Resighting Colorbanded Birds
Resighting banded birds provides critical information on annual survival.  That said, it can be hard enough to locate a bird that is right in front of you let alone to identify it by colored leg bands.
At right: Carolina Wren, Left leg - Blue over Orange; Right leg-Aluminum (BL/O,AL).   American Robin; Left leg - Orange; Right leg-Red over Aluminum (O,R/AL). 
Reminders and Tips:
  • Nestwatch uses 3 bands: two color bands and one aluminum band applied in varying combinations on both legs.
  • Try to visualize what those bands might look like on the bird. (See chart to right.)
  • Depending on a bird's habits, using binoculars can be very useful.
  • Remember that the color combinations recorded on your data sheets are in order from the bird's left leg to its right leg. This means that the combination will appear backwards if the bird is facing you.
  • Keep in mind that birds may lose color bands over time.
  • Chances are you will only have to catch a glimpse of one of the three bands because even if a Nestwatch crew banded many individuals of one species in your yard, they would have given each individual a very different color combination to help distinguish it from other banded individuals.
  • BE PATIENT. Sometimes a naked eye is all it takes as a Robin prances across your lawn in front of the kitchen window. But most often patience and persistence, along with a good pair of binoculars, is a successful formula. 
  • Want a listing of "your" banded birds and monitored nests?  Our new website will include this download feature. In the meantime please contact reitsmar@si.edu for your listing.