Identification of many birds in North-East Asia can be difficult: many birders in the region are unable to get the experience they need to separate similar species, and the published literature can be misleading if not inaccurate.
Even birders visiting Korea who have extensive overseas experience can run into unexpected identification problems.

The identifications discussed below are based on extensive field-experience.

To go to any of the ID Notes please click on the links below.

• Naumann’s / Red-throated Thrushes
  Nial Moores, November 2002, 14 photos
• The "Herring Gull Assemblage"
  Nial Moores, January 2003, Vega, Taimyr, Mongolian Gulls, 37 photos
• Taiga/Red-breasted Flycatchers
  Nial Moores, Updated August 2005, Discussion of first-year identification, 18 photos
• Japanese Lark
  Nial Moores, Updated March 2003, 9 photos, and downloadable calls
• Unusual Narcissus Flycatcher
  Nial Moores, Updated June 2005,10 photos
• Migratory Raptors ID
  Nial Moores, 2003, 16 photos
• Alba / Lugens Wagtails
  Nial Moores, 2003, 7 photos
• 3 possible hybrid ducks
  Nial Moores, February 2003, 12 photos
• Isabelline Wheatear
  Nial Moores, May 2003, 8 photos, 1 illustration
• Unidentified accipiter: gularis or badius
  Nial Moores, June 2003, 6 photos
• Barrow’s Goldeneye
  Nial and Charlie Moores, Updated January 2004, 12 photos
• A Hybrid Scaup?
  Nial Moores, February 2004, 4 photos
• Slender-billed / Black-headed Gulls
  Nial and Charlie Moores, March 2004, 15 photos
• Meadow Buntings
  Nial Moores, April 2004, 15 photos
• Brown Shrikes
  Nial Moores, Updated November 2004, 23 photos
• Pechora Pipits
  Nial Moores, June 2004, 16 photos
• "Grey Shrikes" in South Korea
  Nial Moores, September 2004, 15 photos
• East Asian Common Gulls
  Nial Moores, December 2004, 13 photos
• Slaty-backed Gull
  Nial Moores, March 2005, 27 photos
• Steppe Gull barabensis
  Nial Moores, June 2005, 20 photos
• narcissina, owstoni, elisae - "Narcissus Flycatchers"
  Nial Moores, July 2005, 49 photos
• Consideration of a claimed Western Marsh Harrier
  Nial Moores, January 2006. 2 photos

We will be adding to this section of the site many times, and the whole section is intended to be interactive.
Please e-mail idnotes@birdskorea.org. All comments will be posted and acknowledged.