The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

Describe what you saw. We’ll narrow the field together.

Question 10 6 possible birds

What type of environment was the bird seen in?

Choose the answer that comes closest to what you observed.

Urban or residential area or at a feeder Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra Desert, arid grassland, shrubs, cactus, mesquite Thickets or shrubs Deciduous forest Coniferous forest Mixed forest Mountainous Terrain Wooded freshwater habitat Freshwater marsh or wetland Freshwater shoreline Open body of freshwater Saltwater marsh or wetland Flat saltwater shore; beach Rocky saltwater shore; cliff Open ocean; beyond sight of land Only or mostly in flight over freshwater Only or mostly in flight over land Only or mostly in flight over saltwater

Not completely sure? Choose Unknown when it is available—a careful “I don’t know” is more useful than a guess.

Your observation 9 answers recorded · open to review or change
  1. 1
    What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    Change
  2. 2
    What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    Change
  3. 3
    What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Black, purple, or dark
    Change
  4. 4
    What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    Change
  5. 5
    What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Unknown
    Change
  6. 6
    What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    Change
  7. 7
    WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
    Change
  8. 8
    What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? None
    Change
  9. 9
    What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Crest of feathers on top of the head
    Change

Leading possibilities

6 possibilities remain

3 rules inferred
  1. 1

    Eurasian Skylark

    Why this matches 7 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Black, purple, or dark
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
    • What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Crest of feathers on top of the head
    View profile
  2. 2

    Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow

    Why this matches 5 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Black, purple, or dark
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
    View profile
  3. 3

    Oriental Greenfinch

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Black, purple, or dark
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
    View profile
  4. 4

    Lapland Longspur

    Matching variants: Female, Nonbreeding Male

    Why this matches 5 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? Black, purple, or dark
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    View profile
  5. 5

    Bobolink

    Why this matches 3 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour TAIL PATTERN was there if any ? None
    View profile

Showing the strongest matches so far. Keep answering—the order may change.

Comparing your observations with 823 species in the Advisor knowledge base.

Start over