THE JOURNAL / Free Bird Identifier
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Showing 109–126 of 150 guides
THE READING ROOM / 07Mallard Eclipse Plumage: How to Identify Males in Summer
Learn how eclipse plumage changes a male Mallard’s appearance, how to distinguish him from a female, and which photo clues remain useful.
Read the guideMallard Identification: Field Marks, Sex, Age, and Seasonal Variation
Learn to identify mallards by plumage, bill, wing patches, body shape, and the differences between males, females, juveniles, and hybrids.
Read the guideMallard vs. American Black Duck: How to Tell Them Apart
Compare the Mallard and American Black Duck using plumage, bill color, geography, age, sex, and seasonal variation.
Read the guideMourning Dove Identification: Key Field Marks and Similar Species
Learn to identify mourning doves by their shape, plumage, distinctive wing and tail patterns, and differences from lookalike doves.
Read the guideMourning Dove vs. Eurasian Collared-Dove: How to Tell Them Apart
Compare the Mourning Dove and Eurasian Collared-Dove by size, shape, plumage, tail, range, age, and sex to identify them in photos.
Read the guideNorthern Cardinal Identification: Visual Field Marks, Age, and Sex
Learn how to identify northern cardinals by plumage, crest, bill, and tail, with clues for distinguishing males, females, juveniles, and regional variation.
Read the guideNorthern Flicker Identification: Key Field Marks and Variations
Learn to identify a northern flicker by its plumage, markings, size, and the regional, age, and sex differences visible in photos.
Read the guideNorthern Mockingbird Identification: Key Field Marks and Look-Alikes
Learn how to identify a Northern Mockingbird by its gray plumage, white wing patches, long tail, and differences from similar birds.
Read the guideOsprey Identification: Key Field Marks, Age, and Range
Identify ospreys by their dark eye stripe, white underparts, hooked bill, and distinctive shape, while accounting for age, geography, and viewing conditions.
Read the guidePileated Woodpecker Identification: Key Field Marks and Look-Alikes
Learn to identify a pileated woodpecker by its size, crest, facial stripes, range, and differences from similar woodpeckers.
Read the guidePurple Finch Identification: Field Marks, Sex, Age, and Range
Learn how to identify Purple Finches by plumage, compare them with House Finches, and account for differences in sex, age, season, and geography.
Read the guideRed Birds That Are Not Cardinals: 12 Species to Know
Learn to identify red birds beyond cardinals by comparing plumage, shape, habitat, range, and seasonal differences.
Read the guideRed-bellied Woodpecker Identification: Key Field Marks, Sex, Age, and Range
Learn to identify Red-bellied Woodpeckers by their barred backs, red crowns, pale faces, and the differences between males and females.
Read the guideRed-Bellied Woodpecker vs. Red-Headed Woodpecker: How to Tell Them Apart
Compare the red-bellied and red-headed woodpecker by head color, back pattern, range, age, and other useful photo-identification clues.
Read the guideRed-Breasted Nuthatch Identification: Field Marks, Sex, Age, and Range
Learn to identify a red-breasted nuthatch by its facial pattern, rusty underside, shape, and the details that vary with sex, age, and location.
Read the guideRed-Tailed Hawk Identification: Field Marks, Age, and Range
Learn to identify red-tailed hawks by their plumage, shape, flight, geography, and age, while separating them from similar North American hawks.
Read the guideRed-Tailed Hawk vs. Red-Shouldered Hawk: How to Tell Them Apart
Compare red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks by plumage, shape, habitat, age, and geography to identify them more confidently in photos.
Read the guideRed-Winged Blackbird Identification: Field Marks by Sex, Age, and Season
Identify red-winged blackbirds by their shoulder patches, plumage, size, and seasonal variation, and distinguish them from similar dark birds.
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