The Sibley Guide to Birds

Average customer rating:

Sibley is so helpful!

The Sibley Guide to Birds----a must for birding .

Bird watching

THE guide to own for North American birds

A great book and a great gift

The Sibley Guide to Birds
David Allen Sibley
Manufacturer: Knopf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America)

ASIN: 0679451226

Amazon.com

More than 10 years in the making, David Sibley's Guide to Birds is a monumental achievement. The beautiful watercolor illustrations (6,600, covering 810 species in North America) and clear, descriptive text place Sibley and his work squarely in the tradition of John James Audubon and Roger Tory Peterson; more than a birdwatcher and evangelizer, he is one of the foremost bird painters and authorities in the U.S. Still, his field guide will no doubt spark debate. Unlike Kenn Kaufman's Focus Guide, Sibley's is unapologetically aimed at the converted. Beginning birders may want to keep a copy of Sibley at home as a reference, but the wealth of information will have the same effect on novices as trying to pick out a single sandpiper in a wheeling flock of thousands. The familiar yellow warbler, for instance, gets no less than nine individual illustrations documenting its geographic, seasonal, and sex variations--plus another eight smaller illustrations showing it in flight. Of course, more experienced birders will appreciate this sort of detail, along with Sibley's improvements on both Peterson and the National Geographic guide:

As in Peterson, Sibley employs a pointer system for key field markings--but additional text blurbs are included alongside the illustrations to facilitate identification.
Descriptive passages on identification are more detailed than those in most other field guides. For example, Sibley includes extensive information on the famously hard-to-distinguish hawks in the genus Accipiter (sharp-shinned, Cooper's, and northern goshawk), noting differences in leg thickness and wing beat that will be of use to more advanced birders. A section on the identification of "peeps" (small sandpipers) includes tips about seasonal molting and bill length. Confusing fall warblers, Empidonax flycatchers, and Alcids receive similar treatment.
As previously mentioned, ample space is given to illustrations that show plumage variations by age, sex, and geography within a single species. Thus, an entire page is devoted to the red-shouldered hawk and its differing appearances in the eastern U.S., Florida, and California; similarly, gulls are distinguished by age and warblers by sex.
Range maps are detailed and accurate, with breeding, wintering, and migration routes clearly depicted; rare but regular geographic occurrences are denoted by green dots.
The binding and paper stock are of exceptional quality. Despite its 544 pages, a reinforced paperback cover and sewn-in binding allow the book to be spread out flat without fear of breaking the binding.

Some birders will be put off by the book's size. Slightly larger than the National Geographic guide, it's less portable than most field guides and will likely spend more time in cars and desks than on a birder's person while in the field. For some it will be a strictly stay-at-home companion guide to consult after a field trip; others may want to have it handy in a fannypack or backpack. But regardless of how it is used, Sibley's Guide to Birds is a significant addition to any birding library. "Birds are beautiful," the author writes in the preface, "their colors, shapes, actions, and sounds are among the most aesthetically pleasing in nature." Pleasing, too, is this comprehensive guide to their identification. --Langdon Cook

Book Description

David Allen Sibley, America's most gifted contemporary painter of birds, is the author and illustrator of this comprehensive guide. His beautifully detailed illustrations—more than 6,600 in all—and descriptions of 810 species and 350 regional populations will enrich every birder's experience.

The Sibley Guide's innovative design makes it entirely user friendly. The illustrations are arranged to facilitate comparison, yet still capture the unique character of each species.

The Sibley Guide to Birds provides a wealth of new information:
—Captioned illustrations show many previously unpublished field marks and revisions of known marks
—Nearly every species is shown in flight
—Measurements include length, wingspan, and weight for every species
—Subspecies and geographic varients are covered thoroughly
—Complete voice descriptions are included for every species
—Maps show the complete distribution of every species: summer and winter ranges, migration routes, and rare occurrences

Both novice and experienced birders will appreciate these and other innovative features:
—An introductory page for each family or group of related families makes comparisons simple
—Clear and concise labels with pointers identify field marks directly
—Birds are illustrated in similar poses to make comparisons between species quick and easy
—Illustrations emphasize the way birds look in the field

With The Sibley Guide to Birds, the National Audubon Society makes the art and expertise of David Sibley available to the world in a comprehensive, handsome, easy-to-use volume that will be the indispensable identification guide every birder must own.

Customer Reviews:

Sibley is so helpful!.......2007-07-01

BACK IN THE DAYS...
when I was a young, inexperienced, birdwatcher of age 5, I found this book at a bookstore and started flipping through its pages. When my folks were ready to go, I would not leave it. So we bought the book, thinking "Was this book really worth it?" And it was.

