 |
|
|
|
BIRD ID
Intermediate to Advanced ID: Flight Patterns
In most areas of the country, there are fewer species of birds around in winter. This makes it a good time to learn new things about the birds you think you know. One helpful area is to learn how each species flies. Each species tends to have a different flight pattern and it is fun to learn these so that you can better identify birds flying overhead.
One way to do this to identify the bird when it is perched, then follow it when it takes off. There are many different features of flight patterns to look for. Here are a few:
 | Speed of wingbeat—is it slow, medium, or rapid? |
| | Rhythm of wingbeat—is it continuous or intermittent? |
| | Flight path—is it straight, looping, or zig-zag? |
| | Style of flapping—are they stiff, rowing, or bent at the wrist? |
| | Depth of wingbeats—are they shallow, above, or below the body plane? |
Try to learn the flight patterns of your winter species as they fly overhead. Then when spring comes, you can add a few more as they arrive from the South.
|
|
|
