Reviews (1)

Great Intro Level Book
This book features wonderful photography and is a great starter book for Southern California Bird Watchers. I started using it about a year ago and was happy to find 90% of the birds in my backyard could be easily identified in this book. It also features helpful descriptions and maps. Happy birdwatching! ... Read more

Book Description

The Stokes Beginner's Guides, intended for beginning nature lovers of all ages, offer a wealth of identification and behavior information in a portable pocket-sized format. Illustrated throughout with full-color photographs and range maps, each Beginner's Guide is organized according to the Stokes' easy-to-use and popular color-tab system. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Yes, shorebirds ARE beautiful!
Don and Lillian Stokes have taken one of the most difficult-to-identify groups of birds and made the task of differentiating them exponentially easier. Birders of all levels will appreciate this user-friendly, pocket sized book. Stokes Beginner's Guide To Shorebirds is a visually stunning book packed with spectacular photos of all the important shorebird plumages. Characteristic of all of Stokes books, the presentation is logical, clear, and straightforward, with information covering all North American breeding shorebirds.

The easy-to-use color tab system, which groups shorebirds by size and bill length, makes it simple to look up and identify a shorebird. The learning pages with photographic comparison of similar species, helpful comparative silhouettes, and revolutionary method of identification by shape, all will give birders a firm grasp of learning shorebirds.

In addition, the amount of information is impressive, including superb migration maps that show where and when each species can be expected during spring and fall migrations. No previous book has ever graphically shown these birds' migration paths; instead, until now the only way to get this information would have been to wade through countless publications and laboriously extract the relevant details. The Stokes Beginner's Guide to Shorebirds shows me, at a glance, which shorebirds pass through my area and when I should see them.

Beginners will now have an excellent tool to help them begin to master this exciting group of birds. Intermediate and advanced birders will use the beautiful photos of all important plumages, extensive information, and innovative maps to add to their knowledge of shorebirds. Anyone with even a passing interest in shorebirds will want to own this impressive book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good Guide to Birding Sites of Japan
This book gives detailed coverage to birdwatching sites in most of Japan, particularly Hokkaido and Honshu. Kyushu and the southern islands (Amami, Okinawa, Ryukyu) also receive decent coverage, but lovely, off-the-beaten-track Shikoku is completely overlooked for some reason.
Apart from the usual info on species, trails, access and acccomodation, there is a lengthy chapter on coping with Japanese culture.
Despite the fact that it was published years ago, I would certainly recommend taking it, as Japan is probably the most stable country in Asia, where even prices have changed very little over the years.

Guess it's not what I had hoped for...
I bought this book because it was the only affordable bird book of Japan that I could afford. I guess that I was expecting a bird guide that helped me identify species etc., something like a field guide. This is not such a book. If you already have identification books, or are already able to identify east asian birds, then this book will tell you the hot spots and help you plan a birding trip. It's got maps, useful vocab, and lots of other information about the surrounding areas of some good birding locations. Just don't expect any help with identification.
Since I don't get to travel a lot, I don't think I'll ever get a chance to use this book, and I'm still at a loss when it comes to identifying local birds. ... Read more

Book Description

A land of incredible natural resources, the South American continent is rich in plant and animal species. Among birds alone, over 3,100 species are either resident or migrant. Birds are some of South America's treasures and also one of its most endangered resources. Hence the need for a descriptive record of South American birds that will serve both professional and amateur bird students and encourage conservation of these magnificent species. Although South American birds elicit much popular and scientific interest, they have never been completely or satisfactorily described and cataloged in a single, published source. The Birds of South America, projected to be a four-volume work, thus fills a critical void. Starting from a museum approach, the authors have examined specimens of each subspecies, comparing them visually and trying to discern the patterns in their plumage variation, both intra- and inter-specifically. They take a new look at bird systematics, reassessing relationships in light of new information. Perhaps most important, they combine this review and analysis with extensive field observations to give an accurate, incisive portrait of the birds in nature. At a time when rapid development is devastating millions of acres of tropical habitat in South America, this record of an endangered resource becomes crucial. If the birds and other plants and animals of South America are to be saved, they must first be known and appreciated. The Birds of South America is a major step in that direction. Volume I includes the Jays and Swallows; Wrens, Thrushes, and Allies; Vireos and Wood-warblers; Tanagers, Icterids, and Finches. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

How could I have done without it?
This really is a must for everyone who's seriously interested in South-American birds. The colour plates are up to Tudor's high standards. I even managed to identify some birds I saw 2 years ago. This surely was not due to the (poor) quality of my notes, but to the excellent quality of the plates.
The text is as clear as can be with good discription of the species, accompanied by clear distribution maps.
There are only two drawbacks:
- they did manage to illustrate "only" about 60% of the species (this cost them a star),
- we have to wait very long for the two remaining volumes.