3 YEARS LATER...
Sibley's guide is awesome! I could look at it for hours. It has got top-notch info that is suprisingly helpful for any person interested in birds. If you are a beginner, you will learn so much from it (I did!) and if you have studied birds for a while, you will get to know species better.

Go to your nearest bookstore or library to find it. It's really worth it!

The Sibley Guide to Birds----a must for birding ........2007-06-27

The Sibley Guide to Birds is necessary for anyone who has a serious or not-so-serious interest in identifying birds. The prose is well-written and easy to understand and each description gives plenty of information to help you further identify the different varieties of birds. But the most compelling feature, and one that isn't shared by any of the other bird books that I've come across, is the illustrations of each bird in all of its incarnations---from hatchling to adult and every stage of seasonal molt inbetween.

Bird watching.......2007-06-21

This book is excellent for Identifing birds.

THE guide to own for North American birds.......2007-06-18

This is THE guide to have for North American birds. It is complete, the illustrations are wonderful and very clear, and all information is included on the same page (I just wish a little more information on habitat & behavior were included). The book also includes pages illustrating birds of similar species one next to each other, which makes identification easier. The only real drawback of this book are its size and weight. It is not ideal if you are into hiking/birdwatching. If you are looking for another excellent but lighter guide to bring with you when birdwatching I recommend "All the Birds of North America" (American Bird Conservancy's Field Guide). It is complete, clear and much much smaller and lighter than Sibley. However, not only the art in Sibley is better, but there are way more illustrations of birds in different positions, of different age and or different forms (e.g. darker/lighter etc). What I often end up doing is bringing the lighter guide with me when I hike and using Sibley to check doubtful birds when I reach home.

A great book and a great gift.......2007-03-18

We've already got a copy of this book and we decided to give this copy as a gift. It was a hit. The illustrations and descriptions are great. Very easy to use.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America)

Average customer rating:

Nat Geo Bird Guide
Great Guide for Birding
Still the best in its field
Hawkeye Review
Great usable field guide

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America)
Jon L. Dunn , and Jonathan Alderfer
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
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The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America

ASIN: 0792253140
Release Date: 2006-11-07

Book Description

Birding is the fastest growing wildlife-related activity in the U.S., and even conservative estimates put the current number of U.S. birders at 50 million. According to the New York Times, some authorities predict that by 2050 there will be more than 100 million—and the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America will be the essential reference for field identification and the cornerstone of any birder's library. This is the ultimate, indispensable bird field guide—comprehensive, authoritative, portable, sturdy, and easier than ever to use.

Among the the new edition's key elements and practical improvements: Every North American species—more than 960, including a new section on accidental birds—classified according to the latest official American Ornithologists' Union checklist 4,000 full-color illustrations by the foremost bird artists at work todayand newly updated range maps that draw on the latest data New durable cover for added protection against adverse weather, plus informative quick-reference flaps that double as placemarkers New reader-friendly features like thumbtabs that make locating key sections faster and easier, and a quick-find index to direct users straight to the information they need.

Customer Reviews:

Nat Geo Bird Guide.......2007-10-03

I think this is a good field guide. I find the organization easy to use. The infomation is good and includes the regions where each bird can be found. The pictures and drawings of the birds were very thorough, ie the birds may be sitting or flying, male vs female, juveniles vs. adults, and extensive markings are identified.

I'm rather new to bird watching, so I only gave it 4 stars. I thought the more experienced watchers may have a different perspective.

Great Guide for Birding.......2007-09-07

As a novice birder, I find this book to be invaluable. Not only does it provide great photos, it also gives information that entices the reader to learn more and more. This is the text our birding instructor insists we all have in our libraries, and I certainly know why. The guide is a must for anyone interested in learning more about birds.

Still the best in its field.......2007-08-31

I've owned a previous edition of this field guide (it fell into a pond), and I think this continues as the clearest, most practical North American field guide I've found.

The text is simple and to the point. The illustrations are not always as beautiful or lifelike as the drawings or photographs in other guides, but are often much clearer, with useful distinguishing details always picked out well, and a range of plumages/postures shown when necessary. It's not posket sized, but it's not too large or heavy for a backpack or fannypack. As a practical field guide, this is my choice.

I haven't found any changes from the fourth edition that make much of a difference for me, so I wouldn't suggest buying this just as an upgrade.

