Brown Bird Identification

Brown birds are common across most of the United States. The color allows them to blend into tree bark and other foliage. They come in many sizes, and have varied migration patterns.

  1. Size

    • The first step to identifying a brown bird is estimating its size. You can use the size of the surrounding foliage as a scale to estimate its size. Most brown birds are between four and nine inches in height.

    Markings

    • Look for markings on the bird that may help you identify it. For example, the House Thrush has gray markings on its belly, and the Vesper Sparrow has white-tipped tail feathers.

    Song

    • Listen for the bird to sing and note the distinguishing characteristics of the song. Are the notes high or low? Does the bird make long, clear sounds or does it make short chirps? The combined information about the bird's size, markings, and song should be enough to identify it.