Yellow-shouldered Blackbird (Agelaius xanthomus), la mariquita de Puerto Rico or capitán • Photo: R.C.Flores-Gunkle

Baffled and Dazzled by Birds, Part Four

Feathers in my cap

I’ve been giving some thought to the business of identifying birds. My conclusion: I am a failure as a birdwatcher. I think of my birds as models, not specimens. I understand the importance of knowing what birds (and how many of them) populate an area. I admire the people whose passion is identifying them, listing them, and reporting them.