[mou] ID Certainty

[Pastor Al Schirmacher]

For most experienced birders, 95% (plus or minus) of identifications are 
certain.  But there is that 1-5% that make us pause, whether because of the 
brevity/difficulty of the observation (or hearing), or similarity to another 
species, or atypical behavior, or other factors.

What causes you to be certain?  What causes that internal or (for many 
listers) external question mark to become definite?  And (in the case of a 
rarity) when do you become comfortable sharing with others?

I realize the subjectivity, even non-specificity of the question, but 
sometimes feel like birders have a wide range of ID acceptability which 
dialogue might improve.

Good birding to all!

Al Schirmacher
Princeton, MN
Mille Lacs & Sherburne Counties
pastoral@princetonfreechurch.net