– Module 3 – How to identify a species

North of Africa - Palearctic Migrants

Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – Training Course –

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Authors

Designed and written by

Nathalie Hecker nat.hecker@yahoo.fr

Photographs Steve Garvie sgarvie@aol.com, www.pbase.com/rainbirder

IllustrationsCyril Girard girardcyril3335@neuf.fr, www.cyrilgirard.fr

TranslationRachel Wakeham moosekeeper77@hotmail.com

This training course is one of the tools of : Hecker N., 2012. Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – A toolkit for trainers. ONCFS, Hirundo-FT2E. France

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Presenting the Module

Technical explanations

Indoor exercises

3

Fieldwork

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Objectives of Module 3

At the end of this Module you will be able to:•match a species to a family or genus by its silhouette;•identify a species and explain your choice.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Approach

Identifying a bird is knowing:“why it’s this species” and also “why it’s not that species”.

It is therefore necessary to be able to name a bird and tell it apart from similar species.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

A species?

Little EgretKingdom AnimalPhylum ChordataClass Bird Order Pelecaniformes Family Ardeidae Genus Egretta Species garzetta

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Family and genus

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Large wading birds

CranesSpoonbills

Ibises

Herons

Storks

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

Tringa sandpipers

Snipes

GodwitsStilts

Calidris sandpipers

Plovers

Thick-knees

Curlews

Module 3 – How to identify a species

MOORHENS

GREBES

ANATIDAE

surface-feeding and diving ducks

geese

Module 3 – How to identify a species

RAPACES CORMORANTS

LARIDAE

gulls

terns

osprey

harrier

RAPTORS

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

Indoor exerciseLearning how to match a bird to a family based on the

description of its shape Equipment: “Waterbird silhouettes” factsheets S3.1.a and S3.1.b Procedure:1. One trainee describes the bird’s shape and matches

it to a family or group2. The other trainees can add to the description

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To which family does this bird belong?

Indoor exerciseLearning how to match a bird to a family based on the

description of its shape Equipment: Field guide“waterbird silhouettes” factsheetProcedure:1. With the book open, a trainee describes the shape of a

waterbird chosen by the trainer from the field guide2. With their books shut, the other trainees look through

the sheet of silhouettes and work out which family it belongs to. They can ask questions to add to the description.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

How to use the field guide

Three stages of identificationObservation description looking in the field guide

Use the field guide to• Look up birds in a family• Compare the bird to the illustration• Read the accompanying text about the species• Check the distribution map• Be aware of similar species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Indoor exerciseDescribe a bird methodically and accurately to identify its

speciesEquipment: Silhouette factsheet, field guideProcedure:1. With the book shut, a trainee describes the shape of the

bird shown in the slide and matches it to a silhouette2. The other trainees confirm the choice of family3. The trainee describes the colour of the plumage, bill and

legs, and if possible the habitat where the bird is found 4. The trainee looks in the field guide and suggests several

options, then quantifies the final choice by “It’s this one because ... and not that one because ...”

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Identify a species

FieldworkEquipment: Telescope, binoculars, field guide, factsheetProcedure: working in pairs1. One trainee watches a bird with the telescope and

describes it in detail out loud, also describing the behaviour, calls (how frequent and how loud) and habitat

2. The second trainee takes notes 3. They match the bird to a group then find it in the field

guide to identify it

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

• These species can be difficult to identify!• Identification must be methodical and rigorous

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders: the main morphological criteria to note

Silhouette•Is it thin and slender?•Is it squat and “round”?•Is it in between, and neither slender or squat?

Head•Is it big, medium or small?

Neck•Is it visible?•Is it long or short?

Bill•Is it long or short?•Is it straight or curved?•Is it fine or broad?

Legs•Are they long or short?– long legs: clearly visible tibia and long tarsus– short legs: barely visible tibia and short tarsus

Compared to the rest of the body and overall silhouetteCompared to the rest of the body and overall silhouette

Remember, if the bird is resting its neck may look short when it would seem long in another positionRemember, if the bird is resting its neck may look short when it would seem long in another position

compared with the length of the head seen from the sidecompared with the length of the head seen from the side

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

Plovers and Lapwings round and squat silhouette

large headshort, straight bill

short, often barely visible necklong legs (plovers) to very long legs (lapwings)

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders Calidris sandpipers

- squat silhouette- medium-sized head

- short to medium, slender, straight or down curved bill

- fairly short, often hardly visible neck

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

Tringa Sandpipers - thin and slender silhouette

- small head- medium to long, slender,

- straight or slightly upturned billclearly visible neck

- generally long legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

Godwits and Curlews- large size

- small head- very long straight or down-curved bill

- long neck- very long legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

Snipessquat silhouette

large slightly square headmedium to very long bill

short neckmedium to short legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species

WadersBlack and white birds

Three easily recognised species thanks to their black and white plumage

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Indoor exerciseEstablish which group of waders a bird belongs toEquipment:

“Identifying common waders found in North of Africa - Palearctic species: characteristic shapes of main families” - S3.3

Procedure:1. A trainee describes the shape of the wader shown in

the slide and matches it to one of the six groups of waders

2. The other trainees agree or disagree with the choice

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Indoor exerciseIdentify which species a wader belongs toEquipment: “Identifying waders” factsheets S3.2 and S3.3Procedure:1. One trainee describes the shape of the bird shown in

the slide and matches it to one of the six groups of waders

2. The other trainees agree or disagree with the choice3. The first trainee opens the field guide, suggests several

options and gives a well-argued final decision by saying “It’s this one because ... and not that one because... ”

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Identifying waders

FieldworkEquipment: Telescope, binoculars, field guide, key to wadersProcedure: working in pairs 1. One trainee watches a wader through the telescope

and describes it in detail out loud, as well as its behaviour, calls and habitat

2. The second trainee makes notes3. They match the wader to a group then look for it in

the field guide to identify it

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Making a list of species present

FieldworkEquipment: telescope, binoculars, field guide

Procedure: working alone or in pairs1. Each trainee or pair should make a list of the

species present, within a time limit2. Once the time is up, each trainee or pair should

present their list of recorded species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Difficult observation conditions

FieldworkEquipment: telescope, binoculars, field guide

Procedure: working alone or in pairsEach trainee or pair should identify a bird on the ground chosen through the telescope by the trainer. It should be difficult to identify due to brightness, distance, or the species itself.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Thanks for your attention!