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Adult Mature, Capable of breeding.
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Aerial Making use of the open sky.
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Altitudinal migrant Moving between high mountains and lower foothills.
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Apical Outer extremities, particularly of the tail.
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Aquatic Living on or in water.
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Arboreal Living in trees.
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Axillaries Underwing feathers at the base of the wings, forming ‘armpits’
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Basal Innermost extremities, particularly of the tail.
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Biotope Area of uniform environment, flora and fauna.
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Buff Yellowish white with a hint of pale brown.
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Canopy Leafy foliage of treetops.
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Cap Upper part of head.
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Carpal Bend of a closed wing, sometimes called shoulder.
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Casque Growth above bill of hornbills.
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Cere Patch of bare skin on upper base of bill of raptors.
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Colonial Roosting or nesting in groups.
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Confiding Not shy.
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Commensal Living together with man for mutual benefit
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Coverts Small feathers on wings and base of tail.
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Covey Small group of partridges and allied species.
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Crepuscular Active at dusk (twilight) and dawn.
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Crest Extended feathers on head.
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Crown Upper part of head.
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Culmen Ridge on upper mandible of bill.
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Diagnostic Sufficient to identify a species or sub-species.
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Dimorphic Having two forms of plumage.
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Diurnal Active during daytime.
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Drumming Rhythmic territorial hammering on trees by woodpeckers
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Eclipse New dull plumage after breeding season, especially in ducks.
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Endemic Indigenous and confined to a place.
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Eyestripe Stripe through eye.
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Family Specified group of genera.
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Feral Escaped, and living and breeding in the wild.
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Fledged Having just acquired feathers and ready to leave nest.
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Fledglings Young birds which have just acquired feathers.
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Flight feathers Primary and secondary wing feathers.
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Flushed When disturbed into flight at close quarters.
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Form Sub-species.
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Frugivorous Fruit-eating.
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Fulvous Brownish-yellow.
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Game birds Pheasants, partridges and allied species.
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Gape Basal part of the beak (mainly for young birds and raptors).
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Genera Plural of genus.
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Genus Group of related species.
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Gorget Band across upper chest.
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Granivorous Grain-eating.
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Gregarious Sociable. Living in communities or flocks.
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Hackles Long and pointed neck feathers.
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Hawking Capturing insects in flight
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Hepatic Rust or liver coloured plumage phase, mainly in female cuckoos
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Hunting party Group of birds usually of different species, seeking food.
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Immature Plumage phases prior to adult
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Iris Coloured eye membrane surrounding pupil.
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Irruption Mass movement of a population from one place to another.
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Jizz Essence or striking characteristics of a species;
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Juvenile Immature bird immediately after leaving nest.
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Leading edge Front edge of wing.
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Lobe Fleshy extensions to side-edges of toes of some birds.
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Local Unevenly distributed.
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Lores Area between eye and bill base.
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Malar Stripe on side of throat.
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Mandible Each of the two parts of bill.
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Mantle Back, between wings.
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Mask Dark plumage round eye and ear-coverts.
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Migration Seasonal movement between distant places.
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Mirror White spots in wing-tips, mainly of gulls.
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Morph One of several distinct types of plumage in the same species.
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Moult Seasonal shedding of plumage.
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Nape Back of neck.
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Necklace Narrow line round neck.
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Nocturnal Active at night.
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Nomadic Species without specific territory except when breeding.
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Nominate First sub-species to be formally named.
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Orbital ring Narrow ring of skin or feathers round the eye.
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Order Group of related families.
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Passerines Perching and song birds.
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Pectoral Breast area.
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Pied Black and white.
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Plumes Long, showy feathers, acquired during the breeding season
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Precocial Young hatched sighted and down-covered, e.g. ducklings.
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Primaries Outer flight feathers in wing.
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Race Sub-species.
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Raptors Birds of prey and Vultures, excluding owls.
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Record Published, or otherwise broadcast, occurrence.
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Resident Non-migratory and breeding in same place.
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Rufous Reddish brown.
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Rump Lower back.
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Scalloped Curved markings on edges of feathers.
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Scapulars Feathers along edge of mantle.
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Secondaries Inner wing feathers.
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Speculum Area of colour on secondary feathers of wings.
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Streamers Long extensions to feathers, usually of tail.
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Sub-species Distinct form that does not have specific status.
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Sub-terminal band Broad band on outer part of feather.
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Supercilia Plural of supercilium.
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Supercilium Streak above eye.
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Terminal band Broad band on tip of feather or tail.
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Terrestrial Ground living.
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Tertials Innermost wing coverts, often covering secondaries.
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Trailing edge Rear edge of wing.
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Vagrant Accidental, irregular.
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Vent Undertail area.
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Vermiculations Wavy (worm-like) markings.
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Vinaceous Red wine coloured. Warm pink.
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Waders Shorebirds. Usually, the smaller, long-legged waterbirds.
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Wattle Bare skin, often coloured, on part of head.
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Wildfowl Ducks and geese.
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Wing-span Length from one wing tip to the other when fully extended.