The "South American`s Birders Bible"!
Even if you`re not a bird lover, you should find this book a very interesting one. The high quality of the descriptions and, of course, the plates, makes this book an essential tool for every one who wants to now more about these lovely animals. These two volumes may be the best bird guide ever made(at least for South American Passerines), and all I can say is that I can`t wait to see the next two volumes(Nonpasserines Land Birds and Aquatic Birds). The book describes even the Subspecies, and each description includes the bird`s behaviour. Don`t miss this one ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

Packed with fine details any avid birder will relish
This exquisite guide will find a home in any public library and many a personal library: it covers over 300 species of raptors, blending the latest natural history facts and scientific research with photos and details of the birds in nature. From population and distribution statistics to accounts of items recovered from nests and nesting habits, Raptor Almanac is packed with fine details any avid birder will relish.

A clarification from the author
Potential buyers need to be aware that this volume is a reissue of my 1996 book "Raptors: The Birds of Prey," which the publisher has released with a new title and cover art, but with no changes to the content. I am embarrassed to see that they have promoted it as though it was a new book; while I'm pleased the book is again in print, I believe they should have been more forthright in making clear that it is a reissue instead of an entirely new work -- Scott Weidensaul. (Ignore the star rating, please -- the review would not post without it.) ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

"Hawaii Birds" Card -- Useful But Sad
This 22"x8.5" "Pocket Naturalist" card folds into six two-sided panels of about 3.5"x8.5". It's copyrighted 2003. Overall, I think it serves the purpose stated in its subtitle: "An Introduction to Familiar Species." The paintings are fairly easy to grasp, both common and scientific names are given, maximum lengths are indicated, and some birds have helpful notes (e.g., for ring-necked duck, "bill has a white ring"). I count 142 different species or subspecies. The last panel has 22 "birding hotspots and sanctuaries" on 4 islands. It's not intended for serious birding, but birdwatchers may wish to carry it to show non-birders what they are supposed to be seeing.

If I could advise the author and Waterford Press, I would suggest: (1) Update the common names and species according to the "Checklist of the Birds of Hawaii - 2002" that is available on the Hawaii Audubon Society Web site. For example: "Warbling Silverbill (Lonchura malabarica) has been changed to African Silverbill (Lonchura cantans)." (2) Add more native Hawaiian names for the birds. (3) Delete birds that are fairly common all over the U.S. (e.g., mallards, rock doves [pigeons], and house sparrows). (4) Add a note or code to indicate which of the remaining species are endangered or threatened.* For example, Hawaiian Goose (Nene), Hawaiian Duck (Koloa), Hawaii Petrel ('Ua'u), Newell's Shearwater ('A'o), Hawaiian Coot ('Alae Ke'oke'o), Black-Necked Stilt (the subspecies listed is the Hawaiian Stilt, A'eo), Peregrine Falcon, Hawaiian Hawk ('Io), Hawaiian Crow ('Alala), 'Oloma'o, Kama'o, Puaiohi, Kauai 'O'o, 'O'u, Palila, Maui Parrotbill, Nukupu'u, 'Akepa, Hawaii Creeper, Oahu Creeper, 'Akohekohe, and Po'ouli are endemic birds that fall into this category. (5) Add the 'Oma'o (Hawai'i Thrush, Myadestes obscurus) and 'Akikiki (Kauai Creeper, Oreomystis bairdi), which are non-threatened endemic* Hawaiian birds found on the Big Island and Kauai respectively. Also add the endemic 'Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis), whose Hawai'i and Kaua'i subspecies are not threatened.

Buy this from Amazon.com!

* BTW, it's sad that so few Hawaiian birds that are endemic (i.e., that evolved and breed in Hawaii but nowhere else) are neither threatened nor endangered. Besides the 'Oma'o, 'Akikiki, and 'Elepaio mentioned above, the ones on the card are: Hawaiian Noddy (Anous minutus melanogenys, native name Noio, a subspecies of Black Noddy); Hawaiian Owl (Pueo); 'Anianiau; various 'Amakihi's; Maui 'Alauahio (Paroreomyza montana newtoni, a.k.a. Maui Creeper); 'Akeke'e; 'I'iwi; and 'Apapane. The other birds neither threatened nor endangered are human-introduced "aliens," indigenous (i.e., arrived and established themselves on their own), or just visitors.

Great for travel
I recently went on a trip to Hawaii, and, having an interest in birds, I wanted to be able to take an identification guide with me that wouldn't take up too much room. Being a fold-out, laminated thing made out of card-stock, this fit the bill perfectly. I was able to keep it in my purse and didn't have to worry about it getting crushed or ruined by spills. It does have pictures of all the most common birds, as well as their length and some (but not all, which was a bummer) have images of both sexes which is nice. I was lucky enough to spot zebra and spotted doves, a resplendent male red junglefowl (don't let the name fool you, it looks just like your garden-variety chicken), a red-crested cardinal, red-vented bulbul, house finch, common fairy tern, and several others. I didn't get into the rainforest while I was there, but if I did, this guide would come with me. It is a wonderful buy, and even if you don't agree, it's only six dollars. One thing I would like is that there was a little more information about the birds, but this is after all just a pocket guide. ... Read more

