Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
Bird Terminology
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
North American Bird Search Box
- ABA
- The American Birding Association.
- ABC
- The American Bird Conservancy.
- airfoil
- Wing-shaped with curve on top rather than beneath.
- accipiter
- Refers to a certain group of hawks, including the Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk, along with the Northern Goshawk.
- aerie
- A nest built on the wall or side of a cliff by a raptor.
- aery
- See "Aerie".
- air sac
- Any of a system of cavities in a bird's body, which forms part of the respiratory system.
- alar bar
- A contrasting line running on the front edge of the mid-wing section to the bird's body.
- albinism
- Occasional and erratic occurrence of white plumage, seen partial or complete in non-white plumage birds, caused by colouring deficiency in the feathers.
- albino
- See "Leucistic".
- alternate plumage
- See breeding plumage.
- altricial
- Condition describing certain young birds when hatched, that have no feathers, eyes are closed and totally dependant on their parents.
- anhedral
- Downward curve of a bird's wing in flight. ie. Turkey Vulture.
- alula
- Feathers attached to the thumb or pollex, located mid-wing area.
- amniotic
- A modern egg's shell having a waterproof membrane.
- AOU
- The American Ornithologists' Union.
- archaeopteryx
- First fossilized bird known to exist.
- arboreal
- A tree dwelling bird.
- aerial insectivores
- Bird species who feed on insects while flying.
- auriculars
- Ear coverts or ear patches.
- avian
- Pertaining to birds.
- axillars
- Feathers located at the underside base of a bird's wing.
- axillaries
- See "Axillars".
- basic plumage
- Plumage attained by the prebasic molt.
- bars
- Rows of distinctly coloured feathers running across the bird's body.
- barbs
- Are the rows of strands making up a feather.
- basal
- Refers to outer edges of a bill or the outer primaries.
- beak
- Is the upper and lower mandibles of a bird.
- beard
- Line of feathers hanging from a male turkey's breast.
- bib
- Coloured region seen below the chin of the bird.
- bill
- See "Beak".
- bird taxonomy
- The science of the classification of birds into orders, families, genera, species, etc.
- beaching
- Lightening of the plumage colours, caused by exposure to sunlight.
- bevy
- describes a flock or group of quail and swans. A group of quail is also known as a covey.
- bouquet
- describes a flock or group of pheasants. Also known as a nest of pheasants.
- brace
- describes a flock or group of ducks. Ducks in flight are called a flock, ducks in the water are called a raft
- breast
- Area of a bird located between the chin and the belly.
- breeding plumage
- .Usually the more colourful plumage seen on an individual adult bird during before and after nesting season, also known as alternate plumage.
- brood
- Offspring of birds and fowls. Also describes a group of chicks.
- brood parasite
- Species of birds who deposit their eggs in the nest of other birds, to be fed and raised by other families.
- building
- describes a flock or group of rooks.
- calidridine
- .Group of closely related sandpipers, primarily, but not exclusively of the same genus Calidris.
- carina
- Or keel, is the projection of the breastbone.
- caruncle
- Small fleshly comb-like, seen on a turkey's forehead.
- CBC
- Christmas Bird Count.
- charm
- describes a flock or group of magpies. They are also known as a tiding, gulp or murder.
- cere
- Is a wax-like swelling about the base of the upper mandible containing the nostrils, found mostly in birds of prey, pigeons and parrots.
- chick
- Name given to fledglings of certain bird species.
- chain
- describes a flock or group of bobolinks.
- charm
- describes a flock or group of finches.
- classification
- Domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and species.
- cline
- A species of birds, that is spread out over a large distance, to a point, where birds at one end will not associate with the others.
- cloaca
- Bird's aperture through which eggs, sperm, excrement all exit.
- clutch
- Refers to all the eggs in a nest belonging to the female bird. Also describes a group of chicks.
- colony
- describes a flock or group of gulls.
- cob
- Name given to male swan.