Hawkeye Review.......2007-06-26

Excellent Field Guide for North American birds----I have owned numerous field guides and this one is by far the best. The bird pictures are excellent and easy to compare with the living specimens. Field notes and range maps are also excellent. A great birding guide that will not dissappoint. National Geographic continues to put out top quality publications.

Great usable field guide.......2007-05-23

Love the new National Geographic field guide! The tabs are wonderful - would be even better if there were more. The flip index in the back is even more helpful. I've used National Geo field guides for years and this is the best yet!

National Geographic Complete Birds of North America (National Geographic)

Average customer rating:

Excellent content, unacceptale binding.
Alex's bird review
Great Content, Terrible Presentation
Terrific information
Best Bird Book Available

National Geographic Complete Birds of North America (National Geographic)
Jonathan Alderfer
Manufacturer: National Geographic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0792241754
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Book Description

Essential, comprehensive, and easy to use, National Geographic Complete Book of Birds is an astonishing resource that covers every bird species in North America, as well as all the migrants that fly through. The entries are organized by family groups-an incredible 82 are included-according to the American Ornithological Union guidelines. Within a family, each separate bird entry has dozens of tips and illustrations on species' genders, age groups, behavior, habitats, nesting and feeding habits, and migration routes. Readers will also find unique features, such as:A quick-find index for the most common bird groups and a full glossaryStraightforward, accessible text by numerous birding experts, including National Geographic's resident birding consultant Jonathan AlderferHundreds of range and migration maps from renowned ornithologist Paul Lehman with National Geographic cartographersState-of-the-art, updated bird illustrations by expert artists, including Jonathan AlderferNew and original photographs from well-known bird photographers Kevin Karlson and Brian Small

Perfect for novice or experienced birders alike, National Geographic Complete Book of Birds is a definitive, must-have resource. Quite simply, there is no other volume like it.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent content, unacceptale binding........2007-07-01

This book has excellent content, but the first printing had the stiff binding that wouldn't allow the book to open fully, making it very difficult to read. The second printing has a more flexible spine where the pages are just stuck to it. After four months of very casual use, the pages began falling out. This is the poorest bound book that I have ever seen.

Alex's bird review.......2007-07-01

Birdwatchers,hello! I am an 8-year old birder. If you love birds and need some good information 'Nat Geo's Complete Birds of North America' has great info on behavior, identification and other important bird stuff! It is the first book I look at if my family or a friend describes a bird they saw today.

I reccomend this highly, and you can buy it at almost every bookstore or library.

Great Content, Terrible Presentation.......2006-06-10

The single most noticeable thing about this book is how poorly it was manufactured. The spine seems to be made from steel making it impossible to ever fully open the book and an exercise in frustration to read. This problem is greatly exacerbated by the fact that the text runs way down into the deep dark recesses of the crevasse created by the horrible binding. The actaully printing however is very good. The pictures are clear with good color and the paper is of high quality. This makes it even more of a shame that the binding is so bad.

The actual content of the book is quite good. Most of the illustrations were taken from the National Geographic Field Guide as were the maps. The maps have been increased in size which is a definite help. Every species accepted by the ABA is covered with its own write-up. Not surprisingly, some of the rarer species receive much less of a write-up then the regular ones.

In the end I believe that the poor production qualities fatally flaw the book and can only recommend to the bird book obsessed like myself.

Terrific information.......2006-03-07

Well written, good information, well organized. Not a field guide but one of the best reference books I've seen.

Best Bird Book Available.......2006-03-02

In typical National Geographic fashion, this book is excellent. It is extremely comprehensive with outstanding artwork. This is a must have for anyone who enjoys birding. You should also buy the National Geographic Field Guide to Birds of North America as an easy to carry companion.

Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America

Average customer rating:

Love this book
great pictures, makes it easy to identify birds
A book in the hand
Great indexing--especially for beginners
Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America

Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
Kenn Kaufman
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Turtleback

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ASIN: 0618574239

Amazon.com

World-renowned birder Kenn Kaufman addresses a long-running paradox of bird field guides with his Focus Guide. While beginning birdwatchers prefer photographic guides like those by Donald Stokes, the physical traits that make identification easier are more readily discerned in the idealized paintings of illustrative guides like those by Roger Tory Peterson and National Geographic. Kaufman's groundbreaking work combines the best of both approaches by digitally enhancing photographic images to show the characteristics that are sometimes not apparent in photographs.

