bird measurements

[MHarnett]

When I am looking for measurements its the exotic birds that I have trouble finding. For instance my daughter just sent me a picture of an Austrian Kingfisher which she found on a Audubon site. She hinted that a finished bird would look just lovely on her mantle. The bird has magnificent colors and the photo just jumped out at me. I can see how a finished carving would just look spectacular if one could capture the bird and get the painting right. Of course I see it on my mantle, but that's another story.

I could size the bird by using our kingfisher. It looks to be about the same size but I can't tell from the photos and I do not have an Austrian bird book. I went to the Smithsonian site but I was just poking around not looking for any one bird. I will have to go back.

I second Paul_Guraedy comment keeping song bird skins or parts is not a good idea unless you are a licensed collector.

[vin]

Kingfisher - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia try this site, it might help. wow there are over 50 kinds, good luck, Vin

[joysbear]

I have a couple of books I like that might help you.

BIRD STUDIES by DAVID MOHRHARDT
this gives measurements and very good drawings.

BIRD REFERENCE DRAWINGS by DAVID MOHRHARDT
This has drawings of wings, tails, feet, beaks, etc.
Very helpful.

Hope this helps.
Joy Yax
PictureTrail

[rbloch66]

I know this is an old post, but I have recently come across 2 amazing sites if it's information on birds that you are looking for.

The first covers birds in North America, I believe, and the second is for European birds.

ONE

TWO

Again, these are amazing resources. If any one finds databases with birds for other parts of the world, please let me know.

[MHarnett]

These are very good references. good measurements and colors

[brdkrvr70]

I just came across the discussion on bird measurements. I will look thru my books and see what I may have to help. I also wanted to add to the previous posts. If you go to the museum. Wear gloves because many of the older birds mounts were done with arsenic.

Also, you can get in the same trouble with only a feather of an illegal bird...you don't have to have the whole bird. When going to the museum, I have found two other things which were very helpful. One is a ruler to lay along side of the specimen. The other is a color wheel. I take a picture of it as well. When I get home I put the pictures on the computer and scale them using the ruler. That way all of my pictures are life size. It saves a lot of measuring of the specimens. I have found that the less you have to handle the specimens the less apt you are to harm them. It will keep you in better standing. Hope this helps anyone who is looking to get bird measurements. Happy Carving, Lou

[torpidhummer]

Bird measurements sometimes very from reference books, I have the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America,Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America and Peterson Field Guide,Hawks of North America. I use all three of these books for reference Some bird specialists claim there is a slight variation
of bird sizes for the east and west coast.
Oscar