Amazon.com

A guide full of sensible and easy to follow advice for gardeners in all parts of the country who want to experience the magic of hummingbirds in their garden. Hummingbird Gardens provides specific recommendations for the best varieties of flowers to plant in order to attract the elusive creatures, while integrating gardening ideas and designs with an informative introduction to the general habits, including migrating and nesting patterns, of hummingbirds. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A wealth of informative text and spectacular photos.
Long, long ago - experience taught me the smoothest way through life is to "never make recommendations to anybody about anything." Sam and Ihave learned to qualify those don't-miss-it things encompassing: greatplaces to eat, visit, read, watch, etc. For example, we now say, "Thefood was great the night we were there," or "You would love themovie if you enjoy such-and-such."

With all of those lessons inmind, I'm unequivocally saying, "Get your hands on Hummingbird Gardensas soon as possible." I don't think the co-authors, Nancy Newfield andBarbara Nielsen, have yet realized the true scope of what they haveaccomplished.

I knew Nancy was working on a book with somebody, butthought it was strictly for the southern Louisiana area. When Sam broughthome my unexpected copy, it took only a few minutes of browsing for me totell him something like, "Good lord, this thing is really, really good- and I mean good!" That's saying a lot for a person who is not easilyimpressed, and the more I read, the better it got.

Somehow, Nancy andBarbara truly did it all in Hummingbird Gardens by combining a wealth ofwell written, informative text with spectacular photographs of both thehummingbirds and the flowering plants so loved by these creatures. Thebeautiful birds and blossoming plants are well covered in their ownseparate chapters.

At the same time though, the content flows smoothlyinto pertinent regional information for those in: California, The PacificNorthwest, The Southwest, The Western Mountains, The Southeast and The Eastand Midwest. They so skillfully blend bird and bloom with helpful tips andenthusiasts' experiences that you will want to read on and on about otherhummers in other gardens!

As far as I can determine, they left no stoneunturned. All who open its covers will soon learn to appreciate theinclusion of subjects often left out of other publications. This one didnot forget such things as: References and Further Reading (greatbibliography), Resources (supermarkets for the hummers' favorite naturalfoods), and an excellent Index.

One last thing. Although HummingbirdGardens was primarily done for the millions of us who simply love and enjoythese particular bounties of nature - I sincerely believe ornithology, as awhole, will gain as well. The professionals cannot be out in the field allof the time, thus what we see "our" hummers doing in our yardscan contribute a great deal to the science. Meanwhile, we are very lucky,indeed, that Barbara and Nancy decided to share their knowledge anddiscoveries with the rest of us!

An excellent resource
Including information from real-life hummingbird gardeners around the U.S., this book will be useful to virtually anyone in North America who's trying to create backyard habitat for these fascinating birds. The mainshortcoming of this book is in the depth of coverage of the plants,particularly photos. There were not enough showing an entire plant (thoughmore than enough of the birds themselves), and the one feeder illustratedcontained dyed sugar water (a no-no and contradictory to the text). Novicehummingbird gardeners should cross-reference the plant names with nationaland regional gardening guides for photos and cultural information such assize and temperature tolerance.

Beautiful and Informative
This book has incredible photographs and gobs of information about these amazing creatures.It's an unabashed sales-job to get you to become a hummingbird gardener.(That's not a bad idea!) ... Read more

Book Description

Made famous by Charles Darwin's work on evolution and speciation, the Galápagos Islands contain an extraordinary wildlife that attracts thousands of visitors today. Those tourists who wish to concentrate on the birdlife now have A Guide to the Birds of the The Galápagos Islands, which offers unprecedented comprehensive coverage. This field guide presents every species to have been recorded within the archipelago, including accidentals and vagrants. Twenty-eight color plates illustrate the species, while four color plates show the key island habitats, with typical bird species for each also depicted. Beautiful line drawings, often showing interesting aspects of bird behavior, complement a concise, accessible, and informative text.

The book describes the morphological aspects that make it possible to identify the birds in the field, and also explains the natural history of the species that are resident to the Islands. An introduction offers information on the weather, topography, and evolution of the Islands and their birdlife. With this guide, all visitors, experts and beginners, will be able to identify and appreciate any species within the unique avifauna of the the Galápagos Islands. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

THE guide book to birds in the Galápagos
If you want to "do" the birds in depth, this is THE book for learning about the incredible endemics that gave rise to Charles Darwin's theories about evolution, as well as the resident and migrant birds for the "Islas Encantadas". (If what you need is a portable, topical and fairly complete field guide to all the critters here, get "An Identification Guide to the Birds, Mammals, and Reptiles of the Galpagos Islands" by Andy Swash et al, ISBN: 0300088647, here on Amazon instead.)

Unlike another reviewer, I DO recommend going to the Galápagos, but I also suggest doing research (Barry Boyce's guide, and others) to choose a "green" small boat trip of a week or ten days, one that assures minimum impact.

