Website for Bird Identification?

[1997Mamba]

HI everyone,

Is there a Website that you can post pics of birds to get them ID'ed?

I really stuggle with the field guide I have. I've found a couple of field guide sites but haven't found anything that's easy to navigate.

Thinking a bird photography forum where us amatuers could converse with experts.

Thanks.

Scott.

 

[KSkiles]

That's a great question, I'll start looking around for a site that might suit this sort of request. It's something I'm interested in too

HI everyone,

Is there a Website that you can post pics of birds to get them ID'ed?

I really stuggle with the field guide I have. I've found a couple
of field guide sites but haven't found anything that's easy to
navigate.

Thinking a bird photography forum where us amatuers could converse
with experts.

Thanks.

Scott.

 

[1997Mamba]

I've seem people post here before scattered all around on diff boards. Do you know what the criteria to open a new board here?

You'd think it would have broad appeal.

Thanks

Scott.

HI everyone,

Is there a Website that you can post pics of birds to get them ID'ed?

I really stuggle with the field guide I have. I've found a couple
of field guide sites but haven't found anything that's easy to
navigate.

Thinking a bird photography forum where us amatuers could converse
with experts.

Thanks.

Scott.

 

[RickS]

There's a blue million of them. Try these for starters...

http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/framlst.html
http://www.wbu.com/

Rick

 

[1997Mamba]

Hi Rick,

A quick look at these seems to indicate they are more info type sites vs an interactive discussion forum like here where you can post pics of particular birds and get feedback. I've seem it here many times on the DR or Canon SLR Lens forum. Folks will just post a pic and ask for an ID, usually someone does.

Not to say I won't do that there but it seems a bit off topic in a way on those forums so I was just looking for something more dialed in to that.

Thanks for the Links though, I will bookmark them and spend some time.

Scott.

There's a blue million of them. Try these for starters...

http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/framlst.html
http://www.wbu.com/

Rick

 

[Les James]

HI everyone,

Is there a Website that you can post pics of birds to get them ID'ed?

I really stuggle with the field guide I have. I've found a couple
of field guide sites but haven't found anything that's easy to
navigate.

Thinking a bird photography forum where us amatuers could converse
with experts.

Thanks.

Scott.

This site is first class: http://www.birdforum.net/

 

[1997Mamba]

Thanks Les, that's what I was looking for. Seems pretty active too, still wish we could setup a board here, there seems to be quite a few folks here taking pics of birds. It would be nice to have everything on one site like this.

Thanks.

Scott.

HI everyone,

Is there a Website that you can post pics of birds to get them ID'ed?

I really stuggle with the field guide I have. I've found a couple
of field guide sites but haven't found anything that's easy to
navigate.

Thinking a bird photography forum where us amatuers could converse
with experts.

Thanks.

Scott.

This site is first class: http://www.birdforum.net/

 

[jh2bh]

http://www.bdi.org/index.htm

 

[Ellery Potash]

For more years that I can remember, PETERSON's FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS has been the standard, most revered book for Bird Watchers.

It should be pretty easy to identify bird types using these books, which are localized for areas around the world (ex: North American Birds).
--
Pixelated Electronics Engineer (HW/SW/FW)

 

[Hummer]

I really stuggle with the field guide I have. I've found a couple
of field guide sites but haven't found anything that's easy to
navigate.

Thinking a bird photography forum where us amatuers could converse
with experts.

Scott,

Online forums can be fun but I suggest you would be better served by getting a good field guide and learning to use it. Not all field guides are created equal, some are downright terrible. If you are shooting birds, learning more about them will make you a better bird photographer.

I recommend the excellent Sibley Guide to Birds (not the abbreviated eastern or western versions). Do stay away from the other Audubon bird field guides which use photos rather than illustrations, they are awful. For ID purposes, illustrated guides are much superior to photographic guides. The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America is excellent too and I use it as often as Sibley. Peterson's Western Birds and Peterson's Eastern Birds field guides are good too, but have been eclipsed in popularity by Sibley. Btw, I own about 30 bird field guides, many dedicated to specific groups of birds.

