3 replies to this topic

[cwj2323]

I hope this is the correct spot to ask this.

I am new at trying to identify birds and I enjoy using the search here.  Most often the birds I see are outside the window and I have a hard time guesstimating their size.  Most often we get sparrows at our feeders.  I would like to try and ID them all.  Would you say they are Very Small or Small birds?  Maybe this would help me some, if I can get the right size to start with.  Also, what kind of birds would be considered small?  The picture used for medium is a duck and this seems quite a jump from the smaller birds.

 Thanks, Kim

[johnthemon]

you could photograph the bird and then measure what the bird is perched on (feeder, fence rail).  this allows you to deduce the length.  understand that the length is measured from bill tip to tail tip.

if the bird looks about the size of a bird you know, you can use that bird's length range as a guide. 

 if you it is either one size or another, choose them both.  this will eliminate any unchosen sizes but will match any birds in the chose sizes.  you don't have to pick only one. 

[Alilo6]

What about color banding your fence post like a ruler.... I might try that myself!

[Alilo6]

Humans, as they age, appear to have smaller stools too. Wonder if there is government grant funding available to research this topic?  I say keep Americans working! LOL