Some other distinguishing features include:

The guide is organized by bird family groupings rather than strict taxonomic classification; this is a feature that will appeal especially to beginners.
Text descriptions and range maps for each species appear on the page facing the plate of respective bird images.
Important field marks are highlighted.
Color-coded tabs identify each grouping of birds (waders, warblers, sparrows, etc.) for quick thumb indexing.

Kaufman's efforts follow the auspicious tradition of Roger Tory Peterson, whose portable field guide system was the first of its kind to meet the needs of the average birdwatcher. "It's the guide I've always wanted," says Kaufman, "and I suspect most birders will feel the same way."

Book Description

In 2000 Houghton Mifflin first published the Kaufman Focus Guide to the Birds of North America. Critically acclaimed for its innovative design, the Kaufman guide began introducing a new generation to birding. In 2005, this new Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America is now the most up-to-date field guide, including dozens of changes by the American Ornithologists" Union in official names of birds; the addition of new species to reflect the latest scientific discoveries; and dozens of updated range maps. Additional information helps beginning birdwatchers get started, all in the same compact format that has made this guide the easiest to use for fast identification in the field.

Customer Reviews:

Love this book.......2007-08-22

We use this all the time to identify the birds around us and when we travel. Great pictures!

great pictures, makes it easy to identify birds.......2007-06-12

we were replacing a golden field guide to birds that got dunked in the water....this one is great! Sturdy binding, good indexing, great pictures, I find it very easy to use. We enjoy identifying the birds around our home in Minnesota but are not "birdwatchers". I would recommend it highly.

A book in the hand.......2007-04-02

Kaufman's book is beautifully organized and illustrated. The descriptions are brief as befits a book intended as a pocketable field guide but the salient points for identification are presented clearly. It is not absolutely complete for the sake of brevity but the species omitted are not very likely to be encountered. If needed a local area supplement could be used. It serves its purpose very well indeed.

Great indexing--especially for beginners.......2007-03-26

My 7 year old has recently become fascinated with birds. We had a little backyard guide, but it just wasn't enough. I went to the bookstore to look at the different guides available & really loved the way this book is indexed. In the front, you see pictures of groups of birds, the name of the group & a color band--the book section has the matching color band.

It's really easy for my daughter to see a bird, glance over the first groups of pictures in the front index, pick the group that it looks like, then find the colored section in the book & find the exact bird! There isn't a ton of info no the birds, mostly just region info, food, call, etc--but pictures include males, females & juveniles--which is very nice--the maps are also very clear, so it's easy to see if it might be in your area.

We love this book & highly recommend it to beginners who don't know much about birds & their groups, etc!

For further information on the birds, we also bought the DK (Dorling Kindersley) Guide to Birds of North America--we bought the Eastern, but they also make a Western. It's 24.99 at the book store, but you can get it for less than 10 here on amazon--it goes into great detail about each bird, has tons of color pictures of the birds, their nests, eggs, babies, etc--very educational--we will use it to learn more about the birds once we spot them in our Kaufman guide.

We also ordered, on a whim & because it was only 83 cents on amazon, The Complete Birdhouse Book--The Easy Guide to Attracting Nesting Birds by Donald & Lillian Stokes. When it arrived I was overjoyed with how wonderful this book is--it is full color, talks in-depth about the bird life-cycle with full color pictures & specifically what different birds need in a home--and thus, how to construct it! What beginner ever knew the hole size, hole to floor measurement & inside dimensions & total height were so important--not to mention where it is placed & what type of things to leave in your yard for nesting material! Also, how to control predators & pests & other useful information. Full color pictures again & highly educational---a good companion for anyone wanting to attract birds to their yard!

Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America.......2007-03-21

By my side constantly. My old guide was over 10 years old & used in MD & NJ. Now in AL I can start again .. the pictures are vivid. Great detail on attacting birds and easy for me to identify the new ones here in a new local.

Can start again on listing the dates I see my NEW birds. Glad I bought this one.

Identify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges

Average customer rating:

Very educational !!!!!
A Book for all Birders
Identify Yourself
Well worth it, and great value as well.
Excellent book for Beginner and Intermediate Birders

Identify Yourself: The 50 Most Common Birding Identification Challenges
Bill Thompson III
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Field Guide to Advanced Birding: Birding Challenges and How to Approach Them (Peterson Field Guides(R))

ASIN: 0618514694

Book Description

Written by the experts at Bird Watcher's Digest, Identify Yourself gives beginning and intermediate bird watchers a helping hand with some of the most confounding identification challenges -- birds that are commonly encountered but difficult to tell apart. Combining clear, easy-to-understand text with beautiful illustrations that show key field marks, Identify Yourself is the solution to identifying many of North America's hard-to-distinguish birds..

