B

Beachpipers – Refers to those shorebird species generally observed on sandy shorelines

Big Day – A birding event in which a birder, or a team of birders, attempts to see as many species of birds as possible in a 24 hour period.

Big Year – A birding event in which a birder attempts to see as many species of birds as possible within a defined region (world, state, ABA Area) in 365 days, generally from January 1 to December 31.

Buffie – 1) Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis

BVD – Better View Desired.  A term for a life bird seen well enough to identify, but not well enough to enjoy.

C

Chick – Any species of North American Chickadee

Chickamice – A general term referring to a mixed flock of Chickadees and Titmice

D

Dip - 1) To travel to attempt to see a previously reported rare bird and fail to see it. 2) The actual bird that one has missed.   Related forms: Dipped, verb.

F

Fallout – A rare and exciting occurrence in which migrating birds are forced to the ground by adverse weather where they can congregate in very large numbers.  Generally associated with certain meteorological and geographical conditions.

G

Grasspipers – Refers to those shorebird species generally observed in grass or on sod farms

Greaterlegs – Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca

Grip (or Grip off) – To see a bird which another birder missed and to tell them you’ve seen it, often to brag about said sighting.

H

Hoodie – 1) Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus. Appropriated from duck hunter slang. 2) Hooded Warbler , Wilsonia citrina

L

Leastie – Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla

Lesserlegs – Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes

Life List - A list of every species of bird an individual birder has ever seen, or heard, in the world. See also Lifer

Lifer – The first-ever sighting of a bird by an observer, added to one’s life list.  See also Life List, Tick

Local Patch – A birding location, often near one’s home, that an individual birder visits regularly.  see also Patch

M

Marshpipers – Refers to those shorebird species generally observed in marshes

Mega – A very rare bird generally a continental or national rarity, but can also be used to refer to state rarities also.

Mudpipers – Refers to those shorebird species generally observed on mud or tidal flats.

P

Patch – A birding location, often near one’s home, that an individual birder visits regularly.  see also Local Patch

Peck – Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos

Peep – A collective term for the five smallest North American Calidris Sandpipers; Least, Semipalmated, Western, White-rumped, and Baird’s

Pish – An emphatic shushing noise made by North American birders to elicit mobbing behavior in small birds.  The sound is intended to roughly replicate the alarm calls of chickadees and titmice.

R

Rockpipers – A term referring to those shorebird species generally observed on rocky shorelines.

Roughie – Hawkwatcher term for Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus.  see also Roughleg

Roughleg - Hawkwatcher term for Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus.  see also Roughie

S

Sand – Sandpiper.  Often paired with the species name (Least Sand, Western Sand, Stilt Sand, etc)

Semi – 1) Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla, see also Semi Sand  2) Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, see also Semi P or Semi Plover.

Semi P – Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, often used to differentiate from Semipalmated Sandpiper.  see also Semi or Semi Plover

Semi Plover – Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus, often used to differentiate from Semipalmated Sandpiper.  see also Semi or Semi P

Semi Sand – Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla, often used to differentiate from Semipalmated Plover.  see also Semi

Shoulder – Hawkwatcher term for Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus

Slash – A term used to describe to cryptic species pairs that cannot be identified to species, often in reference to a day checklist.  Examples include Long/Short-billed Dowitchers, Greater/Lesser Yellowlegs, Willow/Alder Flycatcher.

Sollie – Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria.  see also Sollie Sand

Sollie Sand – Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria.  see also Sollie

Spotty – Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius

SSV – Soul Satisfying View. A term used for a life bird seen exceptionally well.

T

Tail – Hawkwatcher term for Red-Tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis

Tick- A new bird added to one’s list.  Related forms: Ticking, verb. Ticked, verb. see also Lifer

Twitch – To seek out a previously reported rare bird, generally traveling long distances to do so. Related forms: Twitching, verb. Twitcher, noun, one who twitches.

Twitchable – Referring to a bird that, by virtue of its reliability and accessiblity, is easy to find if chased.

U

Uppie – Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda

W

Woodie – Wood Duck, Aix sponsa. Appropriated from duck hunter slang

Z

Zootie – A locally rare or unusual bird.  A “good” bird.