Identifying and recording wildlife

You can help build a picture of the state of nature in Suffolk by identifying and recording your wildlife sightings.

How to identify a species
 

Whilst some species are relatively simple to recognise and identify, others can be trickier. There are a number of ways you can find out the exact species of something you have sighted:

• Use The Wildlife Trusts' ID guides. The Wildlife Trusts' website has a comprehensive set of identification guides which you can use. Compare the photos with what you have sighted to help narrow down your search. Visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife/how-identify
   
• Use a search engine. In a search engine - such as a Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo - try typing a description of the species to bring up results that may match what you have sighted. For example: small brown bird with speckled chest uk. If you were lucky to take a photo of your sighting, some search engines allow you to search by uploading a photo.
   
• Use an identification app. There is a huge range of identification apps available to download to your mobile phone or tablet. Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust have some great recommendations on their website: www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/amazing-nature-identification-apps
   
• Ask us! If you're really struggling, you can send a photo, video, or audio recording to us and we will try to identify your sighting for you. Email us on teamwilder@suffolkwildlifetrust.org

How to record wildlife sightings
 

Suffolk Wildlife Trust has teamed up with iRecord: an online species recording system created by the National Biodiversity Network. Using iRecord means your records can be collated, checked by experts, and used to support research and decision-making.

We also recommend submitting your sightings to Suffolk Biodiversity Information Service (SBIS). SBIS is Suffolk's official biological data centre with over 6 million records; they collate, manage, and share species and site data to help inform better decisions and actions to benefit Suffolk's wildlife. Visit www.suffolkbis.org.uk/record/node/7107

Record with iRecord 

Submit a record to SBIS

County species recorders
 

Use the drop-downs below to find the official County Recorders for Suffolk. These volunteers are experts in their species area, and most are members of the Suffolk Naturalists' Society.