Customer Reviews:

Very educational !!!!!.......2007-01-19

As a bird fan, I really wanted to get this to help me learn as much as possible about feathered friends, and it sure does deliver! One disappointment however, it left out some species that summer here in the last frontier!!Other than that, this is a great book! Good for yourself,or as a gift for that birder you know!!!

A Book for all Birders.......2007-01-03

I discovered this book by accident and found it very useful. I am a relative novice at birding and this book has really helped make me a better birder. The Top 20 Rules of the Bird Identification Game make this book well worth the price. But it isn't just for beginners. I bought a copy for a friend who is a very accomplished birder and she has found it very useful in identifying gulls. For me the sparrows are difficult and this book has made it easier. I can actually identify many of those LBJ's (little brown jobs).

Identify Yourself.......2006-08-31

I've been looking for a book like this for a while. I highly recommend it to anyone that needs a little bird identification help and is confused on similar looking species. It offers many useful tips and a lot of great advice. This is not the book, however, if you're looking to identify flycatchers or specific shorebirds. Besides that, though, this is a fantastic book.

Well worth it, and great value as well........2006-05-22

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to get into the details of bird ID. Pitfalls and difficult problems are emphasized. For example, there is a whole chapter on how to distinguish the immature bald eagle from the golden eagle. Some of those tricky problems seem to be glossed over in the usual field manual, only to present unexpected difficulty later. This is not an introductory text, but it is an easy and entertaining read. Well worth it, and different than the vast majority of texts.

Excellent book for Beginner and Intermediate Birders.......2006-02-25

This is an excellent book for sorting out and identifying those tricky birds that are difficult to distinguish from one another. It is aimed at beginners and intermediates, but still provides helpful points for advanced birders. Julie Zickafoose does an beautiful job at the illustrations, and Bill Thompson clearly outlines the differences between similar species. This is a good book to own if you are having troubles with identifications.

Peterson Reference Guides: Gulls of the Americas (Peterson Reference Guides)

Average customer rating:

Simply the best gull guide.
The best book on gulls EVER!
Premier Gull Guide
Valuable information but may be hard to digest
Wow! So much information, so many pictures.

Peterson Reference Guides: Gulls of the Americas (Peterson Reference Guides)
Jon Dunn , and Steve N.G. Howell
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618726411

Book Description

Covering the thirty-six species of gulls that occur in North and South America, this unparalleled resource includes detailed identification information for the many plumages gulls display as they mature. More than just a field guide, this large and ambitious volume is the definitive reference work on gulls of the Americas. A group of birds that is popular among birdwatchers, gulls can be frustrating to identify, as they can take up to four years to mature, with different plumages each year. With 1,160 photographs illustrating these plumages, and descriptions by two of North America’s top gull experts, this new reference guide is the authoritative word on gulls.

Customer Reviews:

Simply the best gull guide........2007-09-11

This is a heavy book, so it will not be practical to carry as a field guide. Other than that, this is by far the most up to date, best researched guide to Gulls that you will find today.

I am an avid bird watcher and hopeless collector of bird guides, and this one sets the bar for a family specific guide. Outstanding photos and precise text make this guide a must have for any serious watcher of Gulls.

The best book on gulls EVER!.......2007-08-24

This is the best book on gulls ever! There are at least ten full color, extremely detailed photos for each species. On the captions for the photo it names the bird and gives what state of its life it is at, it describes the photo of the bird, and it gives the location, and date of the photo and the photographers name. On some photos there is a gull in the background and so that adds a little test to the book.

The species accounts are exquisite, and the range maps are amazingly detailed.

I recommend this book to every birder! Especially those of you who wish to go looking for rarities.

This book is a must for beginner birders and experts too!

Premier Gull Guide.......2007-08-05

This book is great for gull fanciers; it's exhaustively researched and presented but heavy to use in the field.

Valuable information but may be hard to digest.......2007-07-07

"Gulls of the Americas" is packed with information, but this book isn't much fun. I suspect only hard-core gull watchers will want to use this book.

There is a very useful introductory section, and the authors encourage their readers to study the introduction before moving on to the rest of the book, but I suspect many readers will find their eyes glazing over before they get very far. The main part of the book is divided into a 251 page section of photos and a 192 page section of species accounts. The photos do a good job of illustrating the various plumages of the gulls, but the photos are small, and aren't really a lot of fun to look at. The species accounts are thorough and clearly written but rather dry. The photos and species accounts are separate, and it can be awkward to go back and forth between them. I expect this book will come in handy when I come across gulls that are difficult to identify, but I wish the people who put together the book had made it more user-friendly.

