Voice

• Familiarize yourself with bird calls to identify hidden birds. Do you hear the deep boom of a Bittern or the metallic chip of a Northern Cardinal?
  
  

Size

• Keep in mind the relative size of a bird to identify it in a field guide. Compare the bird in question to a common bird like a Hose Sparrow, Blue Jay or American Crow.
  
  

Bill

• Make note of the shape and size of the bill on a bird to help identify it. Short and stout beaks can indicate a finch.
  
  

Behavior

• Note the behaviors of a bird in order to easily identify it. Is the bird hopping like an American Robin or walking like a Crow? Check these behaviors against bird descriptions in a guidebook.
  
  

Habitat

• Remember the habitat in which you find a bird. You won't find a Mallard in the woods, but you might find a Wood Duck.
  
  

Features

• Try to spot unique features on the bird you spy; crests, eye rings or wing bars can help narrow down your list of possible birds.