A bird-watcher sees a small yellow bird in a tree. Explain to the bird-watcher how he can use a dichotomous key to identify the bird. Assume he does not know anything about dichotomous keys. Then, write two steps of a dichotomous key that would be helpful for the bird-watcher.

Question

only using words to order

Answer 1

To use a dichotomous key, the bird-watcher can start by observing the bird's physical characteristics such as its size, color, beak shape, and any unique markings. Then, he can follow a series of steps in the key that present two contrasting choices based on those characteristics, eventually leading to the correct identification of the bird.

1. Step 1: Does the bird have a yellow body?
- Yes: Go to step 2
- No: Go to step 3

2. Step 2: Does the bird have black markings on its wings?
- Yes: The bird is likely a yellow warbler
- No: The bird is likely a goldfinch

These steps will help the bird-watcher narrow down the options and pinpoint the exact species of the small yellow bird he spotted in the tree.