Practice Recognition with SnapID
Bird Identification Basics
Four key strategies for identifying birds are looking at size, shape, color, and pattern. In the following examples, pay close attention to differences between the images and find consistent differences you can quickly rely on to make your ID.
Instructions: Start each of the following challenges using the purple button. Feel free to play, and replay, as many or as few of the challenges as you’d like—whether you’d like to play them all, or master one, is up to you and your pre-existing birding experience.
Level 1: The Northern Cardinal
(Hint: Color and pattern)
Level 2: The Summer Tanager
(Hint: Pattern)
Level 3: The American Crow
(Hint: Color and shape)
Level 4 Expert: The Downy Woodpecker
(Hint: Size and shape. Side by side they’re very different sizes, but on their own, shape is the key.)
Bonus Round: The American Crow Expert Challenge
Warbler Challenge!
Practice your yellow colored warblers by focusing on the Pine Warbler
(Hint: Study the picture first, then get started.)
Great! Now practice on 5 commonly-confused yellow colored warblers found in the Eastern U.S.
(Hint: The practice you did on the Pine Warbler will help you. It’s the same set of species, but this time you’ll be asked to ID a different species for each matchup.)
