Identifying Wilson’s Phalarope
How to ID the various plumages of this most distinctive member of a unique group of shorebirds.
Kenn Kaufman
Kenn Kaufman is an expert birder and naturalist, a talented artist and photographer, a world traveler, and the author of many books about birds and other wildlife. His column “ID Tips” appears in every issue of BirdWatching. Kenn is also a field editor for Audubon Magazine and a contributor to Birds and Blooms. His work first appeared in Birder’s World (now BirdWatching) in April 1988. Visit his website, Kaufman Field Guides.
Kenn Kaufman on social media
Identifying Pygmy Nuthatch and Brown-headed Nuthatch
Use these tips to tell the difference between Pygmy Nuthatch and its close relative Brown-headed Nuthatch.
Tips for identifying American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow shares similar traits to other sparrows. Use these tips to correctly identify it.
Identifying Wandering Tattler and Spotted Sandpiper
Use these pointers to identify Wandering Tattler, a shorebird that is essentially a Pacific Coast specialty.
Tips for identifying Lucifer Hummingbird
Kenn Kaufman shares what to look for when identifying Lucifer Hummingbirds.
Identifying Snail Kite
Use these tips from Kenn Kaufman to spot Snail Kites.
Tips for identifying Bell’s Vireo
With photographs from Brian E. Small, author Kenn Kaufman provides tips for identifying Bell’s Vireo.
Identifying Williamson’s Sapsucker
How to distinguish this western woodpecker from Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Gila Woodpecker.
Identifying Orange-crowned Warbler and Tennessee Warbler
Kenn Kaufman describes what to look for to identify the variable Orange-crowned Warbler and the similar Tennessee Warbler.
Identifying Henslow’s Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Baird’s Sparrow
Kenn Kaufman explains how to identify the nomadic Henslow’s Sparrow and its close relatives Grasshopper and Baird’s Sparrows.
Kenn Kaufman’s ode to the Henslow’s Sparrow
In the “ID Tips” column in the August 2018 issue of BirdWatching, Brian Small and I covered identification of Henslow’s Sparrow. As part of my … Read More “Kenn Kaufman’s ode to the Henslow’s Sparrow”
Identifying Blue Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting
How to tell these two easily confusable species apart.
Identifying Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, and Cinnamon Teal
Kenn Kaufman explains how to differentiate female Blue-winged Teal from two other dabbling ducks: Cinnamon and Green-winged Teal.
Identifying Black-capped Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee
Kenn Kaufman explains how to tell Black-capped Chickadee apart from Carolina Chickadee, and he offers tips for identifying Mexican and Mountain Chickadees
Identifying Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Hermit Thrush
Kenn Kaufman describes how to identify three lookalike thrushes: Swainson’s Thrush, Gray-cheeked Thrush, and Hermit Thrush.
Eye opener: A colorful warbler in a gray city
A tiny warbler in a big city underscores the wonder of birds
Kenn Kaufman sets owl-finding record in southeastern Arizona
Where and how Kenn Kaufman and two other southern Arizona birders found 11 species of owl in one day