Avid birders typically enjoy a challenging photo ID quiz, but if the photo is of a bird easily identified with the simple use of a field guide, most good birders won't bother instructing a lazy student. Consider an online bird ID site a last resort. The process of using a good field guide in the field is what will enable you to really learn.

Good luck,

Hummer

A source for Sibley: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679451226/qid=1083601627/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/104-6209542-5683107
See NGS also:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0792268776/ref=pd_sim_books_4/104-6209542-5683107?v=glance&s=books

 

[1997Mamba]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the reply. I have the National Audubon Field guide for my area and it is difficult to say the least. Kind of frustrating when you go page to page and can't find the bird you just took a picture of.

Is this the Sibley book you recommend?

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067945120X/ref=pd_sim_books_2/103-3254301-1252606?v=glance&s=books

The Websites I've checked out so far have been cumbersome. I'm also interested developing my backyard to attract a wide variety of wildlife, already have a small pond, dead trees, good thick brush but want to setup more feeding and nesting areas.

Any suggestions in this area as well?

Thanks for your replies!

Scott.

I really stuggle with the field guide I have. I've found a couple
of field guide sites but haven't found anything that's easy to
navigate.

Thinking a bird photography forum where us amatuers could converse
with experts.

Scott,

Online forums can be fun but I suggest you would be better served
by getting a good field guide and learning to use it. Not all
field guides are created equal, some are downright terrible. If
you are shooting birds, learning more about them will make you a
better bird photographer.

I recommend the excellent Sibley Guide to Birds (not the
abbreviated eastern or western versions). Do stay away from the
other Audubon bird field guides which use photos rather than
illustrations, they are awful. For ID purposes, illustrated guides
are much superior to photographic guides. The National Geographic
Field Guide to the Birds of North America is excellent too and I
use it as often as Sibley. Peterson's Western Birds and Peterson's
Eastern Birds field guides are good too, but have been eclipsed in
popularity by Sibley. Btw, I own about 30 bird field guides, many
dedicated to specific groups of birds.

Avid birders typically enjoy a challenging photo ID quiz, but if
the photo is of a bird easily identified with the simple use of a
field guide, most good birders won't bother instructing a lazy
student. Consider an online bird ID site a last resort. The
process of using a good field guide in the field is what will
enable you to really learn.

Good luck,

Hummer

A source for Sibley:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0679451226/qid=1083601627/sr=2-3/ref=sr_2_3/104-6209542-5683107
See NGS also:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0792268776/ref=pd_sim_books_4/104-6209542-5683107?v=glance&s=books

 

[Hummer]

Kind of frustrating
when you go page to page and can't find the bird you just took a
picture of.

Is this the Sibley book you recommend?

No, the link you gave is to the abbreviated eastern version of The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley, which covers birds in all of North America and which has more, and larger illustrations. Try the first link in my previous post.

Those old Audubon guides are worse than worthless for field ID because they so frustrate would-be birders as to discourage their efforts altogether. They are junk and should have been taken off the market a long time ago. Their only value is in the text information. At the least, Audubon has sponsored the Sibley guides and they carry the Audubon name.

Before ordering, you might want to go to a book store to check out both Sibley and the National Geographic field guide, or consider buying both.

Seems like you're doing well in developing attractive habitat. My tip: wood piles are bird magnets. I arrange piles of tree limbs from my fruit orchards to create cover and forage opportunities. They allow a close approach and can offer a more natural looking scene for bird photography.

Best,

Hummer

 

[Hobgoblin]

Kind of frustrating
when you go page to page and can't find the bird you just took a
picture of.

When you are trying to identify birds you need to do more than just look at the picture. Colours and markings can vary.

Try to observe habits and if possible the birds call. Then match these to the description.

The area you saw the bird can also be very important, as can the time of year.

 

[Warren Sarle]

Any suggestions for identifying critters like this?