- cock
- Name given to certain male bird species.
- colonial
- Describes birds of the same species who build multi-nests in colonies.
- colony
- describes a flock or group of penguins.
- comb
- Fleshly skin seen on birds crown, i.e. roosters.
- company
- describes a flock or group of parrots and widgeons.
- congeners
- Distinct bird species that are related to one another by being in the same genus.
- congregation
- describes a flock or group of plovers and are known as wing when the plovers are in flight.
- conspecific
- Birds that are members of the same species.
- contour feathers
- these feathers cover most of a bird, not including the flight feathers.
- convocation
- describes a flock or group of eagles
- cooperative breeding
- More than two birds from the same species feeding young birds from one nest.
- countersinging
- Singing of one bird in direct response to another bird singing among the same bird species.
- cover
- describes a flock or group of coots.
- coverts
- Or "tectrices" are the smaller feathers covering the bird's wings.
- covey
- describes a flock or group of partridge, quail and ptarmigans.
- creche
- A gathering of hatchlings in a nesting colony, tended to by different adult birds.
- crepuscular
- Birds that are active at twilight hours.
- crest
- Feathers located on the crown of a bird's head that are able to be raised to form a peak.
- crissum
- See "Undertail coverts".
- crop
- An area where food is stored in the esophagus to be digested at a later time.
- crown
- Or cap, is the top area of a bird's head.
- cryptic
- Term used to describe a bird's plumage that is able to blend into the local surroundings or its habitat.
- culmen
- This is the top ridge line of a bird's upper bill.
- cygnet
- Name for a young swan.
- cycle
- Refers to the number of yearly cycles a bird will have to mature before developing into adult plumage.
- dabbling
- A method of certain waterfowl, using their bill along the surface of the water, screening for food.
- diagnostic
- Particular feathers that determine the species of the birds.
- dichromatism
- The normal occurrence of two different colourations in the same species due to neither sex or age.
- deceit
- describes a flock or group of lapwings.
- decurved
- Describes a bill that is curved downward, i.e. whimbrels and curlews.
- descent
- describes a flock or group of woodpeckers.
- dihedral
- Wings held in a V-shape profile, while the bird is flying.
- distal band
- See "Subterminal band".
- distraction display
- Behavior shown by certain bird species by the parent birds to lure predators away from the nest or young.
- diurnal
- Birds that feed during daylight hours.
- down feathers
- are the key feathers which keeps the birds warm.
- drake
- Name given to some male species of birds.
- dule
- describes a flock or group of doves and the term pitying is specific to turtle-doves.
- dump nesting
- Laying of eggs in the nest of other birds, generally the same species.
- ear Coverts
- Area of feathers located behind the bird's eyes, that cover the ears.
- eclipse plumage
- See "Non-breeding plumage"
- endemic
- Describing particular birds that are only found in certain states, countries or islands.
- eye crescents
- Contrasting white crescents seen above and below the eye of a bird.
- eye ring
- Is a distinct line seen around the bird's eye, that separates the eye from the face feathers.
- eye stripe
- See "Supercilium".
- eyrie
- See "Aerie".
- exaltation
- describes a flock or group of larks.
- extant
- Not extinct, still in existence.
- exotic birds
- Non-native or tropical birds to North America.
- extirpated
- Killed off or destroyed from a certain region, state or country.
- fall
- describes a flock or group of woodcocks
- fall molts
- also known as winter plumage, fall plumage or basic plumage.
- family
- Is a classification of one of the larger groups of birds having enough mutual resemblances to be classified together and away from other bird species.
- fecal sac
- Is a sac enclosing the feces of nestling birds, which allows the parent birds to remove and keeping the nest clean.
- field marks
- Visible signs on a certain bird, which will allow ease in identification.
- flank
- Visible sides of the bird seen below the wings.
- fledge
- The act of a young bird leaving its nest.