Wow! So much information, so many pictures........2007-06-10

Gull identification is complicated and difficult. This book is jam packed full of many, many details about Gull identification. It has exceeded my expectations with its wealth of information and excellent photos. The authors are clearly experts and have dedicated a significant portion of their lives to the sometimes esoteric and always intriguing world of gull identification. The book also provides an excellent introduction (which is a must read if you are to get the most out of it) that gives a background on the details of molt cycles, feather tract terms, etc...

This book is not a field guide, it is truly a reference guide as the title clearly states. It is a large format hardcover (with dust jacket) book printed on high quality glossy paper. This is a book that you study at home and maybe keep in the car as a reference.

In summary it is a worthy addition to any birders library and a book that would make its namesake (that is Roger not Rodger) Tory Peterson proud.

Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource for Identifying North American Birds

Average customer rating:

Great companion guide...
A good companion is hard to find
Poorly Cut Book
It is Essential
Field guide to Pete Dunne's writing tone

Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource for Identifying North American Birds
Peter Dunne
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0618236481

Book Description

In this book, bursting with more information than any field guide could hold, the well-known author and birder Pete Dunne introduces readers to the "Cape May School," or GISS, method of identification, which focuses on a bird holistically, giving more weight to the general impression of the bird than to specific field marks. After determining the most likely possibilities by considering such factors as habitat and season, the birder uses characteristics such as size, shape, behavior, flight pattern, and vocalizations to identify a bird. The book provides an arsenal of additional hints and helpful clues to guide a birder when, even after a review of a field guide, the identification still hangs in the balance. This supplement to field guides shares the knowledge and skills that expert birders bring to identification challenges.

Customer Reviews:

Great companion guide..........2007-07-07

This is a wonderful addition to The Peterson Field Guide - greater in-depth information regarding habitat and plumage.

A good companion is hard to find.......2007-02-24

This field guide companion looks stark at first, with no pictures, but that is part of the point. With many fine field guides available, this is meant to supplement them, and in no way replace them. The necessarily brief descriptions of a field guide are nicely fleshed out in this volume, which is best suited to browsing after returning from the field, or for thumbing through when you can't get out into the field. The best addition to my stay-at-home birding library since Ehrlich, Dobkin & Wheye's "The Birder's Handbook."

Poorly Cut Book.......2007-02-23

Peter Dunnes unique comments, perspective & observations make this book interesting to read yet very informative. His approach to identification gives you additional yet simplistic help.

I did not look at the condition of the book until the return time had expired. I was disappointed that the last section of the Index was cut improperly. I could not find a contact email to complain. The book should be replaced. If you read this I hope you will arrange to replace the book.

It is Essential.......2007-01-19

This companion to my field guides has no pictures other than word pictures. It uses GISS (General Impression of Size and Shape) style of birding. Why is this important I can give a recent example. Here in New York City we had a Common Loon on the Reservoir. One birder reported a male and a female Common Loon, but was incorrect. It turned out to be the Common Loon and a Double Crested Cormorant. The difference was very obvious by using GISS but the mistaken birder was using feather birding and the bird was far away. This is a very useful guide. I would ask readers to read a sample page and decide for themselfs

Field guide to Pete Dunne's writing tone.......2006-12-16

Excellent and valuable book, no doubt. And Pete Dunne is a pretty nice guy (I've birded with him).

However...his writing *does* have this smarmy tone. Yes, he probably *does* know everything, but his writing makes you sure you understand that. Hard to pick a specific page since I don't have the book in front of me. But pick almost any page -- through Amazon's random thingie? -- and you may see what I mean. However, he does manage to slyly insult two famous, but dead, birders in the introduction! Nice. (NOT)

In addition, will someone puh-leeze tell Pete Dunne that his continued use of the word "noisome" to describe loud birds is wrong, wrong, wrong?

The word means "offensive," and generally implies malodorous or stinky. It does NOT mean loud!

My guess: No one dares edit his work for fear they'll disturb his distinctive know-it-all style. Sigh.

P.S. I found at least one factual error. In New England, at least, Yellow Warblers are generally found singing high in trees, though rarely at the top, not "close to the ground" as Dunne has it.

P.P.S. To correct a previous post, this book is not meant as a field guide but as an added resource that covers stuff field guides cannot show you.

