Plumage & Perch is committed to accuracy, transparency, and reproducibility in every article published. The following editorial policy governs all content on this site.
Content Selection Criteria
Every article on this site serves one of two purposes:
- Reference, Providing accurate identification guides, behaviour profiles, or practical husbandry advice.
- Problem-solving, Addressing specific questions that garden birders encounter.
We do not publish:
- Content driven primarily by search engine optimisation rather than reader value
- Generic overview articles that duplicate information available in standard field guides
- Unverified claims about bird behaviour, feeding, or health
- Affiliate-driven product recommendations
Factual Accuracy
All factual claims are checked against primary sources. Where our knowledge derives from field observation rather than published literature, this is stated explicitly. Every attempt is made to distinguish between:
- Established facts, documented in peer-reviewed literature or confirmed by multiple independent observers
- Field observations, our own direct experience, reported with location, date, and conditions
- Reasonable inference, logical conclusions drawn from established facts, clearly labelled as such
Taxonomic Standards
We follow the American Ornithological Society (AOS) Check-list of North American Birds for English names and the IOC World Bird List for global nomenclature. Where regional authorities differ (e.g., BOU for Britain and Ireland), the relevant authority is noted. Taxonomic changes implemented within the last decade are flagged in articles where they affect the content.
Expert Review
All pillar guides undergo annual review for:
- Taxonomic accuracy
- Currency of cited literature
- Consistency with current best practices in avian husbandry
Satellite articles are reviewed on the same schedule as their parent pillar. The date of the most recent substantive review is recorded in each article's frontmatter.
Corrections Policy
Errors are corrected as soon as they are identified. Substantive corrections are noted in the article with a clear indication of what was changed and when. Minor typographical corrections are made silently.
Readers who identify errors are encouraged to contact us through the contact page. Every report is investigated, and substantive corrections are made within 14 days of verification.
Sponsored Content and Advertising
Plumage & Perch does not accept sponsored posts, paid reviews, or affiliate-driven content. No advertiser has access to, or influence over, what is written before publication.
The site does carry programmatic display advertising delivered by the Ezoic platform. Ads are auctioned and inserted automatically; no human reviewer at any ad network sees individual articles in advance, and no advertiser is able to specify which articles their ads appear against. Ad revenue does not influence the selection of topics, the framing of recommendations, or the decision to publish. For the data-handling consequences of carrying these ads (cookies, vendor list, consent), see the Privacy Policy.
AI Content Policy
AI tools are used in the drafting process for:
- Initial outline structure
- Semantic enrichment and terminology checking
- FAQ question generation (subject to human review)
All AI-assisted content undergoes the same human review process as directly-written content. No article is published without verification of factual accuracy, claims verification, and stylistic consistency with our voice.
Conflicts of Interest
The author has no financial interest in any bird food manufacturer, feeder company, optics company, or bird tourism business. Field observations are conducted independently of any commercial relationship.