- fledgling
- A young bird old enough to leave the nest, but still depends on its parents
- flight
- describes a flock or group of swallows.
- flight feathers
- Groups of the larger feathers located on a bird's wing and tail, including the primaries, secondaries, tertials and rectrices.
- flock
- A group of any kind of birds....
- frontal shield
- An extension running from the upper beak to the forehead.
- foveas
- Particularly sensitive spots in the retina.
- furcula
- Is the collarbone or clavicle, which is fused at their ends to form a V-shape.
- gander
- Name given to a male goose.
- gang
- describes a flock or group of turkeys. A group of turkeys can also be known as a rafter.
- gaggle
- describes a group or flock of geese when on the ground and a skein when in the air.
- gape
- The mouth lining or margin at the corner where the two mandibles intersect.
- genealogy
- A history of the descent of a family from an ancestor.
- genus
- Is a classification of one of a smaller group of birds having enough resemblance to be classified together as one bird species.
- gizzard
- Expansion of the gut commonly filled with gravel for crushing food.
- gonydeal expansion
- The point where the two lateral plates of the lower mandible meet near the tip and fuse into the gonys.
- gonydeal spot
- The reddish spot around the gonydeal expansion on the lower mandible of a gull.
- gonys
- A ridge location on the bottom edge of the lower mandible of a gull.
- gorget
- Area of iridescent feathers found about the throat and head of most male hummingbirds and some of the females.
- gosling
- Name given to a young goose.
- guano
- bird excrement in the crystalline form of surplus nitrogen known as uric acid.
- guild
- A flock of birds, including different species, which share the same habitat.
- gular pouch
- Or gular sac is located below the lower mandible, that allows some birds to hold their food.
- gulp
- describes a flock or group of cormorants.
- habitat
- Is an environment which any certain species of birds will live in.
- hallux
- Bird's hind toe.
- hawking
- Action of catching insects on the wing.
- hatching
- The process of producing young birds through incubation.
- hemi-parasites
- Category of brood parasites who lay eggs in other bird nests occasionally.
- hen
- Name given to certain female species of birds.
- heronry
- Where colonies of herons, egrets, and ibises nest as a group.
- hindcollar
- A band seen above the nape and below the crown on the back of a bird's neck.
- homeothermic
- Animals, including man, who need constant body temperature.
- homologous
- Means corresponding to or very much similar in position, structure, value or function, sharing common ancestry.
- horde
- describes a flock crows and the term murder is also used to describe a group of crows.
- host
- describes a flock or group of sparrows.
- humeral
- Area of feather covering the bone near the upper-wing or shoulder.
- humerus
- Bone found in the wing of a bird.
- hybrid
- The offspring of parents of two different species.
- IBA
- Important Bird Area.
- immature
- Bird not in adult plumage.
- immature plumage
- Is the plumage seen on a bird, before it reaches its adult stage.
- incubation
- Is the lying or resting on eggs, which generates heat, causing the eggs to hatch.
- intergrade
- The offspring from breeding of two sub-species.
- intraspecific brood parasite
- birds that lay their eggs in nest of same bird species to be raised by other families.
- intraspecific hybrids
- When two different races, subspecies, varieties or breeds of same species are crossed, and an offspring is produced.
- interspecific brood parasite
- birds that lay their eggs in nest of other bird species to be raised by other families
- interspecific hybrids
- When two yet similar species mate, and offsprings are produced.
- irruptive
- where certain species of birds may be seen in one year but not in the next, unpredictable.
- jake
- Name given to a young male turkey.
- juvenal
- The plumage seen on a fledging.
- juvenile
- Immature or young birds not fully developed nor into breeding.
- keratin
- Hardened protein forming feathers, beaks, claws and bills.
- kettle
- Name given to congregations of migrating birds of prey seen soaring overhead.
- lamellae
- Strainer type teeth found in the bills of waterfowl for feeding purposes.
- larder
- Areas used by shrikes to store their prey.