Butterflies through Binoculars: The East A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Eastern North America (Butterflies Through Binoculars Series)

Average customer rating:

Butterfly Photography
Identifying butterflies
A must have book!
looking at butterflies from a distance
Butterflies through Binoculars

Butterflies through Binoculars: The East A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Eastern North America (Butterflies Through Binoculars Series)
Jeffrey Glassberg
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Similar Items:

Dragonflies through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America (Butterflies and Others Through Binoculars Field Guide Series)
Caterpillars of Eastern North America: A Guide to Identification and Natural History (Princeton Field Guides)
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Butterflies of North America
Butterflies through Binoculars: The West A Field Guide to the Butterflies of Western North America (Butterflies and Others Through Binoculars Field Guide Series.)

ASIN: 0195106687

Book Description

This magnificent field guide greatly expands on Butterflies Through Binoculars: The Boston-New York-Washington Region--identified by Defenders of Wildlife Magazine as "the first to focus on netless butterflying" and called " a clear winner" by the Audubon Naturalist. Glassberg here shows us how to find, identify, and enjoy all of the butterflies native to the eastern half of the United States and southeastern Canada. This guide: *Combines the immediacy and vividness of actual photographs of living butterflies with the traditional field guide format *Emphasizes conservation over collection *Includes 630 color photographs, arranged on 72 color plates, of butterflies in the wild *Provides adjacent color maps that show where each species occurs in a given locality and for how much of the year *Supplies entirely new field marks for butterfly identification *Demonstrates how to identify subjects by way of the key characteristics butterflies are likely to display in their natural settings *Shows how species can be recognized both from above and below *Explains how to differentiate between males and females. For butterfly enthusiasts, for bird watchers who want to add a new dimension to their hobby, for anyone who is simply interested in exploring the wilds of their own back yard, this new field guide offers hours of delightful help and instruction.

Customer Reviews:

Butterfly Photography.......2007-10-01

A must book for butterfly enthusiasts. Arrived on time, and in great shape. Thanks!

Identifying butterflies.......2007-09-04

This field guide is easy to use and very helpful for beginners. It was recommended to us by the North America Butterfly Assn.

A must have book!.......2006-07-29

Glassberg's book is a "must have" for anyone interested in butterflies, whether they are a novice or an expert themselves. Glassberg has assembled a collection of stunning photographs of butterflies commonly found in the eastern part of the country. Each photo contains enough detail, that even the rank amateur can easily identify the butterfly that just "passed by." Glassberg also gives side by side comparisons of similar looking butterflies, carefully pointing out the minute differences most may miss. He provides a calendar of when the species is most likely to be seen, areas where they tend to gather and other pertinent information. The book also gives basic background information on butterflies from their life cycle stages to host plants. The book is sized just right to toss into a napsack or car's glove compartment.

looking at butterflies from a distance.......2005-09-10

this book helped me with recogizing the butterflies coming in to my garden where i can sit enjoy garden and the butterflies

Butterflies through Binoculars.......2005-09-02

The images are clear and close-up; just what I wanted.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America

Average customer rating:

better then the audabon
Field Guide to Birds of Eastern & Central America
Excellent Gift, great resource
A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America
Great bird guide

A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Birdwatching | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

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A Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern and Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America
A Field Guide to Wildflowers : Northeastern and North-Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)
A Field Guide to Reptiles & Amphibians of Eastern & Central North America (Peterson Field Guide Series)
A Field Guide to Eastern Trees (Peterson Field Guides)

ASIN: 0395740479

Book Description

Roger Tory Peterson had already made his mark with his innovative field guide when he conducted DDT research during World War II. His friend and fellow naturalist Rachel Carson built on these efforts and eventually wrote Silent Spring, a landmark text that, along with Peterson's field guide, jump-started the modern environmental movement. By combining the tireless observation of a scientist with the imaginative skills of an artist and writer, Peterson created a field guide that Robert Bateman, in his foreword to the fifth edition, says was the doorway for millions of people into the wonderland of natural history. The Peterson Identification System has been used in the more than fifty books that make up the Peterson Field Guide series. Peterson's magnum opus, now in its fifth edition, created the trail for countless field guides to follow. They are still following year by year, but his is the standard by which all other field guides are judged. On the morning of July 28, 1996, Roger Peterson was painting his final bird plate. He died peacefully in his sleep later that day. It is fitting that his final worka culmination of more than sixty years of observing, painting, and writingshould be this one, a revision of the guide that started his legacy.

Customer Reviews:

better then the audabon.......2007-09-30

The North Carolina bird watcher's assoc. said it was about the best and I believe they are right.

