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The Surfbirds Online Identification Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland. Over 600 species of birds are illustrated and described! Use this advanced bird identifier to identify any bird! Header photographs by Alain Fosse, Paul Burrows, Paul Hackett, Graham Catley, Bill Baston click here for the list of photographer credits >> >> Quickly Browse Our Galleries Fill in any combination of the following fields to specify a bird's most distinguishing characters and then click on the "Identify Bird" button to generate a list of possible matches.  Click on any of the results to view Surfbirds details about the species.

Environment Season: Spring/Early summer (Mar-Apr) Summer (May-Jul) Late summer/Autumn (Aug-Sep) Winter (Oct-Feb)     Area: North South Habitat: Mountains Upland moorland Woodland/Hedgerows Open country/Grassland/Heathland Rivers/Lakes Wetlands/Marshland/Reedbeds Cliffs/Coastal areas Urban areas Overall body impression   At least the size of a: Not as large as a: Length (head-tail): sparrow (14cm/6") blackbird (24cm/10") woodpigeon (40cm/16") Brent goose (56cm/22") cormorant (80cm/31") mute swan (>144cm/56") sparrow (<14cm/6") blackbird (24cm/10") woodpigeon (40cm/16") brent goose (56cm/22") cormorant (80cm/31") mute swan (144cm/56") Shape: Long-legged, long-necked birds Waders/Shorebirds Upright-perching water birds Swans/Geese Ducks Gull-like seabirds Gamebirds/Chicken-like birds Birds of prey Owls Tree-clinging birds Swallow-like birds Doves/Pigeons None of the above (=Perching birds) Head characters Steep or peaked forehead Tuft behind eye or projecting "ear feathers" Crest or shaggy throat Contrasting forehead/cap or line dividing crown Contrasting line over eye Contrasting line from beak to or through eye Contrasting ring around eye Contrasting "moustache line" Contrasting spot on bill Contrasting spot on cheek or at base of bill Contrasting tip to bill Bare face or head Wattles or skin flaps Contrasting shoulder/collar or neck/breast-band Other distinguishing features Bill length: Shorter than half the head-length Between half the head and the head-length Longer than the head Bill shape: Straight and pointed Stubby and pointed Long with tip only curved down Curved up Curved down Cone-shaped Hooked and/or laterally flattened Wide and flat Upper rounded, lower flat Wing shape/proportions: Narrow Pointed Notably long Broad Rounded Notably short Contrasting colouring: Wing bars Dark or pale wing tips Wing edge(s) in flight Tail band/bar(s) Pale outer tail feathers Tail length: Notably short Notably long     Tail shape: Rounded Square Pointed Indented or forked     Tail attitude: Projecting or streaming feathers Wagging up and down, flicking or quivering Cocked Leg/foot characters: Notably short legs Notably long legs Webbed or semi-webbed feet Behaviour: Dives in water Rapid wingbeats Hovers Soars Zig-zag flight Bobs and/or flicks wings Colouring Eye colour: Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light blue   Bill colour: Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Light blue Dark blue   Leg/tarsus colour: Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Light blue     Main colour: Pattern:   Wing/Back: Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Dark green Light blue Dark blue Purple or violet Solid Barred or banded Spotted or speckled Striped or streaked Scaly-looking or contrasting feather edges Complex, patchy Body: Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Dark green Light blue Dark blue Purple or violet Solid Barred or banded Spotted or speckled Striped or streaked Scaly-looking or contrasting feather edges Complex, patchy Back of head: Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Dark green Light blue Dark blue Purple or violet Solid Barred or banded Spotted or speckled Striped or streaked Scaly-looking or contrasting feather edges Complex, patchy   Colour: Location:   Any other notable patches: Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Dark green Light blue Dark blue Purple or violet Crown/Forehead Crest/Tufts Throat/Face Breast Belly Underside Flank Rump/Back Upperwing Underwing Tail Undertail Feet   Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Dark green Light blue Dark blue Purple or violet Crown/Forehead Crest/Tufts Throat/Face Breast Belly Underside Flank Rump/Back Upperwing Underwing Tail Undertail Feet   Black White Grey Dark brown Light brown Red Pink Orange or rusty Yellow or apricot Light green Dark green Light blue Dark blue Purple or violet Crown/Forehead Crest/Tufts Throat/Face Breast Belly Underside Flank Rump/Back Upperwing Underwing Tail Undertail Feet Accuracy Level Highest Middle Lowest Generation of results may take a few seconds This page was designed by Dr John Hayward.  To send feedback, email

Still can't identify that bird - visit Bird Chat - the friendliest Birding Forum on the Web. Ask us and we'll help RECOMMENDED BUYS! Collins Bird Guide/Birds of Europe by Svensson and Grant US birders: Order this book from Amazon.com Collins Top BIRDING Spots in Britain and Ireland Bill Oddie's Birding Map of Britain