Blackpoll Warbler (Donna Dewhurst, USFWS) Birders (Robert Howe) Brewer's Blackbird (Lee Karney, USFWS)

Test Instructions

Visual Identification Test

  1. Have a notebook ready to jot down details of birds that are difficult for you to identify. Place field guides or birding identification CD's near your computer. These references will be handy while you are observing the bird images as well as afterward, when your notes can provide important details before your final submission.
  2. You will be shown a random selection of 20 bird images. In your notebook or on the Test Form, record your preliminary identification of each bird.
  3. The test can include birds that could occur anywhere in the Western Great Lakes region. Most, but not all, are images of species during breeding season. There are some images of juvenile or immature birds. Our Test Image database has over 2000 images encompassing over 300 species. Note: images used on the Practice Visual tests are not included in our Test Image database.
  4. After you have viewed picture 20, the final Results Form will load. You can use your notes and field guides to help verify your identifications, although you will not be able to see the images again. Click the "SUBMIT RESULTS " button at the end of the Results Form to submit your test results. You will be informed immediately of your grade.
  5. You must complete the test within a 15-minute period. The computer will track time from the beginning to the end of your testing period. If you do not end the session before this time, your results will be ineligible for certification. The "BEGIN TEST" button starts the clock. You can view each bird image as long as you’d like, but you must click the “SUBMIT RESULTS” button (at the end of the test) before the end of the 15-minute period.
  6. You may take the Visual Identification Test up to 5 times during a one-year period. You must pass the Visual Identification Test at least twice for all levels of certification.

Please refer to Certification Levels for more information about the three levels of certification.

  

Audio Identification Test

  1. Have a notebook ready to jot down your results. Just as you might in a real-life bird survey, you will compile and submit your findings after the “field trip” when the birds were encountered. Place field guides or bird identication CD's near your computer.
  2. You will be presented with a random selection of three 2-minute audio clips recorded at sites from the habitat category you selected. Our Test Audio database has over 500 audio clips.
  3. In your notebook, jot down your preliminary identification of each bird heard. You also might wish to take notes that you can use later to verify your identifications.
  4. The audio recordings will not be perfect – expect to hear occasional gusts of wind, background noises, and other distractions (just as you would in a real-life field survey). Recordings were made using a Compression Zone microphone attached to a Marantz PMD670 digital recorder.
  5. Accompaning the audio recordings on the test are images of the recorded sites. Because the images are not full 360° views, birds from nearby habitats also might be heard during the recordings. You should jot down all species identified, even birds that are uncharacteristic of the pictured habitats.
  6. You must complete the test within a 20-minute period. The computer will track time from the beginning to the end of your testing period. If you do not end the session before this time, your results will be ineligible for certification. The "BEGIN TEST" button starts the clock. You can listen to the audio recordings as long as you’d like, but you must click the “SUBMIT RESULTS” button (at the end of the test) before the end of the 20-minute period.
  7. Once you click the "END TEST" button, the Results Form will load. You can use bird identification CD’s or field guide descriptions to help verify your identifications, although you will not be able to hear the recordings again. Indicate on the Results Form all species you identified on each recording (as Certain or Probable). Click the "SUBMIT RESULTS " button at the end of the Results Form to submit your test results. Audio Identification tests are not graded online.
  8. For each Habitat Category, you may take the Audio Identification Test up to 5 times during a one-year period.