Welcome to the eBirdr Bird Identification Advisor. Answer the first question below to begin.
More Information...
eBirdr Advisor is designed to counsel you on your bird identifications. If it cannot ID the bird
conclusively for you, it will (1) help define what to look for (2) determine possibilities (3) narrow
the list of possibilities and (4) allow you to examine what-if scenarios.
You will be asked questions similar to how an expert birder would derive knowledge about a bird. If
completely uncertain about an answer then respond with Unknown rather than give a false
answer which may disqualify your bird. The field of possibilities, however, will be narrowed down based on
how much information you can provide. There is a context Help button at the bottom of most of the questions.
Added information here will add clarity by defining or explaining in more detail what is being asked. Also
this will explain why this question is being asked.
It is a good habit to scan an unknown bird from head-to-tail in the field noting any distinctive
characteristic in order to best answer the questions. Once you become accustomed to the questions they may
help you with your observations and eventually reduce the number of Unknowns given in your responses.
The order of questions, however, may not be asked in a systematic head-to-tail order. eBirdr Advisor
optimizes the order of questioning to reduce unnecessary questioning.
When you have completed the questions the choices listed will be based on your responses and bird
abundances. The higher up the list the more likely the bird will be what you are described for your area.
Other birds listed will be similar to the one chosen as the most probable. Check these similar birds out
as well as they may well help clinch your ID or show interesting patterns.
The eBirdr Advisor attempts to ID birds with pointed questions. It is a rule-based knowledge expert system
that employs fuzzy logic to derive answers to your queries. Therefore don't be intimidated by the questions.
Do your best to describe your bird. The system is flexible enough to allow close responses. This is
especially so with size and colour. As indicated earlier you can always answer Unknown if
you have absolutely no idea. You will probably just get more choices to choose from at the end of the
questioning. Like the game 20 Questions however, there will always be less than 20 questions.
Birding itself is a fuzzy pursuit with colours often subjective and variable changing with light conditions.
Size can be deceptive based on distance and context. A large bird will appear smaller at a distance. A small
bird seen against large foliage will appear different than the same bird seen against small leaves.
eBirdr may ask about location and season seen to assess the likelihood or abundance of a bird in your area.
But abundances and locations change. Even bird names and their relationships may be changed with new
knowledge. Users of the older Birdstar expert system will recognize that eBirdr Advisor is based on it. And
like Birdstar this tool will evolve to be better at giving advice.
You may test your memory with this Advisor after your birding trip but we expect some users will check their
IDs by using it live, in the field. But let's not take this Advisor too seriously. Even experts make wrong
calls. We hope you will enjoy using this advisor as a guide but also as a game to test your observational
skills and to recognise new patterns in birding that may not have been evident before.
Your feedback will be appreciated and used to improve the eBirdr Advisor experience. Please feel free to
contact us and let us know what you think and to report any issues found. We have provided a
Feedback/Problem button on the questions and at the end of questioning to assist in this.
Here you can provide context feedback listing any issues you perceive with the questioning or the end
result. If you know the bird you were trying to ID and could not this information along with your input
based on your feedback from these buttons will help us better diagnose the problem and continuously improve
the Advisor.
Good luck and good birding,
Larry & Kevin
What TYPE of bird was seen ?
Help
The following is a brief overview of the types and their descriptions that are used by the Advisor.
- Songbird: a large diverse group of perching or ground birds ranging in size from the smallest birds to some of the
largest. They often have colourful songs. Included would be Thrushes, Blackbirds, Oriole, Wrens, Crows, Jays,
Flycatchers, Grosbeaks, Finches, Doves, Hummingbirds, Nightjars. If uncertain about the type this might be the category
to try first
- Warbler-like: are smaller than Robins, usually very active with needle-pointed bills
- Sparrow-like: are smaller than Robins, streaked brown or gray backs, usually with conical bills
- Hummingbirds: are tiny birds that hover while feeding with needle-like bills at flowers or at bird feeders. The
males often have colourful iridescent throat patches. Most have green backs but a few have copper or rufous on the upper
parts, sides and tails.
- Woodpecker or Tree-clinging: they often cling to and feed off tree trunks or branches such as Woodpeckers,
Nuthatches, Creepers
- Swallow-like: Robin-sized or smaller, frequently seen in the air feeding on insects but may be seen perched in trees
or on wires, flight is often erratic
- Owls: unlike any other group of birds with large rounded heads with disk-like faces; they are birds of prey often
active at dusk or at night
- Hawk-like: day-time birds of prey; seen soaring overhead or perched; variable in size
- Chicken-like Ground Birds: chicken-like thick bills; behave much like chickens; Grouse, Ptarmigan, Quail, Turkey
- Chicken-like Marsh Birds: wetland birds that are often camouflaged and very secretive; Rails, Coots, Moorhens
- Sandpiper-like: short to medium-legged wading birds of wetlands, shores and beaches; often seen probing the ground
with their bills; some species found in fields far from water
- Long-legged Waders: wetlands, shorelines, beaches; includes the herons, cranes, long-legged sandpipers; often have
long necks which may be looped in; most have long straight bills
- Gull-like or Seabirds: Gulls: long pointed-winged graceful flying water birds; excellent soarers. Gulls ID's in
this guide are primarily adults. Identification of immatures Gulls is very difficult and beyond the scope of this guide
at this time. Seabirds: variable in size found near the oceans; some may be seen from coastal areas but most are only
seen on the open ocean beyond the site of land.
- Duck or Goose-like: includes the swimming birds; ducks, grebes, loons, geese, swans
- ID by Unique Behaviour or Jizz: unlike the above categories which focuses on field marks this category asks about
size, habitat and distinctive behaviour. To acquire good birding skills observing basic field marks is essential.
However, beginning birders are often surprised at how many birds may be known by focusing on behaviour.