Band Codes vs ABA/AOU Bird Codes

Do you want to quickly find and learn the 4-letter codes which bird banders use to record each species? Do you need a quick reference to look up band sizes used for each species? The Band Codes app gives you quick access to the shorthand codes for the species names, as well as additional information such as band sizes and important notes regarding banding certain species. Bird banding is a common research technique to study migration timing and survival of birds. Birds are captured by a variety of methods and an aluminum band is attached to one of their legs. Each band has a unique number that allows researchers to learn about the birds movements and any physiological changes that may have occurred between the times it was captured. Note: If you are a birder, we suggest that you check out Bird Codes, which is more extensive, including all the species found in the area covered by the American Ornithologists Union. Banding birds is federally regulated, and only those trained and licensed as banders should attempt to catch and band birds.

In the world of ornithology and bird watching, alpha codes are a shorthand for describing a specific bird. These codes are an abbreviation of a bird’s common(4 letters) or scientific(6 letters) name and are used in banding data, field notes, and other data collection projects. Schechter Natural History’s Bird Codes is a simple tool to look up bird reporting codes for the ABA and AOU.* Features include * Quick search and bird lookup * Sort by common name, scientific name, or code * Toggle between viewing a list of birds included in the AOU or the ABA * USGS Species Numbers and Banding Sizes We hope you find the Schechter Natural History’s Bird Codes to be a helpful tool for your outdoor adventures and a fun and informative reference for home use. *The American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) includes birds recorded in North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean region. Whereas the American Birding Association (ABA) only contains birds in North America.