Field Guide to Birds of Eastern & Central America.......2007-09-27

Best book I ever found on birds in Eastern and Central America. Excellent color photos.

Excellent Gift, great resource.......2007-08-23

I love the peterson's bird guides, they are much better than other birding guides. I bought this one for my friend so we could compare life lists.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America.......2007-08-09

This is one of the best birding books for beginners as well as expert birders. I have had my field guide for years and just recently gave my daughter a copy so she would stop calling me and asking me to identify birds over the phone to her.

Great bird guide.......2007-08-05

I like this bird guide. It is very helpful in pointing out specific markings/traits similar birds have. This way I can decipher who I'm looking at. I like the maps that indicate where the birds summer, winter or stay year-round. Most drawings have pictures of juveniles. One of the things I would have liked to seen is more juvenile pictures as many juvenile birds visit here in early to mid-summer. I wasn't able to readily recognize them due to similar body types to other types of birds and their plumage being so differnt from their parents. Another thing I would have liked to seen in the guide is what the birds eat at different times in their lives and at different times of year. This would help in locating and identifying. However, the guide does tell what type of areas the birds live in. Overall, I really like the guide. It is durable, the illustrations of the birds are very detailed and it is informative.

Good Birders Don't Wear White: 50 Tips From North America's Top Birders

Average customer rating:

Not a how-to book, but a delightful read with wonderful illustrations
Good Birders Don't Wear White

Good Birders Don't Wear White: 50 Tips From North America's Top Birders

Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Why Don't Woodpeckers Get Headaches: And Other Answers to Bird Questions You Know You Want to Ask
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Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource for Identifying North American Birds

ASIN: 0618756426

Book Description

Alight and fun collection of birding advice, with contributions from Kenn Kaufman, David Sibley, Pete Dunne, Tim Gallagher, Don and Lillian Stokes, Bill Thompson III, and forty-four others. Original essays from the biggest names in birding dispense advice to birders of every level, on topics ranging from feeding birds and cleaning binoculars to pishing and pelagic birding. Whether satirizing bird snobs or relating the traditions and taboos of the birding culture, each essay is chock-full of helpful information and entertaining as well. Pete Dunne’s lively foreword kicks off the collection of essays, which are organized by category. Half of the essays are illustrated with delightful black-and-white line drawings by artist Robert Braunfield.

Customer Reviews:

Not a how-to book, but a delightful read with wonderful illustrations.......2007-08-15

If you're looking for an encyclopedic how-to book on birding, this is not it. Rather, these essays by some of the top names in the business are reflections on birdwatching experiences with some lessons derived from those often hilarious experiences thrown in. There are some useful tips to be gleaned along the way, no doubt, but what you will really enjoy is discovering the sense of common experience with the writers even if you haven't been to these locales. I found myself chuckling throughout and thinking, "Oh, boy. Yep, that's happened to me." Or, "I've seen that too many times. When will people learn?" It's a good refresher on the do's and don't's, and a refreshing read on a wonderful avocation.

I can't say enough about the illustrations--delightful, amusing, creative, and funny, for starters. They are an excellent addition to the essays. I hope we see more of Mr. Braunfield's work in other books soon. I'm giving the book 5 stars just for the illustrations alone.

Lastly, this would make a great gift for the avid or amateur birder or birdwatcher in your life. You know the ones...they can be found with binoculars at the ready, decked out in white...or not, sometimes on private lands, sometimes on national forests and grasslands. What are those? Read The Forest Service and the Greatest Good: A Centennial History and see.

Good Birders Don't Wear White.......2007-04-25

Imagine someone, or a group, deciding that it would be a great idea to have a book containing essays by all of the really good contributors to the literature about birds. This is that book. There are fifty essays. The contributors have published books, written articles, edited magazines, photographed birds; in short, they are the cream of the crop. Several are represented on my bookshelves. The cartoonish illustrations in the book are fantastic and match wonderfully well with the text.

The problem with the book is that the useable information content is very low. Regardless of whether you are a beginning birder, intermediate, or expert; you will find a small amount of useable information here while the rest you either knew or didn't want to know. Part of the problem is that there was too little space to develop a thought. Take 261 pages, subtract space for 24 full-page illustrations, take away enough lines for long paragraphs giving the awards and accomplishments of each writer, and provide a lot of white space. Divide that by fifty and you don't allow a writer room to say much.

On the other hand, every reader will find something of value. The last two essays caused me to reflect on what it takes to be a good birder. And then, there are those delightful illustrations.

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