Bird Vocabulary - U-Z

Underparts
Defines the term "underparts" as part of a bird's anatomy, including tips for bird identification using underparts.

Undertail Coverts
Defines the term "undertail coverts" as part of a bird's anatomy, with bird identification tips.

Upcurved
Bills with distinctive upcurved shapes can help you identify birds, but what is an upcurved bill?

Upperparts
Defines the term "upperparts" as part of a bird's anatomy, with tips on proper bird identification using upperparts.

Uppertail Coverts
Defines the term "uppertail coverts" as part of a bird's plumage, with tips for bird identification based on uppertail coverts.

Upupidae
The Upupidae bird family is one of the smallest and may have as few as just one bird species in it, but what bird is it, and what birds are Upupidae birds related to?

Vireonidae
What birds make up the Vireonidae family? Learn what characteristics they share and where you can see them.

Vulture
Defines the term “vulture” with bird of prey examples.

Wattles
Defines the term “wattles.”

Whistling-Duck
Defines the term “whistling-duck” as a type of duck, including examples of whistling-duck species.

Wing Bar
Defines the term "wing bar" as a type of field mark for bird identification, including examples of bird species with wing bars and how to identify birds with wing bars.

Wingpit
A wingpit may be just what it sounds like, but do you know how to use one to identify birds in flight? Learn more!

Wingspan
Defines the term "wingspan" as it applies to birds, including information on why wingspans vary and how to use wingspan for bird identification.

Wrist
Defines the term "wrist" as part of a bird's wing, including tips for proper bird identification based on wrist markings and wrist position in flight.