The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

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

Question 9 4 possible birds

What SHAPE was the TAIL ?

Choose the answer that comes closest to what you observed.

Square or slightly notched at the end Rounded at the end Pointed or wedge-shaped Forked Unknown

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 ? Songbird (ground or perching bird)
    Change
  2. 2
    What colour was the BREAST ? Gray, or blue-gray
    Change
  3. 3
    What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Crest of feathers on top of the head
    Change
  4. 4
    How BIG was the bird ? Smaller than a sparrow
    Change
  5. 5
    What type of environment was the bird seen in? Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
    Change
  6. 6
    What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    Change
  7. 7
    What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    Change
  8. 8
    What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail)
    Change

Leading possibilities

4 possibilities remain

  1. 1

    Eurasian Skylark

    Why this matches 8 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Songbird (ground or perching bird)
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Crest of feathers on top of the head
    • How BIG was the bird ? Smaller than a sparrow
    • What type of environment was the bird seen in? Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour PATTERN if any was shown on the BREAST ? Streaked lengthwise (from head to tail)
    View profile
  2. 2

    Chestnut-collared Longspur

    Matching variants: Female, Nonbreeding Male

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Songbird (ground or perching bird)
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • How BIG was the bird ? Smaller than a sparrow
    • What type of environment was the bird seen in? Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile
  3. 3

    Lapland Longspur

    Matching variants: Female, Nonbreeding Male

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Songbird (ground or perching bird)
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • How BIG was the bird ? Smaller than a sparrow
    • What type of environment was the bird seen in? Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile
  4. 4

    McCown's Longspur

    Matching variants: Female, Nonbreeding Male

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Songbird (ground or perching bird)
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • How BIG was the bird ? Smaller than a sparrow
    • What type of environment was the bird seen in? Open area: field, prairie, meadow, farmland, tundra
    • What colour was the THROAT ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    • What colour was the BELLY ? White, or pale (grayish-white)
    View profile

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