My eyes glaze over when 'subspecies' is mentioned.

[Charlie Spencer]

I can't be the only one.

Thanks.  I feel better with that off my chest.

[IKLland]

For me, as a young birder that's trying to better understand the birds, enjoy them more, and get better at IDing them, I try not to focus on ssp too much, but it is interesting. Perhaps once my ID skills and overall birding skills improve, I'll look into it. 

[Quiscalus quiscula]

1 minute ago, IKLland said:

For me, as a young birder that's trying to better understand the birds, enjoy them more, and get better at IDing them, I try not to focus on ssp too much, but it is interesting. Perhaps once my ID skills and overall birding skills improve, I'll look into it. 

Yeah, I'm pretty much the same.

[Birds are cool]

I enjoy IDing subspecies, but I have just started. Its like just starting birding except none of them are new for your lists. The only reason I have started paying attention to subspecies is because there are more opportunities for rarities.

[Snake Fingers]

17 minutes ago, IKLland said:

For me, as a young birder that's trying to better understand the birds, enjoy them more, and get better at IDing them, I try not to focus on ssp too much, but it is interesting. Perhaps once my ID skills and overall birding skills improve, I'll look into it. 

This. If I can confidently ID a subspecies right off the bat, cool. If I can’t, then I’m probably not gonna delve into all that jazz.

Edited March 1 by Snake Fingers

[lonestranger]

1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said:

I can't be the only one.

You're not alone @Charlie Spencer. My eyes glaze over on a lot of aspects of birding, most of them are subjects I don't understand, but I have no interest in putting any effort into changing that. Gulls are one example of where my eyes glaze over long before I learn any of the deeper knowledge needed to properly ID them. When I see an unknown Gull, my eyes glaze over, I call them Gulls, and I move on. 🤷🏼‍♂️  I am content in knowing that I don't have the memory power required to memorize all the little details written about every bird I've seen, or might see. Let's face it, memorizing all the little details is a big part of getting good at IDing birds. That memory requirement increases when you get into IDing sub-species, and/or Gull cycles, and such. Trying to retain too many details just clouds my already foggy brain and gives me that glazed eye look. 🥸

[Bird Brain]

3 hours ago, Charlie Spencer said:

I can't be the only one.

You're not. Don't know if it is just us "old" birders or not. But when I see a post asking for an ID/confirmation of a subspecies of Red-tailed, White-crowned, etc, I don't even click on it anymore.

[chipperatl]

I like Red-tailed Hawk here, as it is mostly just two options.  I also like Junco, since it is usually only 3 options and I want that free tick when they split them.  I also try to look for any canadensis Canada Geese.  Only other one I look for now is a Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow now that I know what to look for, and that they actually show up here.  I freely admit to doing a lot of this ssp. ID from photos after the fact.  

[lonestranger]

Just out of curiosity, and for fairness, how many people's eyes glaze over or roll to the back of their head when they hear someone else talk about the things that make their eyes glaze over?

[chipperatl]

1 hour ago, lonestranger said:

Just out of curiosity, and for fairness, how many people's eyes glaze over or roll to the back of their head when they hear someone else talk about the things that make their eyes glaze over?

😶

[Charlie Spencer]

2 hours ago, lonestranger said:

Just out of curiosity, and for fairness, how many people's eyes glaze over or roll to the back of their head when they hear someone else talk about the things that make their eyes glaze over?

Diagram that sentence, please.

[lonestranger]

1 hour ago, Charlie Spencer said:

Diagram that sentence, please.

*getting the same glazed eye look I use to get when my school teachers lost my interest*

Sorry, I didn't pay attention in art class, @Charlie Spencer. 🤷‍♂️

[Zoroark]

I report a sub-species when one is obvious or I am familiar with them. Examples include Dark-eyed Junco, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Northern Flicker. Once you start talking about birds with marginal differences in appearance and call, I'm out. I have enough difficulty with different ages, sexes, and morphs of hawks before considering 14 Red-tailed Hawk subspecies.

[Kevin]

16 hours ago, lonestranger said:

Just out of curiosity, and for fairness, how many people's eyes glaze over or roll to the back of their head when they hear someone else talk about the things that make their eyes glaze over?

😉

[Snake Fingers]

10 hours ago, Zoroark said:

Northern Flicker

I honestly forgot about Red-shafted… I’ve just seen yellow around here. Pretty sure yellow is the expected ssp around here.

Edited March 4 by Snake Fingers