enthusiasts are normally friendly and helpful, and more than willing to share their knowledge. Connecting with a local Audubon chapter or bird group is a great way to meet other birders, and we have listed all Ohio groups under the “Ohio Birding Resources” page of this website.
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