ABA/AOU Bird Codes

In the world of ornithology and bird watching, alpha codes are a shorthand for describing a specific bird. These codes are an abbreviation of a bird’s common(4 letters) or scientific(6 letters) name and are used in banding data, field notes, and other data collection projects.


Schechter Natural History’s Bird Codes is a simple tool to look up bird reporting codes for the ABA and AOU.*


Features include
* Quick search and bird lookup
* Sort by common name, scientific name, or code
* Toggle between viewing a list of birds included in the AOU or the ABA
* USGS Species Numbers and Banding Sizes


We hope you find the Schechter Natural History’s Bird Codes to be a helpful tool for your outdoor adventures and a fun and informative reference for home use.


*The American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) includes birds recorded in North America, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean region. Whereas the American Birding Association (ABA) only contains birds in North America.