How to identify birds by sight

Getting Started

4 Apr

6 minute read

Learn how to identify birds based on their location, size, shape, colour and behaviour. This How-to also links to free bird identification apps for you to try.

Location

A quick way to narrow down the list of what bird you are seeing is by thinking about location. Different bird species have different ranges, and some species are only found in certain parts of Australia. Here is an example of how to identify Australia’s kookaburra family by location:

Laughing Kookaburra - eastern and southern Australia
Blue-winged Kookaburra - northern and eastern Australia
Cape York Kookaburra - Cape York Peninsula, Queensland
Rufous-bellied Kookaburra - northern and western Australia

Bird size

Bird size is easier to identify in length rather than height. Here are six categories used by birdwatchers and the average length of some common Australian birds:

Very small - less than 15cm in length
Weebill (8cm), Striated Pardalote (9cm), Brown Thornbill (10cm), Superb Fairywren (13cm)

Small - 15-30cm
Eastern Yellow Robin (16cm), Budgerigar (18cm), Willie Wagtail (20cm), Magpie-lark (28cm)

Medium - 30-45cm
Common Bronzewing (33cm), Crimson Rosella (34cm), Black-shouldered Kite (36cm), Australian Magpie (40cm)

Medium to large - 45-60cm
Australian Wood Duck (47cm), Black Kite (51cm), Australian Raven (52cm), Caspian Tern (56cm)

Large - 60-75cm
Channel-billed Cuckoo (62cm), White-faced Heron (65cm), Australian Brush Turkey (70cm), Australian White Ibis (72cm),

Very large - more than 75cm
Superb Lyrebird (90cm), Brolga (113cm), Black Swan (131cm), Australian Pelican (170cm)

This image shows six different bird length categories, from very small to very large

Bird shape

Identifying a bird by its shape can be a helpful as many species have distinct bodies and silhouettes. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Body - Is it sleek, compact or stocky?

Head - Is it round, pointed or crested?

Neck - Is it short, thick, long or thin?

Bill (beak) - Is it long or short? How wide is it? Is it curved or straight?

Tail - Is it long, pointed, short, square, forked or fan-tailed? Is it facing up or down?

Wings - Are they broad, pointed or rounded? Do they have feathers that stick out on the end?

Legs - Are they long or short in relation to its body?

There are two bird silhouettes - one with its tail up and one with its tail down. The text says, "Small bird? What is its tail doing?"

Bird colour

One of the best ways to identify a bird by colour is to do a scan of its plumage (feathers). You could also look at the colour of its eye, beak and legs/feet. Here are some birdwatching terms to help you describe the colour and pattern on a bird:

Bars - horizontal or vertical lines, often thinner in width

Bands - horizontal or vertical lines, often thicker in width

Chevron - V-shaped markings

Collar - a contrasting band around the neck, which looks like a collar or necklace

Spots - round, circular markings

Speckles - small markings in a pattern that is usually of a contrasting colour

Crescents - half-moon shaped markings

Eyebrow - distinct lines above or around the eyes

Hood or cap - marking on the head

Face or mask - around the eyes or face

Behaviour

What is the bird doing? Common bird behaviours will also help you narrow down the list. Is it swimming or wading? Is it on the ground, in a tree or bush, or on a fence? It is flying or soaring in the sky? Birds are often located where their food is or where their nest is. For example, the Eastern Brown Thornbill mainly eats insects and is often seen foraging closer to the ground. The Yellow-rumped Thornbill eats insects, nectar and fruit and can often be seen higher in a tree.

Bird identification apps

Technology has been a game-changer for many birdwatchers. Many field guides are now only and AI is helping people identify birds quickly. Here are some of our favourite apps that will help you narrow down your bird identification list even further:

BirdLife Aussie Bird Count (free)

Merlin Bird ID (free)

Morecombe’s Birds of Australia (paid)

Pizzey and Knight Birds of Australia (paid)