The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

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

Question 8 4 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 7 answers recorded · open to review or change
  1. 1
    What TYPE of bird was seen ? Duck or Goose-like
    Change
  2. 2
    What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    Change
  3. 3
    What colour was the THROAT ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    Change
  4. 4
    What colour was the SIDE ? Gray, or blue-gray
    Change
  5. 5
    What colour was the BILL ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    Change
  6. 6
    What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Ear "tufts" or horns
    Change
  7. 7
    What colour was the BELLY ? Gray, or blue-gray
    Change

Leading possibilities

4 possibilities remain

2 rules inferred
  1. 1

    Hooded Merganser

    Why this matches 6 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Duck or Goose-like
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour was the SIDE ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • What colour was the BILL ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Ear "tufts" or horns
    View profile
  2. 2

    Double-crested Cormorant

    Why this matches 4 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Duck or Goose-like
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Gray, or blue-gray
    View profile
  3. 3

    Brandt's Cormorant

    Why this matches 4 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Duck or Goose-like
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Gray, or blue-gray
    View profile
  4. 4

    Great Cormorant

    Why this matches 4 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Duck or Goose-like
    • What colour was the BREAST ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Orange, buff (orange-yellow), or tan
    • What colour was the BELLY ? Gray, or blue-gray
    View profile

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

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