Use of 4-letter codes in NHBirds posts

[Steve Mirick]

Please try to either:

* Avoid using 4-letter codes for email posts

or

* Use 4-letter codes AND use the actual bird name in your posts.

4-letter codes are commonly used and a valuable way for data entry when out birding.  If you use eBird in the field, it is really helpful.  HOWEVER, many people are not familiar with the codes used so try to avoid using only the codes in posts.

For those interested in learning about the codes, here is a good web site:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_codes

https://www.lycobirds.com/articles/bird-alpha-codes

Rules

The basic rules for determining the codes are simple and are similar in both systems:

• For a bird with a one-word name, use the first four letters of the name, e.g., mallard is MALL.
• For a bird with a two-word name, use the first two letters of the first word followed by the first two letters of the second word, e.g., wood duck is WODU.
• For a bird with a three-word name the first two of which are hyphenated, use the first letter of the first word, the first letter of the second word, and the first two letters of the third word, e.g., blue-winged teal is BWTE.

and so on.

Steve Mirick
NHBirds List Moderator
Bradford, MA

[Chuck Carlson]

Steve,

Good suggestion!

For those of us who enjoy memorizing, having this PDF in your phone is a good learning tool. 

< https://www.birdpop.org/docs/misc/Alpha_codes_eng.pdf >

Also,

The Sibley Bird app shows each species‘ four-letter code at the end of the species “Text” section. 

 

Chuck Carlson 

972-679-1200 voice/text

On Mar 12, 2025, at 10:10 AM, 'Steve Mirick' via NHBirds <nhb...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

 Please try to either:

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[Randy Langer]

NHB

We could also take 10 more seconds and type out the names..... Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Barred Owl, Tufted Titmouse.... wow, wore me out...

RNL

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