For hunting small, fast, close birds, the two most commonly recommended shotgun chokes are Improved Cylinder and Modified chokes.

Quick Scoop Answer

  • Improved Cylinder (IC) :
    • More open choke that throws a wider pattern, making it forgiving on fast-flushing birds at close range (roughly out to about 20–25 yards).
* Excellent for quail, woodcock, ruffed grouse, and close decoying ducks where you need a quick mount and fast shot on a bird that may zigzag or erupt from cover.
  • Modified :
    • Slightly tighter pattern than IC, keeping pellets together a bit longer and adding effective range out toward roughly 30 yards or so, while still being versatile for small to medium birds.
* A good choice when shots might start close but can stretch slightly, such as small ducks or slightly longer upland shots over fields or more open cover.

Why These Two Work Well

  • Small, fast birds at close range are often hit (or missed) in a rush, so a more open pattern gives you a forgiving margin of error.
  • IC covers the very close, snap‑shooting opportunities, while Modified backs you up if birds flare or hold a bit farther out, giving dense enough patterns for clean kills without being as unforgiving as Full choke.
  • Many experienced hunters treat an IC/Modified combo (or just IC if you have a single barrel and mostly very close shots) as a go‑to setup for small, quick birds in thick cover or over decoys.

Practical Setup Ideas

  • Over/Under or Side‑by‑Side :
    • First barrel: Improved Cylinder for the closest, fastest flush.
    • Second barrel: Modified for birds that hesitate or climb a little before the second shot.
  • Single‑Barrel Gun (pump or semi‑auto) :
    • If most of your shots are under about 25 yards in tight cover: run Improved Cylinder.
    • If your shots are often 25–30+ yards in more open country: run Modified as a good all‑around compromise.

In short, if you are wondering which two shotgun chokes are best for hunting small fast close birds , the classic answer is Improved Cylinder and Modified ; they balance wide, forgiving patterns up close with enough density to finish birds that drift just a bit farther than you expect.

TL;DR: Improved Cylinder for very close, snap shots; Modified for a bit more range. Running those two together (or choosing one based on your typical distance) is widely recommended for small, fast, close birds.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.