Birders of all experience levels occasionally get frustrated when they are unable to identify a bird, but even harder than identifying every bird is learning that there are some birds that just can't be identified.

Why You Shouldn't Identify Every Bird

Many birders spend countless hours learning field marks and studying species for the best identification clues, but there are times when those hours could be better spent enjoying birds and learning more about them, rather than struggling with just their identification.


Struggling can lead to frustration and destroys the enjoyment of birding, and at those times, it is best to simply watch the bird without worrying about the specifics of its exact identification. Of course birders always want to identify as many species as they can, but if it isn't possible, that is not a failure of the birder's skills, but just one more facet of this fascinating hobby.

Why You Might Not Be Able to Identify a Bird

There are many reasons why it might be impossible to identify a bird, and at one time or another, every birder will be faced with that mystery species that eludes even the most practiced birding skills.

• Distance: As birds get further away, the exact details of their coloration and plumage markings can become blurred and indistinct, making it harder to pinpoint an exact species. Even with top-of-the-line optics and strong magnification, it can be nearly impossible to identify a bird at too great a distance.
   
• Lighting: Not every lighting condition is ideal for bird identification. Very bright sunlight might cause glare that could obscure critical markings, while dim light makes birds equally indistinct and difficult to see. Colored light – such as a bird flitting among translucent foliage or orange hues of sunset light – can also distort colors and make the bird unrecognizable.
   

• Poor Views: Birds don't always land at the perfect angle and posture for identification. An awkward angle, obstructed view or rapidly moving bird is much more difficult to see, and may be too difficult to identify. This can also be a problem if a birder's optics are focused poorly or don't have strong enough magnification to see the bird adequately.
   
• Inadequate Experience: Novice birders can have more difficulty properly identifying birds, especially if they have no experience with the species. This can even impact experienced birders who travel to new locations and are not familiar with local birds. In these cases, time may be better spent identifying common birds and enjoying all the species instead of struggling with more challenging identifications.

The Hardest Birds to Identify

Some birds are harder to identify than others, and while birders should not shy away from a challenge, it is important to recognize that these types of birds may not always be worth the extraordinary effort it may take to be positive about their identification.

• Immature Birds: Juvenile birds are often more blandly marked than adults as a form of protective camouflage. As birds age, they may develop indistinct markings, and related species might have very similarly looking juveniles or subadult birds.
   
• Unusual Plumages: Some birds do not have the expected coloration for their species. Leucistic, albino and melanistic birds all have plumage that varies widely from expected colorations, and if key markings cannot be seen, it may be impossible to positively identify these birds.
   
• Camouflaged Birds: Many birds have exquisite camouflage to blend with their typical habitats and protect them from predators. When birds are so cleverly camouflaged, that very camouflage can be an identification clue, but if the camouflage is working perfectly, birders may not be able to see the birds clearly enough to identify them.
   
• Birds in Flight: Flying birds can be some of the most difficult to identify because flight postures are different than perched postures and the birds may be moving too quickly for adequate views. While there are techniques for identifying birds in flight, it isn't always possible to be positive about which bird is flying by.
   
• Plain Birds: Very plain birds, such as the colloquially named little brown jobs, are much more difficult to identify than boldly marked species because they lack distinct diagnostic markings that positively identify the exact species. With a plain bird, it may be necessary to see more of the bird and its behavior to feel confident about its identity.
   
• Non-Breeding Birds: Many field guides emphasize breeding plumage and bright colors, but birds may look dramatically different after molting into non-breeding plumage. After the breeding season, birds feathers are often more worn as well, which can reduce or eliminate some markings such as spots, wing bars or tail tip colors.
   
• Similar Species: Some bird species look so similar that it can be very difficult to tell them apart, such as Cooper's hawks and sharp-shinned hawks or greater scaups and lesser scaups. With practice and experience, birders can learn to tell these species apart, but without that experience, it may be best to just enjoy the birds and gradually learn more about them.

Alternative Ways to Identify Birds

Many birders rely strongly on seeing birds – clear views, good light, exceptional views – to properly identify each species. There are alternative ways to identify birds, however, and each one can provide more clues to help puzzle out a proper identity:

• Songs, sounds and other noises
• Specific body parts, such as distinctive bills or feet
• Unusual behavior, particularly courtship displays or foraging style
• Habitat and range

Every clue a birder sees, hears or interprets can bring them closer to a proper bird identification, but instead of just feeling confident about correctly identifying birds, it is also important to feel confident that not every bird needs to be or even can be identified. Once birders realize that, they can rediscover the joy in watching birds without being frustrated by missed identities.

Photo – Yellow-Rumped Warbler - Or Is It? © Fyn Kynd