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A Birder's Dictionary - Learn Birdwatching Terminology (or mock it)
Updated: Apr 1
Welcome to the dictionary of informal birding vocabulary. Watch for a more formal post by subscribing to the blog HERE!
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Bins
noun
boring nickname for binoculars. See "nockies" below. (Want our top bin recommendations? Click here.)
Birding
noun
the observation of birds. Birding is the more "extreme" version of this hobby. Birders pursue birds and birdwatching opportunities more readily.
Want to learn some 'dumb bird terminology?" Then check out one of our favorite funny field guides, The Field Guide to Dumb Birds of North America!
Birdwatching
noun
the observation of birds. Birdwatching is the more casual side of this hobby. Birdwatchers observe birds in a more leisurely fashion. (Learn more about the basics of birdwatching here!)
Chaser
noun
a bird person that pursues some desired bird.
Crippler
noun
an aesthetically pleasing bird, often brilliantly colored.
Ding-dong
noun
a nickname used by some for Horned Larks that jump in front of your car on an icy road.
Dip
verb
#$%!@#$!@#$%^@!#$^. See also "missed the mega."
Lifer
noun
the first sighting of a species in your lifetime. If you want to commemorate your life birds, check out our Life Bird Stickers! Lifers go onto a birder's life-list.
Mega
noun
a bird of maximum rareness. Not to be confused with a grail. A grail is the ultimate of ultimates in the bird world.
Nemesis
noun
the species that brings you great grief in being "ticked."
Nockies
noun
these are what you will look for a mega through.
See "bins."
Pish
verb
to make a sound that summons birds. It also summons strange looks from passerby's. (If you want to try at home, simply say the word.)
Plastic
adjective
used to describe a bird that is an escapee from captivity. Thus, the bird is not "tickable" to some.
Reviewer
noun
the person who holds the eBird fate of your sighting in their hands. However, you can still count the bird even if you did not get a photo. You can tell them to "dip off."
Shippee
noun
a bird that has likely been ship-assisted. These are likely no eligible for "ticking."
Slash Bird
noun
a bird(s) recorded on a checklist that does not fit nicely into a specific category. For example, a Canada/Cackling Goose.
SOB
noun
the "spouse of birder". This is an unfortunate position to be in, being pledged to a birder.
Spark Bird
noun
the species/individual/moment that triggers your birding/bird watching addiction.
Stringer
noun
this is an insult. If someone calls you this, set your nockies down because you are about to scrap.
Tick
noun
the mark you put on your life list to indicate you've seen a particular species.
Trash Bird
noun
a species often overlooked due to its common occurrence. (We need to fix this attitude. Find love in your hearts for European Starlings!) In Australia, often called chooks.
Tweener
noun
an individual bird that often has an appearance "between" two difficult-to-identify species
Twitcher
noun
a birder who "twitches" or gets ancy thinking about chasing. Twitchers often will chase over long distances.
Warbler Neck
noun
the pain in your neck from staring into treetops.
Want to read wild 'effin' birding terminology? Check out Effin' Birds A Field Guide to Identification!
Birding terminology is simply ridiculous. The shorthand used by birdwatchers, birders, and ornithologists is expansive, and this list simply does not do it justice. Check back for more updates in the future!
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