How to Identify WildlifeHow to Identify Wildlife

BBC 4-HBBC 4-H

What kind of things do you use to What kind of things do you use to help identify wildlife that you’ve help identify wildlife that you’ve

SEEN?SEEN? Size, shapeSize, shape Fur, feathers, scales or skin?Fur, feathers, scales or skin? HabitatHabitat Noise (or lack of)Noise (or lack of) Gait, (trot, flight, slither or other)Gait, (trot, flight, slither or other) Other (smell?)Other (smell?)

What kind of bird is this?

What kind of bird is this?

How Do You Identify BirdsHow Do You Identify Birds

Size, shape, color (boys vs. girls, summer Size, shape, color (boys vs. girls, summer vs. winter)vs. winter)

Beak or bill shapeBeak or bill shape HabitatHabitat Flight PatternFlight Pattern SongSong

Size, shape, color (boys vs. girls, Size, shape, color (boys vs. girls, summer vs. winter)summer vs. winter)

Birds can be tiny (like hummingbirds) and Birds can be tiny (like hummingbirds) and very large like geese, swans and eaglesvery large like geese, swans and eagles

Look at profiles, ducks, geese and swans Look at profiles, ducks, geese and swans have different body shapes than eagles, have different body shapes than eagles, robins, or sparrows.robins, or sparrows.

Boys are usually more brightly colored than Boys are usually more brightly colored than girls, and sometimes change color in the girls, and sometimes change color in the winter (i.e. Goldfinch).winter (i.e. Goldfinch).

Beak or bill shapeBeak or bill shape

Pointy like a sparrow or warblerPointy like a sparrow or warbler Robust like a finch or blue jay Robust like a finch or blue jay Flat like ducks, geese, swans,Flat like ducks, geese, swans, Hooked like eagles, hawks, falconsHooked like eagles, hawks, falcons

Pointy beak

Robust Beak

Flat beak? What do you call the beak on a goose?

A meat-eating beak. How can you tell?

HabitatHabitat

Are you looking at birds at a feeder or in the Are you looking at birds at a feeder or in the woods?woods?

Different birds like marshes, swamps and Different birds like marshes, swamps and beaches.beaches.

Other birds live in the deserts, mountains, Other birds live in the deserts, mountains, rainforests, grasslands, etc.rainforests, grasslands, etc.

If you know where you are, it can help If you know where you are, it can help identify birds.identify birds.

SongsSongs

Often you don’t see birds, you hear them.Often you don’t see birds, you hear them.

Can you identify this Can you identify this birdbird??

How about this How about this oneone??

And this And this oneone??

Flight PatternsFlight Patterns

How do you identify animals that How do you identify animals that don’t flydon’t fly

Fur or no fur?Fur or no fur? Size, shape, color or color patternsSize, shape, color or color patterns HabitatHabitat ScatScat TracksTracks Skulls or bones (if they are dead Skulls or bones (if they are dead ))

Fur or no fur?Fur or no fur?

Is it furry, scaly, slimy?Is it furry, scaly, slimy? First determine if it is a mammal, reptile, or First determine if it is a mammal, reptile, or

amphibian (if you are in water you can add amphibian (if you are in water you can add fish to that list).fish to that list).

Name 1 mammal, 1 reptile and 1 amphibian. Name 1 mammal, 1 reptile and 1 amphibian. How do you know which type of animal they How do you know which type of animal they are?are?

Size, shape, color or color patternsSize, shape, color or color patterns

You probably wouldn’t mistake a grizzly You probably wouldn’t mistake a grizzly bear for a house mouse, but sometimes size bear for a house mouse, but sometimes size can be more difficult if it is just a quick look. can be more difficult if it is just a quick look.

Color and Color PatternsColor and Color Patterns

HabitatHabitat

Again, knowing WHERE you are, helps you Again, knowing WHERE you are, helps you identify what animal it could or could not be.identify what animal it could or could not be.

If you are in Wisconsin, it’s highly unlikely If you are in Wisconsin, it’s highly unlikely you’ve seen a rhinoceros or koala.you’ve seen a rhinoceros or koala.

Is this an animal you would see in Wisconsin?

ScatScat

What is scat? It is an important clue to What is scat? It is an important clue to identifying animals.identifying animals.

TracksTracks

Identify these tracks.

Skulls or bonesSkulls or bones

Identifying Wildlife Takes PracticeIdentifying Wildlife Takes Practice

Best ways are to get someone to “teach” Best ways are to get someone to “teach” you by exploring nature together.you by exploring nature together.

Field guides! There are guides for birds, Field guides! There are guides for birds, mammals, amphibians, etc (even for tracks mammals, amphibians, etc (even for tracks and scat!!!). Using one also takes practice.and scat!!!). Using one also takes practice.

Dichotomous keys- with practice you can Dichotomous keys- with practice you can identify any animal using a key (a set of identify any animal using a key (a set of questions that you answer until you come to questions that you answer until you come to a conclusion)a conclusion)

However, it’s worth it! Happy animal However, it’s worth it! Happy animal hunting.hunting.