Politically, these unique and valuable islands are in peril right now from what has heretofore been an uncaring and corrupt government that has allowed illegal migration of people and their cirtters (one result was the 2002 oil spill off San Cristobal), untrammeled shark finning, sea cucumber gathering and commercial fishing within the boundaries of a most unique and valuable World Heritage Site and presumably legally-protected Ecuadorian National Park. Ecotourism has provided the money, concern and motivation to keep these islands preserved for research and future generations- for now. GO on this trip of a lifetime, but please tread lightly, observe and learn, support the "Islas Encantadas" from being fished out and plundered.

Evolution at its Best!
This guide chronicles all you ever needed to know about the birds of the Galapagos! As a biologist, I am interested in many kinds of books about different species of animals, and this is among the best I have seen about the Galapagos. Hopefully more people who are eco-conscious will decide to buy guides like this one, instead of actually visiting the islands directly, we're leaving too many footprints on a valuable resource. Whether you are dreaming of a trip to the islands, or just plain curious, this book will help you become well aquainted with the birds of the Galapagos. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Wonderful book
This was a wonderful book. I had to buy it for an ecology class on the Everglades, but it was well worth it. It has beautiful large color illustrations, and descriptions of the various water birds of Florida. A great investment whether you plan to visit, like I did, or just to enjoy the book by itself. Really useful in identifying birds, especially wading, in the cypress swamps, as well as the entire Everglades water shed. A must buy. ... Read more

Book Description

The American Bird Conservancy Guide to the 500 Most Important Bird Areas in the United States offers both bird enthusiasts and conservationists specialized information never before compiled in a single comprehensive volume.

This expert resource organizes the United States into 36 ornithologically distinct bird regions, then identifies and describes the 500 sites within these regions. Each site entry includes ornithological highlights, ownership information, a description of habitats and land use, a guide to which species one can expect to find, conservation issues, and visitor information. Full-color maps and illustrations throughout, along with a thorough index, make this book as useful as it is unique, an essential addition to the bird lover’s library. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Kitchen Table Bird Book
I'm ordering my second copy of this book, this one for my six-year-old grandson. It's a book of birds native to our Michigan area with beautiful illustrations, told in an interesting fashion. He has me read to him from it, and of course always needs to know about the bugs and such that they eat. He'll soon be old enough to read it himself, and likes to try and copy the illustrations. I'd recommend it for adults and kids alike. ... Read more

Book Description

Brimming with concise descriptions and stunning color photographs, the National Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Familiar Birds of North America: West is designed to be compact enough to literally fit into any bird-lover's back pocket. This streamlined volume contains an easy-to-use field guide identifying 80 of the most frequently encountered birds in the western region bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west and eastward to the 100th meridian (roughly following the Rockies); a complete overview of birdwatching, covering basic identifying field marks, expert advice on when, where and how to look for birds and tips on attracting birds to make your backyard a haven for colorful songsters.

This pocket guide is packed with information; detailed photographs and diagrams, specific descriptions of each species' important field marks, regional maps depicting nesting and winter ranges, a glossary of bird terms and a guide to various bird family traits.

Whether your home is in a remote countryside or in a populous city, you will derive hours of pleasure observing and learning about birds, and the National Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Familiar Birds of North America: West is an excellent and convenient reference guide to accompany any bird-lover. ... Read more

Book Description

Raptors of Eastern North America--together with its companion volume, Raptors of Western North America--are the best and most thorough guides to North American hawks, eagles, and other raptors ever published. Abundantly illustrated with hundreds of full-color high-quality photographs, they are essential books for anyone seeking to identify these notoriously tricky-to-identify birds.

The Wheeler Guides will help birders and biologists navigate the pitfalls of raptor identification, including raptors' often extreme variation by age and sex as well as the existence of numerous "confusion" species. The plumage section discusses more plumage variations--and in greater consistency, depth, and clarity--than any previously published guide. The text--informed by years of study and consultation with local, state, provincial, and regional experts--covers all aspects of raptor biology in an easy-to-read and consistent format. It provides the most up-to-date information available on status and distribution, taking into account the recent alteration of some species' ranges due to pesticide bans and introduction programs. The range maps--which include "city" plotting--are the most accurate and largest ever produced for North American raptors.

... Read more

Reviews (2)

A MUST for every falconer or bander.
This book belongs in every falconer's bag. A book in a class by itself. The standard by which every future book on guides to raptors, will be judged.

The Photographs- WOW!!
What an achievement!

For the first time, someone has produced a field guide using photographs that is as useful/helpful as one with paintings.

Through painstaking effort, and clearly top-quality equipment, Brian Wheeler has overcome the vagaries of bird photography (varied lighting, poor focus, etc.) to produce images for each species that are,by themselves, worth the price of the book. And, Wheeler's photographs are comprehensive for each species,and associated subspecies, ranging from 9 pictures for Short-tailed Hawk up to 82 for Red-tailed! A novice or veteran birder could spend hours poring over the photos, soaking up the fine details.

