🐦‍⬛10.16 Luhu: Using Bird Bingo to Teach Kids Bird Identification Skills

We used a customized Bird Bingo sheet to help children learn how to identify birds on their own. Each square represents a real observation task: birds with long tails, groups of three or more, birds with black or white plumage, ground birds, birds in flight, or those with unique behaviors or bright colors.

Instead of telling them what each bird is, we hand out a small field guide so they can match what they see to the right species themselves. They record short notes—color, sound, or movement—in the Bingo squares. At the end, I review their notes with them and help confirm the species.

This activity trains observation and patience. Kids start noticing shape, sound, and behavior instead of only colors. The game format keeps them curious and confident. By the end, they do not just fill a Bingo card—they learn how to think and act like real birdwatchers. For beginners, a few misidentifications are completely normal. Every birder goes through that stage.