Pre-Visit Lesson Neotropical Migratory Birds Identifying Birds Grade Level: 5-7 Summary: Students will identify birds using field marks and coloration. Teaching Methods: Analysis, Classification, Observation Time: Preparation Time: 1 hour Activity Time: 40 minutes Materials: Picture of a robin Using Field Marks to Identify Birds handout Bird Identification worksheet Variety of pictures of common birds Field guides to birds of the eastern United States Crayons or markers Objectives: Students will describe at least three field marks found on birds. Students will recognize field marks and colors on a bird. PA Environment & Ecology Standards: 4.7.7. Threatened, Endangered and Extinct Species A. Describe diversity of plants and animals in ecosystems. PA Science & Technology Standards: 3.1.7. Unifying Themes C. Identify patterns as repeated processes or recurring elements in science and technology. 3.3.7. Biological Sciences A. Describe the similarities and differences that characterize diverse living things. Background: Ornithologists often use field marks to identify a bird. Field marks are patterns or markings on the bird that distinguish it from other bird species. These are part of the basic steps necessary in the identification process. For example, a male cardinal can be identified by its red color, thick beak, and a crest on its head. When trying to identify a bird, always start at the head. The head has a multitude of markings that will help identify one species from another. A circle, usually lighter in color, running around the eye is called an eyering and a line running from the base of the bill up over the eye is an eyebrow stripe. Similar, but not the same, an eyeline is a stripe that runs through the eye and a crown stripe is a line that runs from the top of the bill over the top of the head. A whisker mark would run from the base of the bill over the cheek, just like a mustache. The lore is the area between the bill and the eye and will sometimes be a different color from the other markings on the head. The area under the bill is called a throat patch and will vary in color. Another area that is important in identifying different species is the wing. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks 1
The presence of wing markings will help identify a particular species, such as warblers and vireos. The absence of wing markings will also help in identification. There are two kinds of markings wing bars and wing patches. Wing bars are stripes that run across the wing and there may be one or two. Wing patches are blotches of color on the wing. These are different from wing bars because they don t run across the wing in a line. Other things to consider in identification are plumage color, voice, behavior, and habitat. Getting Ready: Gather a variety of bird pictures that clearly show the entire bird. The birds should be common to the eastern United States to coincide with the field guides. The pictures should not have the name of the bird on it so that the students can identify it. Have one picture per student. Copy one Using Field Marks to Identify Birds handout and Bird Identification worksheet per student. 5. If time allows, give the students different bird pictures, pass out additional worksheets and have them go through the identification process again. Evaluation: Students identify a bird using field marks and coloration. References: National Geographic, A Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 1999. http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/ AllAboutBirds/Birding123/IdentifyingBirds, Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Bird diagrams. Developed By: E-Concepts LLC, Albert, JoAnn and Davis, JoAnn, 2005. Activity: 1. Show the students a picture of a robin. Ask them if they can identify the bird. Of course, they will tell you it is a robin but ask them how they know. Explain that because it is a common bird that they see often, they automatically know it is a robin. Now ask the students how they would describe a robin to someone who has never seen one. Explain that the red breast and black head and back are called field marks. These marks are used by birders when identifying a bird. 2. Give every student a copy of the Using Field Marks to Identify Birds handout. Review the different areas that can be used for identification. Explain that the colors of the field marks and the bird are also important when distinguishing the difference between bird species. 3. Pass out the Bird Identification worksheet, crayons or markers, and a bird picture to each student. Explain to the students that they are going to identify the bird in the picture by looking at its field marks. Have the students draw the field marks of the bird on the diagram on the worksheet. Tell them to color the bird with the appropriate colors. Ask the students to turn the picture of the bird they used for a reference in to you. 4. Hand out field guides to birds and let the students find their bird in the field guide. When they identify the bird, tell the students to put the name of the bird on their worksheet. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks 2
Using Field Marks to Identify Birds In order to describe a bird, ornithologists divide its body into topographical regions: beak (or bill), head, back, wings, tail, and legs. To help with identification, many of these regions are divided still further. This diagram of a bird's body shows some of the commonly used descriptive terms. Birds display a huge variety of patterns and colors, which they have evolved in part to recognize other members of their own species. Birders can use these features - known as field marks - to help distinguish species. Field Marks of the Wing In a few groups, such as warblers and vireos, the presence of wing markings helps identify the bird. In other groups, such as flycatchers and sparrows, the absence of any wing markings may be an important identifying feature. Note the presence or absence of the following: Wingbars Wing patches Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks 3
Using Field Marks to Identify Birds, pg. 2 Field Marks of the Head When identifying an unknown bird, the following field marks of the head are particularly important: Eyebrow stripe (line above the eye) Eyeline (line through the eye) Crown stripe (stripe in the middle of the head) Eyering (ring of color around eye) Throat patch Color of the lore (area between base of beak and eye) Whisker mark (also called mustache) Color of upper and lower beak Presence or absence of crest Beak shape and size are also important identifying characteristics. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks 4
Bird Identification Worksheet 1. Use the Using Field Marks to Identify Birds handout to list the field marks that you see on the bird in your picture: 2. Draw the field marks of the bird in your picture on the diagram below. Pay particular attention to the field marks of the head and the field marks of the wing. After drawing the field marks, color the bird with the appropriate colors. 3. Use a field guide to identify the bird in your picture. The name of the bird is: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of State Parks 5