I am new to birding, too, and am enjoying identifying what is showing up at my feeders (both seed and suet). I started searching for bird identification websites but was quickly frustrated because by guessing at shape and color, I was overwhelmed by the amount of bird lists and photos produced and I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. I next Googled "Winter birds of CO" and this helped me tremendously. The list of birds and photos was greatly narrowed and I was able to find what I wanted. I can now look at birds and say, "That is a finch, that is a sparrow, that is a Woodpecker, and my favorites, that is a Chickadee, that is a Titmouse, etc. I can now use the other bird ID sites with greater success.

Moral of my story, try narrowing your internet search to your specific area. Once you can identify the birds you see, you can enhance your search parameters.

I use the Sibley field guide to birds of Eastern North America. My 6 year old can even help identify birds with it, she's been using it with me since she was 3!! It's $12.00 on Amazon. Christy :)

As Zinnia did, I started studying birds that would be most likely to show up in my area. If in doubt, assume it is the most common bird that normally shows up in your location. Color, size, shape, movement (perching bird, versus clinging bird), and what the bird is eating also help. Any special markings are really helpful, like a white throat, red head, etc.

I am no expert, nowhere near it. What I have looked for when identifying a bird in my book, is the bill shape, a stripe or distinctive marking in the feathers, and the way they fly. They also describe in the book the sound, but it doesn't make sense to me!!

If you are new to birding, I recommend you sign up for Project Feeder Watch. I struggled for years with bird guides and they just didn't make sense....them wham......a few weeks into the first season with PFW, I had dozens of species nailed on sight.

You may want to find out the top ten or twenty birds likely to be found in your area. There are list abounding on the inet with that info. Then start expanding into the more isoteric birds common to your area and keep expanding.

You will soon know to which general class they belong. As for landmarks.......of course the obvious is plumage, but it shouldn't be. Feathers can change with the maturity of the bird and the season, and there can be lots of examples of deviant plumage. Good indicator, but never take it to the bank.

Look at bill shape first. It will tell you a lot about a bird's diet. You'll soon know the insect eaters from the grain eaters, from the nut eaters. Size in reference to other birds you recognise. The colour of the legs and beak. There are so many landmarks and most good birding guides will walk you through which ones are the most dependable.

If you have an iPad or iPhone you will not find a better app for birding or for that matter book than Ibird pro. I literally use it to call in birds to my house. I can call in several types easily using that app and a monster blue tooth speaker. For example I had several Pileated woodpeckers at my old house but hadnt seen one here at my new place. I put the call out several times one day and nothing. But the next morning there he was in all his glory eating worms at the base of a tree in the yard. Since then I go out every few days and call him and his mate to the yard just for a flyover and a peek. I can do the same with doves, titmouse, red bellied woodpeckers, and the list goes on. The calls are actual calls of the birds.
As for identification you just put your state and then what you seen and it will narrow your birds. Highly recommended it. It covers every detail of the bird and allows you to just select what you saw, like color size location and then it will give you results for you to pick what you saw. You can also favorite your birds to easily call them up later and make notes on when and what you saw,

You nailed it, Allen.Taylor! Excellent suggestions.

Somewhere in all my books that have been boxed up since i moved is a volume called "Naming the Birds at a Glance"...i've had it since i was 9 or 10. It lists Eastern birds by distinguishing characteristics, like a black spot, white feathers on wing, etc. I just checked on Amazon, there are used copies cheap, if you're looking for a low-cost,low-tech solution ;~) Blachely is the author.
It is about birds E of the Mississipi though.