- lek
- A determined area where multiple male birds put on courtship displays in order to attract female mates.
- leucistic
- Is a bird affected by leucism.
- leucism
- Whiteness of feathers, but does not have red eyes, caused by reduced pigmentation in the bird's feathers by recessive allele.
- life list
- Number of wild birds seen by one individual birder.
- lore
- Area on a bird located between the bill and the eye.
- malar
- Area defined as cheek on a bird.
- mandible
- Bird's lower bill, upper bill can be called this too.
- mantle
- A term covering the back, shoulders, upperwing-coverts and secondaries, especially applied to gulls.
- manus
- Portion of a bird's wing that supports the primary feathers.
- maxilla
- Bird's upper bill.
- medial bar
- Refers to the central portion of a feather, especially the primaries.
- melanism
- opposite to albinism, it is the occurrence of very dark or black coloured birds, who normally have light coloured plumages.
- melanistic
- A bird that has a surplus of dark feathers.
- mirror
- A white spot or patch seen within the dark areas of the subterminal band on the tip of the primaries, i.e., gulls.
- mirror band
- A group of white spots seen in the primaries, usually in gulls.
- mirror tongue
- A continuous row of white tips seen throughout the primaries and secondaries.
- molt
- When a bird loses its feathers, to regrow new ones.
- monogamous
- Describes certain bird species who only have one sexual mate at one time.
- monophyletic
- Recognized as one race of birds.
- monotypic
- Refers to a species of birds that have no sub-species known.
- morph
- Or phase (poorly used) is a colour variation found among the same species of a bird.
- moustachial stripe
- A line of different coloured feathers from surrounding feathers, that resemble a moustache.
- murder
- Name given to a group of crows or magpies.
- murmuration
- describes a flock or group of starlings.
- muster
- describes a flock or group of peacocks. Another term to describe a group of peacocks is ostentation.
- mustering
- describes a flock or group of storks
- nape
- An area located between the base of the back of the head and above the wings.
- niche
- The ecological role played by a bird species within an animal community.
- nocturnal
- Describes birds which feed at night.
- nomenclature
- Is a system of names.
- nominate
- Refers to the term given a bird which has the same scientific genus name as the scientific species name.
- non-breeding plumage
- Or eclipse plumage is the more dab plumage seen on birds in the seasons outside their breeding periods.
- non-passerines
- birds such as seabirds, waterfowl, birds of prey and doves.
- nuchal collar
- Distinct feather markings across the nape of the bird's neck.
- obligate brood parasites
- Category of brood parasites who lay eggs in other bird nests regularly.
- occipital patch
- Describes a patch located on the back of the crown, i.e. redpolls.
- occuput
- An area on the back of a bird's head, located between the nape and the crown.
- orbital ring
- A ring of naked skin around the eye.
- orbital skin
- An area of bare skin surrounding the bird's eye.
- order
- Is a classification of a group of families, who have enough difference to separate them from all other groups.
- ornithologist
- Professional, who studies birds.
- ornithology
- The study of birds.
- ostentation
- describes a flock or group of peacocks. They are also known as a muster.
- owlet
- Name given to a young owl.
- owling
- Word given to the practice of searching for owls at night by birders.
- pack
- describes a flock or group of grouse in late season.
- pair bond
- The relationship formed between a male and female bird for nesting purposes and maybe for life.
- parliament
- Name given to a group of owls.
- party
- describes a flock or group of jays.
- passerines
- Known formerly as Passeriformes, sometimes as passeriformes, name given to all perching birds.
- patagial
- Is the adjective form of patagium.
- patagial marks
- Feathers associated to the area of the wing joints.
- patagial tags
- Bird bands attached to the propatagium area of the wing of soaring birds that are visible from the ground.
- patagium
- Is the elastic fold of skin extending from the shoulder to the carpal join.
- peacock
- Name given to a male peafowl.
- peeps
- A general term used to describe shorebirds.
