How to Identify a Bird

Realize that most birds share the basics of flying in a straight line and using their wings. You have to look at the other qualities of a wild bird's flight as well.

Study the wing movement. Most birds are flappers, but many of the raptors, from hawks to condors, soar with limited visible wing movement.

Check bird wingspans to aid an identification. You'll find a nine-foot wide wingspan on many California Condors. Many other birds of prey like eagles, hawks and owls also come with large wingspans.

Look for an up and down flight movement. Woodpeckers look like they're flying over small hills, up and down. However, finches like the more thrilling roller coaster type of flight with steeper climbs and falls.

Look at the head of a flying bird for more clues. Various vultures and the bald eagle seem to have a flatter profile than the hawks that they resemble.

Make note of the small differences. Often, wild birds in the sky resemble another species, for example, crows and ravens look alike. Identification of the crow is determined by its constant flapping of wings, compared to the raven, which sometimes soars.

Examine the tail of the bird. During flight, the scissortail flycatcher has tail feathers that look like an open pair of scissors.