Bird Watching Jargon For Enthusiasts

Birding is one of the fastest growing recreational activities. As with any such thing, it has developed a language all its own. Here is a primer on some key phrases.

The act of oiling refers pretty much to what it sounds like. It is the application of oil to the wings and feathers during preening or through water contact.

Orientation refers to the navigation ability of birds. Some can orient to a particular direction during migration while others seem to be effected by the length of the day. Surprisingly, little is understood about how this happens.

Ornithosis is a nasty disease found in some birds. The symptoms are diarrhea and weight loss. It is often fatal. Found most prominently in parrot species and pigeons.

Birds are often cleaning themselves. This act is referred to as preening. Each species handles it differently, but a common characteristic is the use of the beak to clean wings and such. Not to be confused with anting.

The term Papilla refers to a colorful knob often found on the beak or mouth of a hatchling. It acts as a target for the parent to place food upon return to the nest.

Photoperiodism refers to the reaction of birds as well as other animals and plants to the changing amounts of sunlight in a day during the year. Breeding periods and migration are believed to be triggered by it.

The rump of bird is an area often critical for identification purposes. It is the area just above the tail feathers. It is often distinctly colored and/or shaped, which helps with classification.

The act of stooping refers to a predator bird hunting smaller birds. It is the equivalent of the car chase in a movie. The predator will chase the smaller bird until it captures or fails.

The speculum is a marketing area found on a duck. Many ducks have a patch of color on their wings. The color distinction and shape can be used for identification purposes.

Moulting refers to the process whereby birds shed their feathers to be replaced by new ones. Most species moult once a year, but not all.

Totipalmate is another way to identify a bird. The term refers to the webbing or lack thereof between the toes. Those birds with webbing have totipalmate. Non-totipalmate birds tend to have unconnected toes facing different directions.

The nape of a bird is another potential classification mechanism. It refers to the area between the crown of the head and neck. It often is an area of demarcation, making it helpful in identifying the bird you are seeing.

The wattle is one of the easier markers on bird. It is the structure on the top of the head. It can be a comb, gathering of feathers or bone structure. Identify the wattle, and you are on your way to identifying the bird.

The important thing to understand about birding is the language is important, but not critical. Gaining an appreciation of our feathered friends through observation is the key.

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