I D by wing signature

[sam walker]

My usual birding photo mates began to learn how to ID birds by what we label a wing signature. Back lighting ruins too many view on the wing as does speed. We have several large species in our area. Blue herons and bald eagles both fly on approx 6 foot wings. It can be confusing at a distance. The heron always has a flexing snap on the outer foot of wing from the upstroke. The eagle is nearly always flat and stiff over the whole wing. Wood peckers almost down to every specie fly in a roller-coaster pattern lift fall. Kingfishers remind me of arrows. It's just another tool in the bag.
Sam

[John Chardine]

Good point Sam. I use this kind of technique for seabirds down here (where I am now) in the Southern Oceans.