How to Identify Birds by Feathers

Note the type of feather first. Feathers are either vaned, covering the outside of the body or down which are underneath. You will have difficulty identifying the bird, if you can only see the down feathers.

Draw the shape of the feather as best as you can. It is important to note where on the body the feather is and what shape it takes.

Look at the tail feathers. Most birds have tail feathers that distinguish them from other birds.

Note the colors in the feathers and whether or not they change from one color to another. According to Birding.com, you should look for distinctive markings, a wind bar, eye-ring or a patch of color.

Learn the different parts of a bird's wing, which can help you identify its feather pattern. Birds have many different types of feathers from the primaries and secondaries -- to the scapulars, greater coverts and lesser underwing coverts.

Look in a birding reference guidebook for birds with similar feather styles or type your findings into one of the bird identification search engines on the Internet.