Along with the pictures, Wheeler has included exhaustive descriptive text (plumage, behavior, range, habitat, etc.) for each subspecies. He has also provided full-page maps with an innovative addition of major city names so the reader can "get their bearings".

All these things make this book (and its western counterpart) the crowning bird reference achievement since the first Peterson guide. ... Read more

Book Description

With a rich variety of stunning avifauna, Mexico provides the first taste of the Neotropics for many birders. At last here is a guide to Mexico's best birdwatching sites, from Baja California to the Yucatan Peninsula. Steve N. G. Howell, coauthor of the widely acclaimed A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America, has selected over 100 sites where birders may see more than 950 species, including virtually all of the endemics and regional specialties. Useful for both the business traveler in Mexico City with only a morning to spare and the serious birder planning a three-month trip across the country, this indispensable book tells where to go and what to look for.

covers all of Mexico and includes all of the top birding spots.presents key information on over 100 sites, where more than 950 bird species can be seen.provides lists of the birds at the most popular sites.gives general information about each region of the country, along with a map showing the location of its sites; additional maps show greater detail at selected sites.supplies listings of all endemics and sought-after species with key sites where they can be seen.includes advice on how best to find and view birds.suggests itineraries for birding holidays.offers valuable tips on travel and birdwatching in Mexico. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Viva Howell!
Do not go birding in Mexico without first procuring a copy of this invaluable book! Last summer a friend and I undertook a succesful three week birding road trip throughout western Mexico, and most of our route was planned directly from this book! There is a relative scarcity of information on finding birds in Mexico. Visit southern Texas or Arizona, and you can easily obtain a dozen helpful volumes. Cross the border, and you are hard pressed to track down any useful information - but this book is certainly the best of what is currently available. Written by the same man who authored the superb and definitive field guide to the birds of Mexico, it covers most of the important regions of Mexico(a "mega" bio-diversity country), and points you in the right direction to search for every single one of Mexico's 115 endemic and 25 near-endemic species. On our trip we visited nearly every site described in chapters 5, 6, and 7. We enjoyed the luxury, thanks to this book, of showing up at remote places in a foreign country and immediately getting down to business of birding the best spots, without wasting time exploring or scouting - as if we were at a local wildlife refuge back home!
I eagerly anticipate future editions. There is room for improvement here, as well as expansion. I can envision this book doubling in scope, without andy redundancy. More and more birders are venturing into Mexico, and this book is helping pave the way. The number one improvement I hope to see is a dramatic enlargement of appendix B, which deals with sites for finding species of particular interest. I would like to see that expand to offer a few paragraphs of information per species, rather that a vauge line or two. Also, a few of the directions will need revision and updating (although most were right on!). Finally, I hope to see a lot more sites described within a day's drive of the border.
In short, unless you are accompanying an organized tour group, your birdwatching experience in Mexico will be far, far richer for having this book - and if you are anything like me, you will read and re-read it prior to your birding trip until you have almost memorized parts of it.

Please correct typo in previous customer review
Should be "Birder's Delight: Potent Conservation Tool." As it is the "n" was left out of the word Conservation. Many thanks.

Birders' Delight: Potent Covservation Tool
Steve N.G. Howell is to be commended, perhaps more appropriately thanked, for the tremendous job he has done in writing this revolutionary book. Howell, who together with illustrator Sophie Webb several years ago authored the definitive guide to Mexican birds, has now given the world something far more important than a field guide. In "A Bird Finding Guide To Mexico," Mr. Howell provides a complete and up-to-date guide for where to find the diverse species of Mexican birds. The guide is unprecedented in its coverage.

Howell divides the country into 14 regions, and lists the top several birding locations for each region, called "sites." Not only are there specific directions to the sites he covers ("turn right onto cobblestone road at Kilometer 14, past Pemex station," for example), he supplies a list of species found at each site. The result is two-fold: (1) anyone can now easily find the "hot spots" for Mexico's fabulous avifauna; and (2) field identification is facilitated, because a species list for the site has been provided by the man who authored the authoritative field guide. You will know where to stay; where to go; and what you are seeing once you get there. Quite simply, birding in Mexico has been forever changed, and just in the nick of time.

This reviewer recently took the book on a "family vacation" to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Assuming I was to be confined to seeing a few species at the resort where I was staying with my 3 year-old, my 6-year old, my in-laws, and my wife, I nevertheless eagerly anticipated the trip -- hoping to make forays into the wild -- but not knowing where on earth to go. Receiving a tip 10 days in advance that Howell's book had just a few weeks earlier been published, but assured that undoubtedly I would not be able to procure a copy in time, I nevertheless got one quickly from Amazon.com in three days. Whew!

