Visual Key for Bird Identification

Intro | Waterfowl | Predatory | Upland | Perching | Song

What grouping best fits the bird you want to identify?
Click on the links on this side to see silhouette types in the bird catagories.	Use links on this side to go to Species Groups under each catagory:
Waterfowl & Marshland Birds
See Visual Types and Silhouette Comparison	Loons, Grebes, Pelicans & Cormorants, Bitterns, Herons, & Ibises, Swans, Geese, & Ducks, Shorebirds, Gulls & Terns, Rails, Coots & Cranes, Kingfishers
Predatory Birds
See Visual Types and Silhouette Comparison	Hawks, Falcons, & Eagles, Owls, Vultures
Upland Ground Birds
See Visual Types and Silhouette Comparison	Grouse, Quails, Pheasants, & Turkeys, Pigeons & Doves, Goatsuckers & Nighthawks
Perching & Tree-clinging
See Visual Types and Silhouette Comparison	Cuckoos, Woodpeckers, Swifts & Hummingbirds
Song Birds
See Visual Types and Silhouette Comparison	Tyrant Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, Corvids , Chickadees, Nuthatches & Creepers, Wrens & Dippers, Kinglets & Gnatcatchers, Thrushes, Thrashers, Pipits, Waxwings, Shrikes, Starlings, Vireos, Warblers, Tanagers, Sparrows, Grosbeaks, Icterids, Fringillids

Note:
Since birds are not usually in hand when identifying, our identification key are based on visual cues. Often birds are seen with binoculars or with the naked eye, and only a fleeting glimpse is available. Using this key will give you some practice in using visual cues to identify birds, but may give a false sense of security in the ability to identify birds.