Bird Identification

Turkey Vulture

• Primarily black

• Bald, red head

• Light underside of both primaries and secondaries

Red-shouldered Hawk

• Reddish underside

• Barring on both underside and topside of wings

Red-tailed Hawk

• Pale underside

• Dark topside with distinguished red tail

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

• Red both on forehead and chin

• Yellow hue to chest/belly

• Woodpecker-like

Red-bellied Woodpecker

• Woodpecker-like

• Pale belly

• Dark and light striped topside

• Red on crown of head exclusively

Downy Woodpecker

• Small woodpecker

• Red in small spot at nape

• Dark topside

• Light underside

Carolina Chickadee

• Black on crown of head and chin

• White around eyes & nape

• Gray back

• Tan underside

Tufted Titmouse

• Gray overall

• Red on sides underneath wings

• Cardinal-like crest

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

• Red not always visible

• Plain overall

• No indicative striping on head

• No dark eye bar

Golden-crowned Kinglet

• Yellow always visible

• Dark striping along edges of yellow

• Dark eye bar

Brown-headed Nuthatch

• Very small

• Brown crown of head & nape

• Grey body

• Light underside

Carolina Wren

• Longer, curved bill

• White eyebrow

• Darker brown top, lighter brown underside

• Light striping on wings and tail

Brown Thrasher

• Large

• Long bill

• Solid top

• Speckled underside

Northern Mockingbird

• Large

• Dark wings

• Flash of white on wings when flapped

Hermit Thrush

• Often stands upright (boy scout)

