Bird ID Template

Note every thing you can about a bird, using this template, BEFORE you try and look the bird up in a book, or the online guide.

Size - Note the approxiamate size of the bird:

Length of Bill
Shorter than length of head?	About equal to length of head?	Longer than length of head?	Much longer than length of head?
Shape of bill
Conical and stout?	Medium in thickness, straight?	Very curved?	Curved upper mandible?
Flattened?	Odd-shaped?	Stongly hooked upper mandible?	Other
Colour of bill
upper and lower mandible different colours?	Colour of bill tip	Colour of base of bill	Colour of cere
Shape, length and colour of legs feet
Very long legs?	Long legs?	Average legs?	Short legs?
Very short legs?	Very long toes?	Direction of toes? (number facing forward or backwards?)	extent of feathering on legs?
Webbed feet?	Colour of feet and legs	feet and legs differ in colour?	powerful claws?
Other features
Crest of feathers on top of head?	Bare facial skin?	Colour of eyes?	Length/shape of tail?

Activity and behaviour
What is the bird doing?	number of birds seen together and how interacting (loose flock, tight flock etc)		Call (Vocalisation) - What sort of sound was the bird making?
Other information
Habitat the bird was seen in?	Where was the bird seen?	Nearest city?	Date seen?