Bird tracks: telling crow, duck, heron and songbirds apart

In most birds three toes point forward and one back. How these toes are built depends on how the bird lives. Songbirds that perch on twigs have a long, strong hind toe for gripping. Waterbirds such as ducks have webbing between the three front toes and a tiny hind toe. Waders such as the heron have very long, thin toes that spread their weight on soft mud.

The way of moving is just as important. Small birds that spend a lot of time in branches mostly hop with both feet: both feet land at the same time side by side. Larger ground birds walk, one foot after the other. Some species such as blackbird and starling can do both – they hop and walk depending on the situation. This creates a trail of pairs or of alternating prints.

Because the front toes point forward, every print is a small signpost. The hind toe points back, against the direction of travel. Ducks and pigeons turn their feet inwards when walking; the prints then point slightly towards the centre line.

Ask three questions for each find: how big is the print? Is there webbing? How do the prints lie to each other – in pairs or alternating? That usually gets you to the right group. As guide values, about 2 to 3 centimetres for small songbirds, 5 to 7 centimetres for crows, 5 to 6 centimetres for ducks and often over 10 centimetres for the grey heron.

With crows, look for the slim toes and the strong, long hind toe. Crows usually walk in an almost straight line; in snow the middle toe often leaves a small drag mark. Pigeons print similarly but turn their feet inwards and have a shorter hind toe. Magpies hop more often than crows.

By the water you tell duck and heron apart easily: the duck has webbing between its toes and waddles widely; the heron has long, thin toes without webbing and a long hind toe, and its steps lie far apart almost on one line. Storks have a shorter hind toe set slightly higher and small webs at the base of the toes.

You do not touch dead or sick wild birds, and you keep dogs away. Wild birds can carry pathogens such as avian influenza. If you find several dead wild birds in one place, especially waterfowl or birds of prey, report the location with date and photo to the veterinary office, in Austria to the district authority. You do not touch bird droppings or feathers either, and you wash your hands afterwards.

The best bird tracks are found on muddy banks – exactly where the ground can give way. Only look at tracks from firm ground. Never step onto ice, into deep mud, onto mudflats or into bogs for a print. With children you always stay within reach.

During the breeding season, roughly from March to July, many birds nest on the ground, on banks and on gravel bars. Swans and geese defend their nests vigorously. Keep your distance, stay on paths and observe the rules of protected areas, where some sections are closed during this time.

Bird tracks are a wonderful way into tracking because you find them almost everywhere: at the pond, on the beach, in the park and under the bird feeder in snow. In a single morning you can compare hopping and walking trails side by side. For children it is a simple, safe nature experience.

Identifying small songbirds to species from the print alone is hardly possible – the differences are too small. On dry sand or in grass, little detail remains either. Anyone who wants to know more precisely who was there combines tracks with observation, calls and feeding signs.

In snow you sometimes find fan-shaped wing prints. If a bird trail ends suddenly and such feather marks lie beside it, the bird took off there. Wing marks around a small hollow in which a mouse trail ends can show that an owl or bird of prey struck there – a story told by the snow.

Pheasants and chickens have three thick front toes and a short hind toe; they mostly walk and leave long chains of prints along field edges. By the sea, gulls join in; their feet have webbing but sit straighter than ducks'. Over time you will recognise which group passed by even without a book.