Seven easy rules of thumb to help with bird identification

This describes how Carrion Crows are mostly encountered alone or in pairs, whereas Rooks often feed together in large, sociable groups. Although not infallible – groups of Crows might be seen together where there are good feeding opportunities, for example – it is still a good general principle for distinguishing between these commonly confused birds. 

Another way to distinguish a Rook is to look for the bare patch of grey-white skin around the base of its bill. From a distance a Rook’s bill looks grey, whereas a Crow’s is all black. Some people think of a Rook as being black and white (if you're generous about a grey beak!) – like a chessboard. 

This wonderfully phrased piece of advice from RSPB Scotland Communications Officer Molly Martin, helps to differentiate between two tree-dwellings birds, Treecreepers and Nuthatches.  

It’s a useful guide: Treecreepers only climb up or along trees, whereas Nuthatches are the only UK birds that can go headfirst down a tree. But it’s not foolproof. The skilful little Nuthatches are equally adept at going up a tree! 

It’s also helpful to remember that these two birds look very different too. Treecreepers are mottled brown on top which acts as camouflage against a tree. A Nuthatch is a much more colourful bird, with bluey-grey feathers on top, a rusty-orange belly and a bandit-like swoosh of black on its head.  

Coots and Moorhens are two birds commonly encountered on ponds, rivers and other waterways. And, despite their differences in appearances, they are frequently mixed up. This rule is to useful way to identity them by beak colour, with a Coot’s being white and a Moorhead’s red.  

Another helpful reminder is that “Moorhens have ‘more’ colours”. A Coot is strictly black and white, while a Moorhen has black, white, red and yellow colourings. 

While other birds of prey such as Buzzards and Ospreys can hover for short periods of time, none have the stamina or are as good as a Kestrel! 

Kestrels fan their tails, beating their wings to stay in place, and holding their heads still to focus on potential food such as a Field Vole below. It is an incredible skill to behold. Silently hovering, head down, until the Kestrel suddenly swoops at speed, plunging its talons into its unsuspecting prey!   

This is one for gull fans! Often grouped together as ‘seagulls’, the UK has six species of commonly occurring breeding gulls. Namely: Herring Gull, the Lesser Black-backed Gull, the Great Black-backed Gull, the Black-headed Gull, the Common Gull and the Kittiwake.  

This rule of thumb focuses on Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. As you might expect, the Great Black-backed Gull is the bigger bird, but size can be deceptive especially when seen from a distance. Instead look out for its legs. A Great Black-backed Gull has pink legs, while the lesser fella’s are yellow.  

Beware, however, this only works with adult Great and Lesser Black-backed Gulls. Young Lesser Black-backed Gulls have pink legs for at least their first two years.

This rule is useful when watching wading birds in winter. Many thousands of water birds including geese, ducks and wading birds such as Knot and Dunlin head to the UK from colder countries, flocking to our muddy estuaries and shores for food.  

Flocks can reach their thousands and can include a number of different wading birds. Some can be made out by distinctive features: a Curlew is recognised by its long, curved bill and has the accolade of being Europe’s biggest wading bird, while Redshanks have bright red legs.   

Knots, meanwhile, are less distinctive. In winter, which is when you are most likely to see them in the UK, they are pale grey on top and white below, with a medium sized bill. They are easily confused with Dunlins, which are similarly greyish on top and white below. Dunlins, however, are smaller – around the size of a Starling, while Knots are almost Blackbird sized.  

Yes, the names say it all! Head to the coast, particularly rocky shores, and look out for a smallish bird flipping over stones in search of food. And bingo, it’s a Turnstone. A bit bigger than a Blackbird, these are pretty birds with chestnut, brown and white colouring.  

Turnstones can be seen throughout the year in the UK, with winter a particularly good time, as many fly in from their breeding grounds in the Arctic. As well as these winter migrants, Turnstones arrive as passage migrants in summer and spring. These Turnstones breed in Scandinavia stopping here on route to refuel, before continuing to the West African coast for winter.