Bird Vocabulary - L-M

Lek
Defines the term "lek" as it relates to bird courtship and mating, with examples of bird species that use leks.

Laridae
Everyone has seen a bird in the Laridae family, but do you know which ones you've seen? Learn what birds belong in this family and what characteristics they share.

Lifer
Defines the term "lifer" as it relates to birding and life lists.

Life List
Defines the term "life list."

Listing
Defines the term "listing" as it relates to birders and birding.

Lores
Defines the term "lores" as part of a bird's anatomy, with bird identification tips.

Little Brown Job
Defines the term “little brown job” or “LBJ” in birding terms.

Malar Stripe
Defines the term "malar stripe" as part of a bird's field markings, with tips for bird identification with malar stripes.

Lump
Learn how two bird species can be merged and what considerations must be made before that happens.

Mandible
Defines the term "mandible" as a part of a bird's bill, including tips for how to identify birds by mandible markings.

Mantling
Defines the term "mantling" as a bird of prey feeding behavior.

Mimidae
Mimidae birds are excellent mimics with complicated songs and other vocalizations, but do you know what birds belong in this family and what other traits they share?

Mnemonic
Learn what a "mnemonic" is and how to use it to improve your birding by ear skills.

Merganser
Defines the term “merganser” as a type of duck, including species examples.

Molluscivorous
Defines the term "molluscivorous" in terms of a bird's diet, including examples of molluscivorous bird species and the foods they eat.

Monotypic
Defines the term "monotypic" as it relates to bird species and classifications, including tips for recognizing and counting monotypic species.

Molt
Defines the terms "molt" and "molting" as it relates to bird plumage, with tips for bird identification when molting birds are seen.

Migration
Defines the term "migration" as it applies to birds and explains some common migration behavior.

Mucivorous
Defines the term "mucivorous" as a specialized type of bird diet, including examples of mucivorous birds and how to attract them.

Monogamous
Defines the terms "monogamous" and "monogamy" as they apply to birds.

Motacillidae
Motacillidae birds have distinct features and a worldwide distribution, but do you know which birds belong in this family?

Morph
Defines the term “morph” as it applies to bird plumage.

Murre
Defines the term "murre" as a type of seabird with a list of murre species.