After consultation of the book, I learned there was a splendid lagoon 5 miles from my luxury hotel (which I visited twice) and that a world famous bird area was only two hours to the north -- San Blas, Nayarit -- Spain's headquarters for its Pacific empire of the 1700s. I quickly reaaranged my itinerary; rented a car; made reservations in a lovely hotel recommended by Howell; and took in a three day adventure that netted me 135 species of birds. This would have been impossible without the book, as Howell's guide directed me to 7 specific locations that were simply gushing with birds, birds, and more birds.

On the first morning of birding at Site 6.2 in the state of Nayarit (the Mexican state north of Jalisco), I hiked up a verdant canyon above the village of "La Bajada." The mouth of the canyon opened directly into a gentle bay of the Pacific, which I could see far below. The cliffs of the canyon rose 800 feet above me, and I gradually worked my way higher and higher as morning mists evaporated and sunlight hit the leaves. A canopy of trees surrounded a coffee plantation, and I was proud to be setting out before the coffee bean collectors merrily starting their early morning work, with sharpened machetes and little fires to keep warm and burn the forest.

In a few hours in the mysterious canyon above La Bajada, I spied both the Elegant Trogon and the Citreoline Trogon (a Mexican endemic); the Lineated Woodpecker and the Pale-billed Woodpecker; three species of parrots (two screamed as they rocketed away from a Grey Hawk, which seemed to swoop out of nowhere); the Squirrel Cuckoo; the Ivory-billed Woodcreeper; the Masked Tityra; the Rose-throated Becard; and the Black-throated Mapie-jay, the San Blas Jay and the Sinaloa Crow (all Mexican endemics).

But the sounds were marvelous as well. A Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl tooted from a grove of trees, unseen but easy to identify from the combination of the bird list in the "Finding Guide" and Howell and Webb's authoritative field guide. The Happy Wren, another Mexican endemic, blasted its pulsating song from the brush. The White-tipped Dove cooed ghostlike, unseen from the forest floor.

As I had hoped, above La Bajada I also heared the song of the bird many consider to be the finest singer in the New World -- the Brown-backed Solitaire -- a thrush in the genus Myadestes. George M. Sutton, in his ground breaking "Mexican Birds: First Impressions," described the fantastic song as an "electric sparkler," as "musical fireworks," and confessed that in his decades of professional ornithology, when he first heard the solitaire in 1938, he felt as if "his ears had never fully functioned" until that "high moment that filled him with wild, half-furious exultation."

At La Bajada you hear such things, and the trees were indeed literally dripping with birds.

In San Blas proper about 20 minutes away, there were thousands of shorebirds, Roseate Spoonbills, Wood Storks, and Black-necked stilts. On the beach was the majestic American Oystercatcher. A pair was observed catching tiny crabs, and performing an odd sort of bonding dance where the two stood parrallel to each other, but head to toe to bounce and sway in unison. There were warblers galore, parrots, anis, Crane Hawks, Black Hawks, Harris Hawks, and a Peregrine Falcon was easily approached on top of a hill where an old fort, church and canon commanded a view of the town at sunset. The raucous call of the Collared Forest-Falcon was heard from a cliff, bouncing through the forest. The bird list for the marvelous San Blas area tops 305 birds!

The directions in Howell's book are so good that the name and telephone number of a boatman specializing in mangrove swamp tours was given: Oscar Partida. I took the bait, and as a result approached a Northern Potoo, a Paraque, Boat billed Herons, Bare-throated tiger herons, and Rufous-bellied Chachalacas at close range. Obviously, this book has revolutionized birding in Mexico. Many of the magical areas seem to be within easy driving distance of resorts, and comfortable hotels. It is profusely illustrated with diagrams on how to get where you want to be.

In the larger scheme of conservation biology, the book should also serve as a landmark of sorts. On each jaunt I saw wetlands being drained for new resort hotels, forests being hacked down and burned, and the delicate web of life irreversibly disorganized by the growing human and economic activity. This is, of course, nothing different from what is also happening here in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Many tropical countries, most notably Costa Rica, have recognized that conservation of biological diversity, at least in the form of eco-tourism, has great economic value. Mexico is, at this moment, now coming to this realization, and towns such as San Blas are experiencing a revival precisely because of such eco-tourism.

Accordingly, Howell's book is also important because it will make much more widely accessible the viewing of the marvellous Mexican birds. Let us hope it sells in droves, and that its readers flock to Mexico to see the birds. The concomitant increase in awareness of birds there, both as economic factors and also as indicators of intact ecosystems, will do much to aid Mexico to preserve its invaluable biodiversity, which otherwise may disappear within the next generation.

