The eBirdr field guide

Bird Advisor

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

Question 9 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 8 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 ? Gray, or blue-gray
    Change
  4. 4
    What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye
    Change
  5. 5
    What colour was the BILL ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    Change
  6. 6
    WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
    Change
  7. 7
    What was the predominant colour of the HEAD ? Unknown
    Change
  8. 8
    What colour was the BELLY ? Unknown
    Change

Leading possibilities

6 possibilities remain

2 rules inferred
  1. 1

    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 ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
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  2. 2

    Ruddy Duck

    Why this matches 5 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 ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye
    • What colour was the BILL ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    View profile
  3. 3

    Red-throated Loon

    Why this matches 5 supporting observations
    • What TYPE of bird was seen ? Duck or Goose-like
    • What colour was the THROAT ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • What FACIAL or HEAD features were noted if any ? Dark area behind, under, through or around the eye
    • What colour was the BILL ? Brown, or chestnut (reddish-brown)
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
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  4. 4

    Red-faced 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 ? Gray, or blue-gray
    • WHERE was the bird seen ? Northwestern Canada or United States
    View profile
  5. 5

    Double-crested Cormorant

    Why this matches 3 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 ? Gray, or blue-gray
    View profile

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

Comparing your observations with 658 species in the Advisor knowledge base.

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