Use the clues in this order
Choose a size anchor
Compare with a sparrow, dove, crow, goose or ostrich. The exact size matters less than a consistent reference.
Record the silhouette
Note long legs, hooked bill, heavy ground-bird shape or small perching-bird shape.
Watch the behaviour
Soaring, probing mud, weaving a nest or running on open ground can be more diagnostic than colour.
Take more than one photograph
Capture the bill, side profile, back and tail where possible. Never move closer to a nest for a picture.
Quick comparison
| Possibility | Most useful visible clues |
|---|---|
| Common ostrich / Volstruis | Huge, flightless, long bare neck and two-toed feet. |
| Southern masked weaver | Small cone bill; breeding male yellow with dark face mask. |
| African fish eagle / Visarend | Large hooked bill; adult has white head and chestnut body near water. |
What to do when the clues conflict
Keep the report at a broad level, retain the original photograph and describe the features you saw. A careful unresolved record can be reviewed later; a guessed species can mislead everyone who follows it.
Safety and welfare come first.
Never leave a vehicle where prohibited, approach a nest, play a call repeatedly, surround an animal or delay traffic to get a better identification.