Bravo, Steve N.G. Howell! Your book has tremendous potential at the turn of the Millennium, both for enjoyment, and for preserving our planet. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Roger Tory Peterson, one of America's pre-eminent artist-naturalists and arguably the inventor of the field guide, made people love birds like no one since John James Audubon. A Field Guide to the Birds, first published in 1934, remains his most famous and wonderful work. The manual stood instantly apart from the dichotomous keys zoologists used to identify species, since Peterson grouped paintings of related species together and used arrows to, as he explained, "pinpoint the key field marks."This way, watchers could spot birds from a distance and avoid, as he archly put it, "the bird-in-hand characters that the early collectors relied on." Birders could use the guide where they needed it most--outdoors--on living birds flitting quickly by. In addition to detailed illustrations, Peterson offers charming (and useful) descriptions of each avian citizen's appearance, behavior, voice, and range. There is also priceless anecdotal information, based on decades of field experience, as in this description of the common house sparrow (Passer domesticus): "Familiar to everyone. Sooty city birds often bear little resemblance to clean country males with the black throat, white cheeks, chestnut nape." His transliterations of song are just as quietly marvelous. For instance, Pluvialis squatarola, or the black-bellied plover, makes things clear with "a plaintive slurred whistle, tlee-oo-eee or whee-er-ee (middle note lower)."

Peterson's original handbook covered birds of Eastern North America, and has since been followed by guides to Western birds, animal tracks, butterflies, and many other natural wonders. He and his team updated "The Birders' Bible" as new species were discovered and classifications modified. Generations of enthusiastic watchers owe Peterson a debt of gratitude for making ornithology accessible. But equally important, he showed scientists that finding beauty in living animals, and not just cataloging the measurements of dead ones, was crucial. Roger Tory Peterson died in 1996. He will be remembered as a passionate naturalist, a keen observer of living things, and a gifted artist and teacher. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Reviews (29)

The first and the best
Peterson first published his revolutionary field guide in 1925, and ever since it has been the trusty companion of amateur and advanced birder alike.The popularity of his field guide was based on the system that he devised whereby he included coloured plates of each bird, and noted key identifying features of each bird, thus allowing the birder to make quick and confident identifications.The system is not fool-proof, of course, as some species closely resemble one another, but oversall, the tricks one learns from the Peterson field guide provides an excellent foundation for the aspiring birder.A number of other guides have come along, but I still find this one more than suitable, and therefore the one that I continue to rely on.

Simply the best bird book for the backyard bird lover in MI
This book is great.It gives you detailed pictures, silhoutte shapes and habitat areas.As a complete moron when it comes to bird identity, this book is very helpful.

Have Binoculars and the Peterson Guide in Hand
This guide offers excellent photographic representations of every bird you can imagine in a well designed format.Accompaning each picture is a brief written decsription of the bird which include differentiating features from similiar birds.Each birds range is illustrated with maps at the back of the book. Searching through the pictures to make an identification can be tedious at times.However, I have never closed this book without finding my subject.On the trail or sitting in your backyard, you will find this book exceptionally helpful.

the best I looked at
I looked at nine or ten bird books over the weekend before finally deciding on this one. I like it's compact size, durable cover and it's very complete index. The most important reason for my decision, however, is the fact that it shows pictures of both male and female birds where the female bird's plummage and head differ from that of the male. None of the other books I checked showed female birds or only showed them in very rare instances. I also like this book because it shows most birds in both standing or swimming positions and also in flight. There are also occasional drawings of chicks.

The text that accompanies the pictures is necessarily brief but covers: Latin and common names, description, food, range, migratory pattern, habitat, voice and similar species. Also included is a "Systematic Checklist" so you can keep a "life list" of all the birds you've seen. There is a guide to identifying birds by visual categories (swimmers, birds of prey, waders, perching birds, etc), size, tail and wing patterns. The last part of the book contains maps illustrating each bird's range which makes it easy to compare the habitat of, for example, an Olive-Sided Flycatcher with an Acadian Flycatcher.

Obviously this is a guidebook and not the type of book you sit down and read through, but I have found myself reading the entries for the often amusing "voice" sections. Here's the one for the Chestnut-Sided Warbler: "Song, similar to Yellow Warbler's; 'see see see see Miss Beech'er' or 'pleased pleased pleased to meet'cha;' penultimate note accented, last note dropping." Hey, someone who knows what "penultimate" really means!

wonderful book
My mother-in-law stated this book by Roger Tory Peterson is a great guide for birds.She has another book by Mr. Peterson and that is why she bought this one. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Not an ideal reference or field guide
I've used the guide to help plan three birding trips so far and found it to be an asset in preparing for the trip (e.g., understanding the location, what species to expect, and best time to go). Upon arrival at the site, I found myself using a field guide like NGS's Field Guide to Birds of North America almost exclusively to help sight and identify the birds.

Birding Northern California is not suitable as a true field guide since it lacks detailed graphics or photos of the close to 600 species that can be found here. While using the book, I also found the book to be "too wordy" to use as a reference. For instance, to find the best location in Northern California to view a Ross's Goose in December, you would need to browse a good chunk of the book before finding a spot (and it might not be the best location). Later I discovered handy reference information in the very back of the text (e.g., Chapter 7 provides a breakdown of "specialty birds" throughout the area with their respective ranges mapped for winter and summer). FYI - the Ross's Goose is included in Chapter 7 with the key sites. The last chapter of the book provides a complete listing, including specialty and more common birds, with a geographic region and month of the year to look for the bird.

