Spark Birds are the birds species that initially stimulates an interest in more serious bird watching or birding.
In 1992 ANCON (National Association for Nature Conservation) translated the “Guide to Birds of Panama” to Spanish. My neighbor went to the presentation of the novelty book, got a copy and the book ended up in my house the day after the presentation! With the book in hand I began birding the gardens of our home in the former Panama Canal Zone: pretty gardens with lots of forest and open areas. After a week I had identified a little over 50 species.
But my real Spark Bird was the Southern Lapwing, back then extremely rare and conquering Panama from South America and using the famous biological land bridge that joined North and South America 2.8 millions years ago.
Spark birds vary for every birder and might include a unique, endangered or rare bird sighting, a favorite and familiar backyard species or a bird seen when introduced to the hobby by an experienced birder. For many birders, spark birds are unknown species that lead to a curiosity about identification, and after successfully identified, the beginning birder is curious to learn more about both familiar and unfamiliar species as they discover the diversity of birds.
It is not just the sight of a spark bird that may create an interest in birding. A unique song, unusual behavior or other observation might create interest in learning more about birds. For some birders, their spark bird is not the first species they are able to identify, but it is the first one they deliberately take steps to identify that isn’t a familiar backyard bird.
Spark birds might also be long removed from getting started birding; a familiar bird from childhood might be the spark that reminds an older birder that they once enjoyed birds, and they may begin birding long after first seeing that spark.
After identifying a spark bird, a birder may simply be interested in putting out bird feeders and being a casual backyard birder, or a lifelong interest in dedicated birding and ornithology could begin. There are many type of birders, and all of them have a spark bird.