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| Below is a collection of terms often used by those in the pursuit of bird watching. This dictionary / glossary of bird jargon is a quick guide to the basics. | |
(The) Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds (Eastern or Western Region) - n. A guide with separated in two parts; the first having pictures of species in their natural setting and the second being a written desciption describing the species characteristics and range. Avian - n. Pertaining to, relating to, or referring to birds. Avian Snob Syndrome - n. Those who are familiar with common species and start to search for migrants and rare birds often using a rating scheme comparing one species to another. Beachpipers - n. Shorebird species generally observed on sandy shorelines and beaches. (The) Big Day - n. A birding event in which a birder, or a team of birders, attempts to observe as many bird species as possible in a 24 hour period. Big Year - n. A birding event in which a birder, or a team of birders, attempts to observe as many bird species as possible within a defined region in 365 days. Bird - n. Any warm blooded vertebrate of the class Aves, having a body covered with feathers, forelimbs modified into wings, scaly legs, a beak, and no teeth, and bearing young in a hard-shelled egg. Birder - n. An individual who identifies and studies birds in their natural habitats. See Birdwatching. Birding - v. The observation of wild birds in their natural habitats as a hobby or recreation. See Birdwatching. Birdwatching - v. The observation of wild birds in their natural habitats as a hobby or recreation. See Birding. BOP - n. Bird of prey. Burn up - v. To disturbing shrubs and/or undergrowth hoping to stir a bird. Chick - n. Any species of North American chickadee. Chickmice - n. A group of birds comprising of chickadees and titmice. Collect - n. The process of killing a bird to be stuffed and mounted. Coop - n. A term used to describe the cooper's hawk. Crippler - n. A megatick which leaves one emotionally crippled by it's presence. Crossley Guide - n. Field Guide where birds have been cut out and placed on a neutral background as well as including a background photo showing habitats and the same species in different plumages and postures. Digiscoping - v. The technique of using a digital camera along with an optical telescope. Dip - 1)n. An attempt to see a reported (often rare) bird and fail to see it. 2) n. The actual bird that one has missed. Dude - n. A low-key, relaxed birdwatching hobbyist with a lack of devotion or enthusiasm. Fallout - n. A rare occurrence in which migrating birds are forced to the ground by adverse weather and may congregate in very large numbers. Flog - v. To disturbing shrubs and/or undergrowth hoping to stir a bird. Frugivorous - adj. Fruit eating bird species. Flyway - n. Route used by migratory birds between wintering and breeding regions. Golden Field Guides - n. Includes sonograms of birdcalls. Grasspipers - n. Shorebird species generally observed in grass or on sod farms. Grip (Grip someone off) - v. To brag to another birder after observing a bird which they did not see. GISS - n. (Often spelled phonetically as jizz) General Impression of size and shape as well as behavioural traits and movement, which experienced birders use to identify species based on brief views. Hazing - n. Wildlife population control which uses sound and light to drive away animals. Irruption - n. Sudden entrance of many birds of the same species into an area outside their typical range. (singular: vagrant) Kaufman - n. Field Guide where birds have been cut out and placed on a neutral background. LBB - n. Little Brown Bird. Describes many birds which are small, brown and otherwise not compelling. LBJ - n. Little Brown Job. Describes many birds which are small, brown and otherwise not compelling. Life List - n. A list of bird species and individual birder has ever seen (or heard). Lifer - n. The very first sighting of a bird species that had never been seen before by the observer. Lister - n. A birder who keeps track of birds through the use of checklists. Local Patch - n. A location used for birding that an individual birder frequently visits. Lores - n. The region of the beak between the eyes and upper part of the bill. Mega - n. A very rare bird generally confined to a given region. Megatick - n. An extremely good tick for novice birders to expert veterans. See Mega. Mobbing - n. When a group of similar/same species of birds band together to chase an intruder away. Modo - n. Mourning dove. Mudpipers - n. Shorebird species seen on mud or tidal flats. Nemesis Bird – n. A bird which has yet to be seen by a birder despite considerable efforts to observe it. Nestbox - n. A man-made enclosure provided for animals to nest. Ornithology - n. Branch of zoology specific to the study of birds. Patch - n. A location used for birding that an individual birder frequently visits. Peterson's Field Guide - n. Uses the Peterson system with arrows highlighting differences among species. Pish - n. The sound made by birders to recreate alarm calls of chickadees and titmice in hope to attract hidden birds. Plastic - adj. Describes a bird which has escaped from captivity, compared with a wild or indigenous bird. Plumage - n. A pattern, colour or arrangement of feathers that cover a bird. Protobirder - n. A novice birder. Ringing - v. Process of banding bird legs with small metal or plastic tags to allow individual birds to be identified should it be later recaptured or recovered. Information can include date, age, sex, molt, and fat content. Rockpipers - n. Shorebird species often seen on shorelines and rocky locations. Roughie - n. A term used to describe a rough-legged hawk. Sand - n. Sandpiper species. Shoulder - n. A term used to describe a red-shouldered hawk. (The) Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America - n. An illustrated guide with paintings of birds by David Sibley using arrows and small text to highlight differences among species. Skulking - n. The behaviour of staying quite, being patient and avoid being observed. Songer - n. A term used to describe a song sparrow. Spotty - n. A term used to describe a spotted bird, such as a spotted sandpiper. SSV - n. Soul Satisfying View. When a live bird has been observed exceptionally well. Stokes - n. A field guide based on photos. String - v. The act of intentionally misleading other birders about the presence of a bird. Stringy - adj. Skeptical identification of a species of bird. Stringer - n. The term used to describe a person with a history of intentionally misleading other birders about the presence of a bird or fabricating rare bird sightings. Sum plum - n. A birds summer plumage. Tail - n. The term used to describe a red-tailed hawk. Tick - n. 1)A new bird added to ones life list. 2)A bird observed on one's life list. Trash bird - n. A species that is so common in a given location that it becomes irritating. Twitch - v. To seek out a reported rare bird often traveling long distances. Twitchable - adj. A bird that can easily be found if pursued. Twitcher - n. An obsessive birder who goes to great lengths to observe rare birds. Vis mig - n. Visible migration of a bird species. Warbler - n. Birds that share characteristics such as being fairly small, vocal and insectivorous but are not necessarily closely related. Warbler neck - n. A sore neck caused by observing warblers and other species out of ones normal range of motion. Waterfowl - n. A term used to describe ducks, geese, grebes, loons, swans and sometimes cormorants. Woodie - n. A term used to describe the wood duck. Zootie - n. A bird that is often not seen locally or in a specific geographical region. Zugunruhe - n. Seasonally occurring restlessness that may result in the need to migrate. |