– Module 3 – How to identify a species

Sahel West Africa

Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – Training Course –

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Authors

Designed and written byNathalie Hecker nat.hecker@yahoo.fr

Photographs Steve Garvie sgarvie@aol.com, www.pbase.com/rainbirder

IllustrationsCyril Girard girardcyril3335@neuf.fr, www.cyrilgirard.fr

TranslationRachel Wakeham moosekeeper77@hotmail.com

This training course is one of the tools of : Hecker N., 2012. Identifying and Counting Waterbirds in Africa – A toolkit for trainers. ONCFS, Hirundo-FT2E. France

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Presenting the ModuleTechnical

explanationsIndoor

exercises

3

Fieldwork

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Objectives of Module 3

At the end of this Module you will be able to: •match a species to a family or genus by its silhouette;•identify a species and explain your choice.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Approach

Identifying a bird is knowing:“why it’s this species” and also “why it’s not that species”.

It is therefore necessary to be able to name a bird and tell it apart from similar species.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

A species?

Great Egret Kingdom AnimalPhylum ChordataClass Bird Order Pelecaniformes Family Ardeidae Genus CasmerodiusSpecies Albus

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Family and genus

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Large wading birds

CranesHamerkop

Spoonbills

Ibises

HeronsStorks

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

Tringa sandpipers

Snipes

Godwits

StiltsCalidris sandpipers

Plovers

Lapwings

Thick-knees

Curlews

Module 3 – How to identify a species

MOORHENS

GREBES

JACANAS

ANATIDAE

geese

whistling-ducks

surface-feeding and diving ducks

Module 3 – How to identify a species

LARIDAE

RAPTORS CORMORANTS

PELICANS

gulls

terns

osprey

harrier

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

Indoor exerciseEquipment: “Waterbird silhouettes” factsheets S3.4.a and S3.4.b Procedure:1. One trainee describes the bird’s shape and matches it to a family or group2. The other trainees can add to the description

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

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Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what family does this bird belong?

Indoor exerciseEquipment: Field guide“waterbird silhouettes” factsheetProcedure:1.With the book open, a trainee describes the shape of a waterbird chosen by the trainer from the field guide2.With their books shut, the other trainees look through the sheet of silhouettes and must work out which family it belongs to. They can ask questions to add to the description.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

How to use the field guide

Three stages of identificationObservation description looking in the field guide

Use the field guide to• Look up birds in a family• Compare the bird to the illustration• Read the accompanying text about the species• Check the distribution map• Be aware of similar species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a speciesIndoor exerciseDescribe a bird methodically and accurately to identify its speciesEquipment: Silhouette factsheet, field guideProcedure:1. With the book shut, a trainee describes the shape of the bird shown in the slide and matches it to a silhouette2. The other trainees confirm the choice of family3. The trainee describes the colour of the plumage, bill and legs, and if possible the habitat where the bird is found 4. The trainee looks in the field guide and suggests several options, then quantifies the final choice by “It’s this one because ... and not that one because…”

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Describe and identify a species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Identifying a speciesFieldworkEquipment: Telescope, binoculars, field guide, factsheetProcedure:Procedure: working in pairs1. One trainee watches a bird with the telescope and describes it in detail out loud, also describing the behaviour, calls (how frequent and how loud) and habitat2. The second trainee takes notes 3. They match the bird to a group (factsheet S.3.1) then find it in the field guide to identify it

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

• These species can be difficult to identify!• Identification must be methodical and rigorous

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders: the main morphological criteria to note

Silhouette•Is it thin and slender?•Is it squat and “round”?•Is it in between, and neither slender or squat?Head•Is it big, medium or small? Neck•Is it visible?•Is it long or short?Bill•Is it long or short?•Is it straight or curved?•Is it fine or broad?Legs•Are they long or short?– long legs: clearly visible tibia and long tarsus– short legs: barely visible tibia and short tarsus

compared to the rest of the body and overall silhouette

Remember, if the bird is resting its neck may look short when it would seem long in another position

compared with the length of the head seen from the side

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders

Plovers and Lapwings round and squat silhouette

large headshort, straight bill

short, often barely visible necklong legs (plovers) to very long legs (lapwings)

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders Calidris sandpipers

- squat silhouette- medium-sized head

- short to medium slender, straight or down curved bill

- fairly short, often hardly visible neck

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders Tringa sandpipers

- thin and slender silhouette- small head

- medium to long slender, straight or slightly upturned bill

- clearly visible neck- generally long legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Waders Godwits and Curlews

large sizesmall head

very long straight or downcurved billlong neck

very long legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species

WadersSnipes and Greater Painted-Snipe

squat silhouettelarge slightly square headmedium to very long bill

short neckmedium to short legs

Module 3 – How to identify a species

WadersBlack and white birds

Three easily recognised species thanks to their black and white plumage

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Indoor exerciseEstablish which group of waders a bird belongs toEquipment: “Identifying common waders in Sahel West Africa: - characteristic shapes of large families” S3.6Procedure:1. A trainee describes the shape of the wader shown in the slide and matches it to one of the six groups of waders2. The other trainees agree or disagree with the choice

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

To what group does this wader belong?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

An example of identification key to wadersThe key helps to:•Observe morphological criteria important to identification•Match a wader to a group•Identify the species or group of species

Recommendations:•A field guide is essential•A good description is important

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Black and white birds upturned bill pied avocet straight bill red bill and red legs eurasian oystercatcher black bill and red legs black-winged stilt

An example of identification key to wadersStages of identification1 22 33 44

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Calidris sandpipers black legs straight bill dark shoulder patch (sometimes barely visible) sanderling no dark shoulder patch little stint slightly down-curved bill dunlin or curlew sandpiper

Identification key to wadersstages identification1 22 33 44 55

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?Indoor exerciseIdentify a species using the key Equipment: • “Identifying common waders in Sahel West Africa: - characteristic shapes of large families” S3.6 •“An example of identification key to waders in Burkina Faso” S3.7.a and S3.7.b Procedure:1. A trainee describes the shape of the wader shown in the slide by answering questions asked on the first page of the key 2. The trainee matches the bird to one of the silhouettes in the key 3. The other trainees agree or disagree with the choice4. The trainee finishes identifying the species using the key

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

What is this species?

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Identifying waders

FieldworkEquipment: Telescope, binoculars, field guide, waders factsheetsProcedure: working in pairs1. One trainee watches a wader through the telescope and describes it in detail out loud, as well as its behaviour, calls and habitat2. The second trainee makes notes3. They match the wader to a group then look for it in the field guide to identify it

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Making a list of species present

FieldworkEquipment: telescope, binoculars, field guide

Procedure: working alone or in pairs1. Each trainee or pair should make a list of the species present, within a time limit2. Once the time is up, each trainee or pair should present their list of recorded species

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Difficult observation conditions

FieldworkEquipment: telescope, binoculars, field guide

Procedure: working alone or in pairsEach trainee or pair should identify a bird on the ground chosen through the telescope by the trainer. It should be difficult to identify due to brightness, distance, or the species itself.

Module 3 – How to identify a species

Thanks for your attention!