- pelagic
- Describe ocean going birds that are seldom seen from land.
- pen
- Name given to female swans.
- penile
- Applied to nest that is suspended between two forks of a limb, with nothing supporting from below.
- petinate
- Where the claws on some deep water waders are furnished with comb-like teeth.
- philopatry
- Refers to birds migrating back to the same regions as they were born.
- phylogeny
- The actual evolutionary history of any plant or animal species.
- piebald
- Term describing two colours of feathers.
- pinfeathers
- .Refers to small and developing feathers emerging from the skin.
- pishing
- Sound generated by forcing air through lips to attract birds.
- pitying
- describes a flock or group of turtle-doves.
- pollex
- Or "thumb" is located on the bird's wing.
- polygynandry
- Refer to certain bird species who pair up to more than one mate.
- polyandrous
- Describes female birds that have more than one mate.
- polygynous
- Describe birds group which males and females have more than one mate.
- polymorphic
- Pertains to some species of birds who have different colours of plumage and being in the same race.
- polyphyletic
- Birds not closely related or share similarities with their most recent ancestors.
- postnuptial
- Category given to a bird who has one molt per year.
- postocular spot
- A distinctly coloured spot located behind the bird's eye.
- postocular stripe
- A distinctly coloured stripe located behind the bird's eye.
- poults
- Name given to young birds belonging to the game bird group.
- prebasic molt
- Refers to molt that occurs just after breeding season.
- precocial
- Describes young birds hatched with eyes open, down-covered feathers, and have the ability to leave their nest in a couple to a few days.
- preening
- It is the act of spreading oil over the feather from the preen gland, which is located on the bird's lower back, near its tail.
- prenuptial
- Category given to a bird who has a second molt in one year.
- primaries
- The longest feather found on a bird's wing, located on the outer wing section.
- primary projections
- Refers to the projection of the primaries beyond the tertials seen from the side of a standing bird.
- promiscuous
- Describes bird groups, who join together only for mating purposes and then leave one another after.
- pygidium
- Collection of a few fused bones making up of the tail of a bird.
- pyriform
- Describes the pear like shape of an egg.
- quill
- The stout, horny and cylindrical center of a feather.
- race
- Used in the same context as sub-species.
- rachis
- The bar running through a feather forming the quill.
- radio-ulna
- Bone found in the wing of a bird.
- raft
- describes a flock or group of ducks on water.
- rafter
- describes a flock or group of turkeys but they are also known as a gang.
- range map
- Land images depicting the breeding area, migration routes and winter ground of individual bird species.
- raptor
- Referring to a bird of prey.
- rectrices
- Tail feathers.
- rectrix
- Tail feather.
- remex
- Flight or wing feather.
- remiges
- Flight or wing feathers.
- rookery
- See "Heronry".
- roost
- A resting site used by a bird or birds.
- rump
- Area seen between the wings and the tail feathers.
- scapulars
- Area of feathers seen at the top of a bird's wing.
- secondaries
- Row of wing feathers located on the first section of a bird's wing.
- sedge
- describes a flock or group of bitterns. Same term for a group of cranes and herons.
- semi-parasitic
- Birds which lays eggs in other bird nests, but also lays eggs in its own nest.
- semialtricial
- Describes young birds hatched with eyes open, down-covered feathers, and do not have the ability to leave their nest.
- semicolonial
- Describes birds of the same species who nest fairly close to one another and get along.
- semiprecocial
- Describes young birds hatched with eyes open, down-covered feathers, and do the ability to leave their nest, but choose not to.
- sexual dimorphism
- Refers to when the male and the female of the same species have completely different looks.
- skein
- V flying formation seen in ducks and geese.
- skylarking
- Flight pattern put on by male birds, where the bird flies high into the sky, fluttering to the ground, while singing and calling.
- snood
- Skin seen hanging from above a male turkey's beak.
- spatulate
- description of a spoon-shaped bill.
