Birds

A number of pointers may be useful aids for the identification of birds. The majority moult annually causing confusion as the birds plumage may appear worn during this period and have lost some colouration. Additionally the juveniles are often moult their plumage adopting the adult plumage sometimes over a number of years e.g. gulls. Light can drastically alter the appearance of the plumage particularly in darker conditions. The noise and flight shape of birds can often be a clue to the identity. Some birds are migratory and hence are only present in the UK over a few months of the year, for example, many ducks and geese overwinter on the UK coasts due to the mild winters compared to their native countries.Others migrate from the UK to the tropics to overwinter e.g. Osprey. Noting the habitat and geographical location can aid identification as many species are restricted due to habitat loss. Birds within the UK are generally easy to identify, the difficulty arises in finding them in the first place!