Whatbird.com

Hello,

I'm new to WhatBird but already enjoy it. However, I can't find IDs or photos for female birds--are they in the database?

If so, what should I do to access that information?

Thanks,

 

Female birds are tough on this site and and in many guide books. You could always try a general web search engine for pix of females of different species. Sometimes that works, sometimes not so well.

However, working with the challenge presented can help improve birding skills. Most top level birders will tell you not to rely strictly on coloration for identification---that that can vary too much seasonally and with lighting effects. If we think of female birds as the same as male, just in "different colored clothes", then identification becomes about factors such as location, behavior, song/call, perching habit, silhouette, overall size, bill shape/size/color, etc. Sure there remain finer details such as those which distinguish between females within different groups (e.g., orioles), but at that point we'd be challenged even with complete photo guides.

Just my penny's worth of thoughts...  jmm 

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8 days camping in Western Colorado and 5 new birds: Juniper Titmouse, Mountain Bluebird, Black-billed Magpie, Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay. Beautiful!!!

When I'm looking for pictures of a female or juvenile of a species, I just go into search box on-line and type "black-headed grosbeak, female photos" or "black-headed grosbeak, juvenile photos", and I usually can find examples of whatever I'm looking for.

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Life List: 139
Latest: Cedar Waxwing!!!!!!!

Thank you, jmmoon and Curlybird for your prompt and helpful replies!  I'll try the websearches you recommend.

jmmoon, you mentioned orioles, and those (Baltimore and orchard) are exactly the females and juveniles I am trying to identify. Earlier in the year male-female pairs of both species came to the hummingbird feeders so I assumed the female was with her appropriate male. Now it seems that often two or three juvenile/female birds come together while the males come in separately--makes it more difficult!--though the orchards are a slimmer, slightly smaller bird.

Any other tips for distinguishing these two? I'd be delighted to find both pairs managed to fledge youngsters. 

Okbird

 

Sorry, no great tips of my own---we only occasionally see Orchards here, and I've never seen a Baltimore (although we have the related Bullock's).

My guidebook says: "Smaller size, lack of orange tones or whitish belly, and thinner, more curved bill distinguish female and immature male [Orchard Oriole] from Baltimore and Bullock's Orioles."

So you're on the right track with the size observation. Bills are a really great way to distinguish between similar species---if you can get a good angle and see it clearly, the Baltimore has a straighter bill. I would compare color last (of the differences mentioned)---colors vary with lighting and our ability to perceive color accurately does as well.

Good luck! 

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8 days camping in Western Colorado and 5 new birds: Juniper Titmouse, Mountain Bluebird, Black-billed Magpie, Clark's Nutcracker, Gray Jay. Beautiful!!!