Notes about the Species Accounts

Order

The order of species listed in this guide is based on the most recent version of the Checklist of North American Birds, published by the American Ornithologists’ Union. The arrangement of some groups, especially within the nonpasserines, may be slightly different than that of older field guides but reflects the most recent accepted arrangement.

Names

Both the common name and the scientific name are included for each entry. Of the two, the universally accepted scientific name of genus and species is the more reliable identifier because common names can vary by region and sometimes there may be more than one. Also, if you know a little Latin, you can often learn interesting facts about a bird from its Latin name. For instance, the wood thrush's scientific name, Hylocichla mustelina, derives from the Latin hylocichal, meaning “of the forest,” and mustelina, referring to the weasel-like color of its plumage.

Families

Birds are grouped into families based on similar traits, behaviors, and genetics. When trying to identify an unfamiliar bird, it can often be helpful to first place it into a family, which will reduce your search to a smaller group. For birds with which you are already familiar, try to understand what makes them fit into their particular family. Characteristics like bill size and shape, feeding behavior, and habitat preference can be remarkably consistent within a family. Then when you encounter an unfamiliar bird, you can make a pretty good guess as to which group it belongs to (or doesn’t!).

Size

The size given for each bird is the average length from the tip of the bill to the end of the tail if the bird was laid out flat. Sometimes females and males vary in size, and this variation is described in the text. Size can be misleading if you are looking at a small bird that happens to have a very long tail or bill. It can be more effective to judge the bird’s relative size by comparing the size difference between two or more species.

Season

The season given in the accounts is the time when the greatest number of individuals occur in New England. Some species are year-round residents, some may spend only summers or winters here, and some may be transient, only stopping during the spring or fall migration. Even if only part of the year is indicated for a species, be aware that there may be individuals that arrive earlier or remain for longer than the given time frame. Plumage also changes with the season for many birds, and this is indicated in the text and illustrations.

Habitat

A bird’s habitat is one of the first clues to its identification. Note the environment (including vegetation, climate, elevation, substrate, presence or absence of water) where you see a bird and compare it with the description listed. This can be especially helpful when identifying a bird that shares traits with related species. For example, cattle egrets and snowy egrets are similar in appearance, but cattle egrets are found in drier fields and pastures, while snowy egrets prefer swamps and open water.

Illustrations

The illustrations show the adult bird in the plumage most likely to be encountered during the season(s) it is in New England. If it is likely that you will find more than one type of plumage during this time, the alternate plumage is also shown. For birds that are sexually dimorphic (females and males look different), illustrations of both sexes are usually included. Other plumages, such as those of juveniles and alternate morphs, are described in the text.