How to identify birds
Bird identification can be difficult, even for experienced birders, and many discussions occur during group walks and camps on this subject.
Bird Queensland members have found that interactive bird watching with fellow BQ members at Easy Start Walks, Day Walks and Camps along with reference books and a bird app is one of the best ways to learn bird identifications and develop their expertise. Details of a range of reference books can be found at reference page . Many of these books may be available at your local library.
In addition, Birds Queensland has a number of aids which may help both beginners and experienced birders to know exactly which bird they have seen.
Use of illustrated brochures and websites
Birds Queensland publishes a brochure to help in identifying birds. It was last updated in July 2024.
This brochure provides color illustrations and brief notes on 80 of the more common species of birds seen primarily in south-east Queensland. Many of these can also be seen elsewhere in the State. Printed copies of the brochure can be obtained from Birds Queensland. We provide electronic copies in two layouts:
- an A4 brochure (PDF, 1.8 MB) suitable for printing
- a PDF file in a layout more suitable for viewing on mobile computing devices
There are a number of other organisations providing useful guides for bird identification:
- Moreton Bay Regional Council has produced a brochure (PDF, 1400KB) with colour images of birds of Pumicestone Passage to provide information about and help in the identification of shorebirds. These can also be obtained from this Council.
- John Young Wildlife Enterprises produced a colour brochure (PDF, 1400KB) on birds of tropical north Queensland for Townsville Enterprise Ltd. It provides illustrations of birds of the tropical north.
- For help in identifying Australian birds, the website, Birds in backyards, provides detailed information on many Australian birds. It is sponsored by Birdlife Australia and the Australian Museum. The Bird Finder tool assists in identifying species.
Specialised identification tables
For those concerned with the finer points of identification, there are some useful tables that assist in the differentiation of certain bird species which can be easily confused. These tables are based on those originally prepared by Bob Forsyth from Mount Isa. The following links lead to these tables kept as small pdf files:
Bob Forsyth suggests the printing out and photocopying of these tables on a laser printer if you need to take them into the field, as ink jet ink is water soluble.
