Ohio Bird Identification

Ohio has more than 400 recognizable bird species, according to the Ohio Ornithological Society. As of 2009, there were 422 bird species recorded in Ohio. You can find a wide variety of birds in the Buckeye State, anything from the black-bellied whistling duck to the yellow-billed cuckoo. The most common are wrens and of course, the state bird, the cardinal. Using just a few tools and advanced planning, finding and identifying Ohio birds is educational and interesting.

  1. Field Guides

    • A field guide is one of the most important tools you can use for identifying birds. Ohio's Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has a detailed field guide on its website that includes an alphabetical list of every Ohio bird species, description, pictures and even audio to listen to how the birds sound.

    Binoculars

    • Use good binoculars. If you are serious about bird identification, use the best binoculars you can afford. A cheap pair of binoculars with mediocre lenses is a waste of money when birding. High-quality lenses make a big difference when you need to see details that help with proper identification.

    Find Background Information

    • Research the habitats of the species you are interested in identifying and observing. Field guides give good information but you can find more details through your local Audubon Society or through Wildbirds.com, which has a complete section designed to help people find birds. Libraries are an excellent resource for help with information and identification of local and unusual bird species.

    Identification

    • Key things to consider when identifying an Ohio bird are the size, shape, girth, type of bill (long, short, thick), detailed description of size and shape of tail and wings, and color

    Record Identification

    • The red-tail hawk is a common Ohio bird.

      Record your identifications and sightings. Keep track of where, when and how many birds you see. Also note the weather and any other pertinent information at the time of the sighting. A log book works well, although many bird groups have specially designed diaries for bird watching and identification. There are even computer programs available that help you keep track of birds you've spotted or hope to see and also have built-in help with identification.

    Seek Out Helpful Experience

    • Join or seek out a bird group. Many areas have local bird-watching organizations and people who are willing to share their expertise and knowledge with others who are interested in bird identification. In addition to hobby groups, Ohio asks for annual volunteers through the ODNR and the statewide Nature Centers to help spot and track certain bird species.