Given the room for improvement in the book's organization, I would encourage the publisher/author to produce a 2nd edition. The ideal improvement would be to include a CDROM that structures the information by bird species (hey, a photo would be nice), the locations where the bird can be found with a relative ranking, the time of year (again with some form of ranking). Including a CD would also allow the reader to search over the information by species or location.

Birding Northern California
I ordered this for use in my daughter's 6th grade science class in Oakland. Unfortunately, it contains no photographs of the birds--only text descriptions of viewing locations. So it's not useful as an identification guide. The general description should clearly state this. JM

The most comprehensive guide to birding northern California.
With the passion of a life-long birder and the precision of a former professor of engineering, John Kemper has written an exceptional, new site guide for northern California. Detailed information is given for 81 major locations from the Oregon border through Monterey, King, and Tulare counties plus the Kern River Valley in Kern County; Mono County and the White Mountains are included on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada

The book focuses on species of interest by listing "specialty birds" and "other key birds" at the beginning of each location description. Specialty birds include uncommon to abundant birds found primarily in the western United States, endangered or threatened species, and rare birds if the site is among the best for the bird. The text describes when, where, and how to the find the birds at each site, and this information was personally verified by John during two years of fieldwork preparing the book. Range maps and bar charts at the back of the book are cross-referenced to the best sites for each species and the time of year when each species occurs in different regions of the state. Readers will appreciate the easily readable, detailed maps and the clearly written site descriptions. Novices, long-time California birders, and birders from out of state planning their first or 100th trip to the state, will find the information needed to find the birds of interest to them and to plan successful birding trips. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good Basic Information
I got this book when I became interested in wildlife rehabilitation. I read it and then started volunteering at a wildlife rehab center. The information in this book helped to give me a head-start in caring for the animals at the center (tho nothing takes the place of hands-on). I recommended it as a good starting point.

Care of the Wild, Feathered & Furred: Treating and Feeding I
This is a great basic book for anyone rehabbing wild birds or mammels. Some things are outdated and you should always seek the advise of someone more experienced in rehabbing for their advise (or a Vet knowlegeable with wildlife)if you aren't sure or contact the National Wildlife Rehabilitation Ass. (NWRA). Always ask yourself, what does it's parents do for it or how does it survive in the wild.I found Practical Wildlife Care, by Les Stoker to be a more indepth, very helpful book to use and add to my ever-growing library

A Wonderful Book. . .
This book is really helpful to me because I am currently taking care of a wild baby bird.I read information on how to feed it,treat any injuries,and the importance of a nest and warmth.The bird is doing really well now.Care of the Wild,Feathered,and Furred also has lots of information on squirrels and other small mammals.

Use with caution
This is a handy book to have on any rehabbers bookshelf. HOWEVER, it better not be the only one. Much of the information it contains is old - much advancement has been made over 25 years of rehabbing animals and even though this book has been "revised and updated" the diets and feeding information seem to have remained the same. For example - baby birds should not be encouraged to drink milk or water. You are more likely to drown them than help them. Baby birds get their water from the food their parents (or rehabber) properly provides. Still, as a resource for splinting and caring for injuries, there is some valuable information. Just be sure to supplement it with some newer publications as well.

"Revised" but not by much
I compared the 1998 "revised" edition with the original 1973 edition and found that the number of pages were exactly the same. The differences between the latest and the first editions are virtually undetectable so if you are thinking of replacing your first edition with the latest, don't bother. ... Read more

Book Description

The first of its kind, this spectacularly illustrated book is the only complete guide to the wildlife and natural history of the vast and beautiful Antarctic region.

Covering the Antarctic continent, the southern ocean, and the subantarctic islands, this guide illustrates all of the region's breeding birds and marine mammals with stunning color photographs. In addition to the color plates, it features distribution maps and up-to-date species accounts expertly detailing abundance, seasonal status, and conservation prospects. The volume also covers numerous nonbreeding species, migrants, and vagrants.

Regional chapters describe all of the subantarctic islands, in addition to most regularly visited sites in Antarctica, and are accompanied by maps of each area and photographs of each locale. These chapters present detailed information on geography, climate, geology, general ecology, and flora. They also address conservation efforts--past, present, and planned. The book concludes with practical information about visiting the area, including details on the best-available landing sites and notes on seasonal weather conditions.

This is an indispensable companion for a trip far south, as well as an informative volume for anyone interested in the Antarctic region's remarkable, occasionally strange, and frequently beautiful animals.

*

Features 35 color plates and over 600 color photographs
*

Illustrates and maps the distribution of all of the region's breeding birds and marine mammals
*

Includes information on many non-breeders, migrants, and vagrants
*

Features expert text reflecting recent advances in taxonomy
*

Covers all of the subantarctic islands as well as Antarctica's regularly visited sites
*

Offers travel tips, including weather considerations and landing sites