The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

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

Question 9 5 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 8 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 ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    Change
  3. 3
    What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    Change
  4. 4
    What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    Change
  5. 5
    What SHAPE was the TAIL ? Unknown
    Change
  6. 6
    What were the EYE markings if any ? None
    Change
  7. 7
    What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    Change
  8. 8
    What colour was the BACK ? Black, purple, or dark
    Change

Leading possibilities

5 possibilities remain

3 rules inferred
  1. 1

    Black-faced Grassquit

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What were the EYE markings if any ? None
    • What colour was the BACK ? Black, purple, or dark
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  2. 2

    Snow Bunting

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BACK ? Black, purple, or dark
    View profile
  3. 3

    American Tree Sparrow

    Why this matches 4 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile
  4. 4

    McKay's Bunting

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What colour was the TOP of HEAD ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BACK ? Black, purple, or dark
    View profile
  5. 5

    Grasshopper Sparrow

    Why this matches 3 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Sparrow-like
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Uniform color
    • What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile

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

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