Identifying Birds by Their Habitat



Generally, each group of birds appears only in a specific kind of habitat. And every plant community – whether it is mixed coniferous/deciduous forest, an abandoned field, freshwater marsh, or desert, for instance – contains its own assortment of birds. Identifying an unfamiliar bird sometimes seems to be solving a puzzle. Birds have progressed to take advantage of some habitat niches. Some of the long-legged birds that have long, pointed bills are great at spearing fish. So you would probably expect to see a Great Egret or a Great Blue Heron at the end of a pond, rather than in a pine forest.

If you know a little information about the bird’s foraging habits, diet, and evolutionary versions, it could help you predict the habitat where the bird can be found. By simply studying the bird’s bill, you can easily make some good assumptions about their diet.

Birds that eat insects can primarily be seen in forests or fields, while birds that eat fish can be found near the water. Additionally, if the weather is cold, insect-eating birds would most probably migrate south. That’s why a deciduous forest can be the perfect spot to find a Red-eyed Vireo in June rather than in February.

Some of the usual habitats of birds include the ocean, woodlands, streams, lakes, wetlands, grasslands, fields, scrub, mountains, tundra, cliffs, city, desert, suburbs, and bird feeders. You must also be aware, though, that during fall and spring, migrating birds frequently settle down when they get hungry or tired, regardless of their habitat.

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