Here’s what you need to know about identifying birds. Watch the Bird Closely Don’t immediately reach for your field guide.

At first glance, you might confuse a western cattle egret with other white egrets. To make sure you’re seeing the correct species, look for a medium-sized bird with a compact neck, shorter neck.

But this rare bird raises its voice less and less often in western North America, where it has been eradicated from most of its riparian habitat. The cuckoo was once a common species from Lake ...