Identifying Birds

These black birds may belong to the same family and look similar in some ways, but several distinctive traits help set them apart.

Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings look very similar and are more likely to intermingle in the colder months. Here’s how to tell them apart.

Telling the two apart can be tough, but some clues lie in how they fly and where they sleep.

The six flavors of junco were long considered separate species. Recent science shows that they instead boldly exhibit evolution in real time.

Some clues to help distinguish between these two often-confused finches.

A close look at these two doppelgängers shows some key contrasts in markings and song.

Don’t let this ID cook your goose. Here are a few tips to help you solve the puzzle.

It’s a challenging ID, but head shape can take you a long way.

These are the best clues to help you know which ‘butcherbird’ is which.

Study the finer details of migrating warblers with our handy photo guide.

When hawks and falcons stream across the sky in large numbers, you need a distinct set of birding skills to tell them apart.

They're one of the most familiar raptor species in North America, but they can still be tricky to ID.

First, break them down into groups. Then you can start picking out the finer details like size and flight.

In its youth, our national symbol sports brown feathers on its head—making it easily confused with its rarer, golden cousin.

Uh, wait … there’s more than one kind?

(And creep your friends out while you're at it.)

They are not easy, but they are worth it. Probably.

And how to find them.

Identifying flycatchers can be unbelievably frustrating, so start off easy.

Beware: We have three species, and two of them can be really confusing.

The underside is what you spend the most time looking at, after all.

Turn your adventures into an heirloom.

Mistakes happen to the best of us. Here's how to save face.

A mix of two different species, these birds trick experts and novices alike.

As the seasons change, so do birds' feathers. A birder should be prepared.

Not all white birds are albino, and not all albino birds are white.

Take limits require rapid ID of fast-flying birds—a useful skill for any birder. One waterfowler breaks down how she does it.

And more importantly, can you add it to your life list?