• Brown topside

• Distinct spotting on throat/upper breast

• Little to no spotting on belly

American Robin

• Dark topside

• Red underside

• White eye ring

• Yellow bill

• Larger

House Finch

• Large, wide beak

• Males red on face and breast

• Females streaky and brown

Field Sparrow

• Pink beak

• Pink-brown striping on head & back

• Pale underside

White-throated Sparrow

• Yellow eyebrows

• Black and white striped crown

• White throat

Eastern Towhee

• Rufous side

• Brown topside for females

• Black topside for males

• White underside

• Males often have red eyes

Yellow-rumped Warbler

• Gray, black, and white

• Yellow underneath wings

• Yellow on rump

• Sometimes yellow on crown

Northern Cardinal

• Larger

• Crest on head

• Red beak, black face

• Males bright red

• Females brown and muted red

Harris’s Hawk

• Solid colored

• Muted brown

• Reddish brown

• White around cloaca

Great Horned Owl

• Long ear tufts

• Solid brown face

• White chin

• Soul in the eyes

Barred Owl

• Brown and grey

• No soul in the eyes

Mississippi Kite

• Dark around eyes

• Gray overall

• Darker tail

Palm Warbler

• Yellow underside

• Rusty cap

• Rusty streaks on belly

Loggerhead Shrike

• Light grey

• Black bandit mask

• Hooked bill

• Dark primaries & tail

Northern Harrier

• Gray-ish to buff

• White rump

• Owl-like ring around face

American Kestrel

• Small

• Vibrant

• Reddish back

• Black feather edges

• Grey head and wings

• Tan underside

Henslow’s Sparrow

• Large beak

• Yellow overall

• Spotted

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

• Very little red

• Small

• Black and white

Cedar Waxwing

• Brown underside

• Grey topside

• Smooth

• Red waxy wing-tips

• Bandit mask

Tree Swallow

• Iridescent blue topside

• White underside

• Long wings, wide tail

Blue Jay

• Large

• Crested head

• Blue topside

• White underside

• Black accents

Red-headed Woodpecker

• Solid red head

• No speckling along topside

• Black topside

• White underside

Ring-necked Duck

• Grey bill with white ring toward end separating black tip

• Black topside

• White underside

American Coot

• White bill

• Solid black

• Red eyes

White-breasted Nuthatch

• Scooping bill

• Black crown

• Grey topside

• White underside

• Climbs down trees head-first

Wood Stork

• Large

• Ugly bald head

• White body

Common Yellowthroat

• Black bandit mask

• Yellow throat/breast

• Tan topside

• White ring on top of bandit mask

Bald Eagle

• Brown body

• White head & tail

• Yellow legs & beak

White Ibis

• Small

• White body

• Black wing tips

• Red beak & face

• Red legs

Great Egret

• Large

• White

• Yellow bill

• Black legs

Great Blue Heron

• Large

• Grey

• Yellow bill

• Black bandit mask

• Long feathers on back of head

Pied-billed Grebe

• Small

• Ring around bill

• Dark

Black Vulture

• Black

• Bald head

• Lighter underside of primaries only

Red-winged Blackbird

• Black

• Red/orange epaulettes on shoulder

Snowy Egret

• Small

• White

• Black bill

• Black legs

• Yellow feet

• Long feathers on back of head

Common Ground Dove

• Brown

• Black accents

• Iridescent/speckled head & chest

Mourning Dove

• Blue eye ring

• Smooth chest & head

• Brown with black accents

Fish Crow

• Black

• Large bill

Tricolored Heron

• Blue topside

• White underside

• Yellow bill & legs

Greater Yellowlegs

• Bright yellow legs

• Sandy, speckled topside

• Pale underside with minimal spotting

• Long bill

Killdeer

• Brown topside

• White underside

• Two black “necklaces”

• One black band going between eyes

Black-bellied Plover

• Sandy, speckled topside

• Black underside

• Shorter bill

• Black legs

Semipalmated Plover

• Brown topside

• White underside

• Black beak-tip with orange base

• Orange legs

• Black band going between eyes

• One black “necklace”

Belted Kingfisher

• Blue-gray topside

• White underside

• Rusty belt

• Crazy crested head

• Compact

Anhinga

• Straight bill

• Long neck

• Black

• Shiny back

Spotted Sandpiper

• Sandy topside

• Pale underside spotted

• Pale legs

• Orange beak

Boat-tailed Grackle

• Black and glossy (more blue)

• Females brown

• Very long tail

Common Grackle

• Black and glossy (more colorful)

• Slimmer tail

Forster’s Tern

• Bright orange bill and legs

• Pale body

• Black crown/around eyes

• Grey topside

Glossy Ibis

• Black and glossy (more red)

• Long curved bill

• Black bill and legs

Little Blue Heron

• Small

• Dark grey/blue

• Pale yellow legs

• Black/grey beak

Blue-winged Teal

• White crescent between eyes and bill

• Blue on wing

• Spotty

American Avocet

• Pale/dirty head

• Black back/wings

• Scoop-like beak

• Very long legs

Osprey

• Brown and white

• Balding middle-aged man

Green-winged Teal

• Reddish head with green stripes

• Green on wings

• Grey-brown rest of body

Swamp Sparrow

• Grey head

• Black markings

• Dark all the way around

Common Gallinule

• Red beak

• Black body

• Dirty yellow legs

Black-crowned Night Heron

• Disproportionate

• Black shawl

• Grey underside

• Long feathers on back of head

Double-crested Cormorant

• Solid

• Shorter neck

• Hooked bill

• Orange bill

• Compact

Gray Catbird

• Gray

• Black crown & tail

• Rufous rump

Pine Warbler

• Yellow

• Grey wings

• Longer bill

Ruddy Duck

• Red body

• Black and white head

• Blue bill

• Tail sticks up out of water

Canvasback

• Pale body

• Rufous head

• Pale bill

Bufflehead

• White body

• White nape

• Iridescent black face & neck & back

Brown Pelican

• Large gular pouch

• Dirty brown body

• Paler head

Royal Tern

• Crested head

• Black on head

• White face & undersides

• Grey topside

• Solid orange bill

Laughing Gull

• Solid black head

• Grey topside

• White underside

Common Loon

• Solid black head

• Red eye

• Black and white speckled body

Clapper Rail

• Small

• Brown

• Big feet

Black Rail

• Blue-black

• Red eye

• Small

• Speckled topside

Northern Flicker

• Red or black on corner of mouth

• Red on back of head

• Yellow underside of wings and tails

• Black chest patch

• Black spots

• Tan

Song Sparrow

• Lighter

• Brown striping as opposed to black

• Grey beak

Eastern Phoebe

• Mousey brown-grey

• Pale underside

• Fluffy, round