- species
- Particular or individual name of bird.
- spectacles
- Large eye ring connected to the lores, displaying a look of eye wear.
- speculum
- Row of visible colourful feathers seen on the wings of ducks.
- spishing
- Using the lips to create sounds, which attract birds into seeing view.
- spring
- describes a flock or group of teal.
- squeaking
- Artificial sound made by birders, to attract birds or to have them expose themselves.
- stand
- describes a flock or group of flamingos.
- sternum
- Birds deeply keeled breast bone, forming a structure to which the wing muscles are attahed.
- stoop
- Descending of a bird onto its prey.
- streaked
- Rows of distinguishing feathers seen on a bird's breast and flanks.
- stripes
- Distinguishing feather that runs the length of a bird's body.
- sub-species
- Or races, identifies different birds belonging to the same species, but show noticeable differences among themselves.
- subterminal band
- A distinct ban seen at the end of the tail feathers.
- subterminal spots
- Or mirrors are spots seen on the out tip of the primary feathers, seen mostly on gulls.
- supercilliary
- Feathers outlining the face of a bird.
- supercilium
- or supercilliary stripe, is an apparent line over the bird's eye, like an eyebrow-line.
- superspecies
- Refers to races of birds where each has its own geographical location.
- supraloral
- The area seen above the lore.
- sympatry
- Refers to the occurrences of species together in the same area.
- talons
- Elongated claws of a bird of prey.
- tarsi
- The long foot bones that lead into the bird's toes.
- tarsus
- The metatarsal bones of the foot fused together into a single bone.
- taxa
- Plural form for Taxon.
- taxon
- Refers to a general taxonomic category.
- taxonomy
- Or systematics is the science of classification of organisms of orders, families, genera, species...etc.
- tertials
- Or "tertiary" are flight feathers located at the base of a bird's wing.
- territory
- Is a region determined by breeding pairs and defended from other intruders.
- tibia
- Birds upper leg bone.
- tom
- Name given to a male turkey.
- totipalmate
- All toes are joined by webs.
- trip
- describes a flock or group of dotterels.
- transient bird
- Describes a bird seen in an area located between its breeding and non-breeding zones.
- tympani
- Vocal organ valve that produces the bird's sound.
- type E botulism
- A disease that targets waterbirds who feed on fish.
- undertail coverts
- Small feathers that cover the base of the undertail of the bird.
- underwing coverts
- Small feathers that cover the base of the underwing of the bird.
- unkindness
- describes a flock or group of ravens.
- uppertail coverts
- Small feather that cover the base of the upper side of the tail feather and rump.
- vagrant
- A bird seen outside its breeding zones or its natural habitat.
- vent
- Area of a bird located between the belly and the base of the underside of the tail feathers.
- vermiclation
- Description of fine waving lines seen in a bird's plumage.
- vestigial toe
- Small spur-like toe, seen above the feet and back of the leg of waterfowl.
- vinaceous
- A peculiar purplish pink shown or suggested in the coloration of some birds.
- wake
- describes a flock or group of buzzards.
- walk
- describes a flock or group of snipe. A group of snipe is also known as a wisp.
- watch
- describes a flock or group of nightingales.
- wattle
- Fleshy skin that hangs from the lower bill, ie turkeys, chickens.
- wedge
- describes a flock or group of swans when in flight.
- wing-bar
- A row of distinct marks distinguished on the flight feathers of a bird's wing.
- wing coverts
- Feathers covering the base of the flight feathers on a bird's wing.
- wing projection
- Refers to the projection of the primaries beyond the tail feathers, seen from the side of a standing bird.
- wingtips
- Refers to the tips of the primaries, seen from the side of a standing bird.
- wishbones
- See "Furcula".
- wisp
- describes a flock or group of snipe. A group of snipe is also known as a walk.
- zygodactylous
- Bird groups have two toes forward with two toes backward.
Return to Birds of North America Home Page
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.