WikiBird:Description of bird page sections
From WikiBird
This is a description of the layout and contents of the bird pages that contain the general description of the bird. The regional bird pages will contain these pages. Consistancy is important so the user will have a consistent place to look for information.
The information should be concise as is found in most bird guides. If more information or images are needed the discussion (talk) pages can be used or a link to additional pages can be used.
Other resources
- For creating a new bird page see Help:Create New Bird
- For naming pages see WikiBird:Handling Regional Information and Help:Pages structure diagram
Templates
By default most sections contain the Template:need information template to show where data is needed. Using a template enables the wording for needed section information to be quickly changed for all pages. Other templates include the Template:heading and Template:footer which are described below.
Regional content differences
When there is text that differs between regions template parameter may be used so that the page will be localized to different regions by passing different values from regional pages. Some examples are for bird names like Red-throated Loon or Red-throated Diver, and for spellings such as color or colour. Tanslations to completely different languages will be handled differently. See WikiBird:Handling Regional Information for more information.
Contents |
Genus species
Formatting: ''[[Genus species]]''
The above Genus species will be replaced by the bird's binomial name and will be the same as the page name. Including this link enables easy access for editing when the page is included in a regional bird page.
Header
Formatting:
<span class="noprint">
{{heading}}
</span>
The heading template is included to provide a place to put heading information that will be contained in every bird description page.
Image
Formatting: [[Image:NA|thumb|right|200px|<center>No image available</center>]]
This is a placeholder for the image. When an image is uploaded the image name should replace the 'NA' and the 'No image available' should be replaced by the description of the image. Images will be resized from the original image size according to the given specifications. More than a single images may be needed to display differences between male, female, breeding, and other plumages.
Size
Formatting: === Size ===
Length: ??cm (??in) Wingspan: ??cm (??in)
The above formats include a range of sizes if possible in metric units with English units in paranthesis. If a weight is available it may follow the wingspan.
Field Marks
Formatting: === Field Marks ===
{{need information}}
Contains a physical description of the bird with the most important or unique features listed first (and possibly bolded) for quick reference.
Similar species
Formatting: === Similar species ===
This contains information on differences from species that may be easily confused with the bird.
Sounds
Formatting: === Sounds ===
This contains a description of sounds the bird makes that may help with the identification. This includes the song, call, the sounds of the wings, etc. Links to uploaded sound files may be included but should be surrounded by noprint css class so the links won't show on the print. Example: <span class="noprint">link to image</span>.
Feeding & Behavior
Formatting: === Feeding & Behavior ===
Contains information on the behavioral or feeding charactistics of the bird that will help to locate and identify it.
Habitat & Nesting
Formatting: === Habitat & Nesting ===
Describes the surroundings the bird occupies and the nesting characteristics that are usefull for locating and identifying the bird.
Range map
Formatting: {{{rangemap}}}
This is a template parameter for passing a range map image. Since it may be useful for regional bird pages to show a more local range this was made a template to be passed from the including regional bird page. If default template parameter ever become available in the Mediawiki software then a world range map would be used as the default. Ideally a single range map with breeding, wintering, and migration would be used. Until that is possible more than a single range map might be used. See Wikimaps for some ideas on maps.
Range description
Formatting: === Range ===
This contains a description of the range of the bird. Regional bird pages may duplicate this section for containing more localized range data. Ideally this would be a template parameter with the default of worldwide range data so that the regional information could be passed in to replace it.
References and Resources
Formatting:
<span class="noprint">
'''References'''<br>
Contains a list of references.
'''Resources'''
This will contain a small list of the most important resources available.
</span>
The References and Resources are not sections in order that they can be enclosed by CSS to disable showing on printouts.
Footer
Formatting:
<span class="noprint">
{{footer}}
</span>
The footer template is included to provide a place to put footer information that will be contained in every bird description page.
Categories
Formatting: <noinclude>
[[Category:Bird names (scientific)]]
</noinclude>
The noinclude keeps the scientific name category from being used in pages that include this template and avoids confusing category pages. Don't include categories for the Common bird pages so their names aren't included in the scientific name category.
