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How to Identify a Small Yellow Bird

Whether it's done from your own backyard or from a special location you've traveled to, bird watching is a popular pastime.The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reports there are 48 million birders in the United States alone.One challenge of bird watching is correct identification. Some species of birds look very similar. If you want to identify a small, yellow bird it's important to know what to look for to distinguish it from other birds. A few helpful tools will also help you identify a small yellow bird correctly.

Things You'll Need

Binoculars
Pen or pencil
Notepad
A reputable bird identification book such as those published by The National Audubon Society or Roger Tory Peterson

Instructions

- 1
  
  Certain binoculars are more practical for identifying birds.
  
  Use binoculars to get a good look at the small, yellow bird you wish to identify. While most binoculars will give you a better view of the bird, those marked "7 x 35" or "8 x 40" are the most practical for birding. You'll find the two numbers, separated by an "x," printed somewhere on the binoculars. The first number indicates the binoculars' magnification level. The second number indicates the width of each of the front lenses, in millimeters. Binoculars marked "7 x 35" or "8 x 40" are light enough to carry easily and to hold while bird watching. They also provide a good sized viewing field.
- 2
  Take careful notes about what you see when you look at the small, yellow bird with binoculars. Note the bird's overall shape, beak color and head and body markings. Write all these down in your notepad. Consider your viewing season. Some small, yellow birds; like the American Goldfinch, have different winter and summer plumage. The summer plumage may be bright yellow, but the winter plumage is always much more drab and olive colored. Note the shape of the tail and how the bird is behaving. Some birds are easily identified by their actions alone.
- 3
  Compare the notes you took about the small, yellow bird with identifying information from reputable bird manuals or on-line sources, like those published by the National Audubon Society, The Cornell Library of Ornithology or one of Peterson's Field Guides by Roger Tory Peterson. These sources contain full-color photographs and specific information about each bird's markings and behavior, making identification easy if you took detailed notes while watching the small, yellow bird.

Nature