Is there a site that has a flow chart to identify UK and Irish birds?

firkin · 21-01-2013 3:31pm #1

Is there any site with a flow chart or aid to help identify Irish birds?

I've come across a flock of birds and I'm stumped trying figure out what they are.

Thanks

Alun · 21-01-2013 3:33pm

The RSPB website has a bird identifier page ...

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdidentifier/

firkin · 21-01-2013 3:39pm

Perfect. Thanks Alun.

swifts need our help! · 21-01-2013 4:48pm

Firkin you could give us some clues
basic colour
how many
sounds
feeding on
size Robin? Blaclbird? Dove? Jackdaw ...

Mark

firkin · 21-01-2013 5:04pm

swifts need our help! wrote: »

Firkin you could give us some clues

Sure. Its a flock very similar to starlings. Its about maybe 50ish. They're very skttish. They all pile down on to a field. After a couple of minutes they'll all take fright and fly to the nearest tree and wait for a bit. Then pile back down to the field. The next thing they'll all be gone.

I can't get a decent close up look at any. From memory, they have a pale belly, darkish tail and brownish or grayish back.
They are similar size to a starling.

From going through Collins Bird Guide I had kind of thought they might be skylarks or golden plovers. But I'm a beginner and have never seen a skylark or golden plover. I'm not really satisfied with those two choices.

The description of the skylark's movements from that book are a good description of this bird's.

Alun · 21-01-2013 5:09pm

Both fieldfares and redwings exhibit that kind of behaviour and would be around the right size.

firkin · 21-01-2013 5:18pm

Alun wrote: »

..fieldfares ...

I just used that RSPB bird identifier and i think you're right. I think they are fieldfares. I remember there was a light patch at the start of the dark tail.
Thanks

Desmo · 21-01-2013 5:35pm

This is a silly guide but is good for a laugh
http://baldmonkeyseenabird.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/the-brilliant-baldmonkey-birdseening-bird-identification-book.pdf

Alun · 21-01-2013 5:59pm

Desmo wrote: »

This is a silly guide but is good for a laugh
http://baldmonkeyseenabird.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/the-brilliant-baldmonkey-birdseening-bird-identification-book.pdf

That reads a bit like my wife's bird identification method ... any bird she can't recognise due to obvious bright colouring is either a 'small brown bird', a 'pointy beaked bird' (raptor!) or a 'seagull'

firkin · 21-01-2013 6:06pm

I particularly like the heron illustration. Deftly rendered in a teeming aquatic scene.

Is there a site that has a flow chart to identify UK and Irish birds?

Comments