Book Description

A spellbinding history of the one bird every serious birder hopes to find, even as the world doubts its existence.

In Search of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker is both a complete natural history of one of the most exciting and rare—perhaps even extinct—birds in the world, and a fascinating personal quest by the world's leading expert on the species. Jerome A. Jackson provides detailed insights into the bird's lifestyle, habitat, and cultural significance, examining its iconic status from the late 1800s to the present in advertising, conservation, and lore. As he relates searches for the bird by John James Audubon, Alexander Wilson, and others, Jackson offers anecdotal tales illuminating the methods of early naturalists, including how Wilson's captive ivory-bill destroys his hotel room in a desperate attempt to escape.Jackson's search for perhaps the last remaining ivory-bill takes him across the United States and into Cuba. He spends hours flying over potential ivory-bill habitat, canoeing through isolated waterways, and trudging through swamps, always playing recorded ivory-bill calls into the wilderness, hoping for a response. 30 halftones. ... Read more

Book Description

This stunning guide explores the kingdom of snakes, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards, salamanders, and crocodiles, with information on physical appearance, voice, breeding cycles, habitat, range, and status in the wild. Poisonous or otherwise dangerous animals are distinguished with a warning symbol. An essay on observing reptiles and amphibians, and detailed anatomical drawings, round out the coverage in this comprehensive guide. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Edition needs refining.
The contemporary edition of the Audubon Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians is decades old. Though it covers many species of snakes, salamanders, newts, etc., it is underrated because of the lack of updating. Some species names are known to be out of date, or invalid. However, even this cannot override the true quality of all the Audubon guides, including this book. Even though a newly revised and updated edition is way overdue, it still presents spectacular photographs of various species. The system is the same, with the description in the back of the book. The Audubon Guide to Weather has been revised and updated over the years and hopefully, this one will be also.

The most complete North American reptile and amphibian book.
This book contains 657 full color pictures of over 470 species of reptiles and amphibians in North America. It covers from habitat locations to breeding and feeding. This is a must for any child or adult who is interested in our native animals.

mediocre
This guide is beset with problems, and there are better out there.

The range maps are so general as to be mostly useless. They're incredibly small, to the point where it's hard to discern where the lines on it are; is that snake's western range limit NM or AZ? You can't tell! The written descriptions of ranges are too vauge as well; they list eastern, western, southern and northern limits, but it's not like an animals range will make a nice little square; there are places within those boundaries where it does not occur. Maybe a lizards westernmost point is in, say Alamogordo, NM: it'll list that as it's westernmost point. but say, as it's range extends northward, it is restricted to a more easterly distribution; that won't be mentioned.

Furthermore, the guide is 25 years old. There have been massive taxonomic revisions since this was written; new species have been discovered, some species have been combined, some subspecies complexes split, etc. Ranges have also shifted since '79, due to development and climatic changes.

Also, the guide only deals with species level info. This is unnacceptable for some animals; L. getula (kingsnake) has some 7-8 subspecies, ranging from the mexican black to the desert to the eastern; these animals have markedly different apperances, habitat, ranges, and behaviors. But the guide doesn't deal with that; it list info for "L. getula" in general, without dividing it into subspecies information. This makes the guide worthless for Pituophis melanoleucus, Lampropeltis getula, Lampropeltis traingulum, and several other species which contain a wide range of different subspecies.

So what to do? Buy a good local field guide; they exist for most states- Degenhardt's Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico is execellent. Texas Snakes (Dixon) is good. Failing all else, most states maintain a listing of most native fauna online, usually whatever department deals with hunting and state parks will have a link to it. There is probably a good field guide for reptiles and amphibians of your state. If you need one for a bigger area, try Peterson's. They offer regional guides; one western and one eastern and central. They're a little more difficult to learn to use, but they're far more current, far more detailed, and once figured out, far more useful.

well, two and half,
This book may have been something for it's time, but it's since been eclipsed, and has become outdated.
For one thing, the book was written in the 70's--it's older than I am. Taxonomy has changed, but that's not the most important (taxonomy is always changing).
Ranges have shifted; habitat changes have forced various species into new areas and out of old ones, new species have been introduced and become established, etc. Even if the range maps were up to date, they're poorly done; very small and hard to see, and inexact.

Furthermore, the book doesn't delinate subspecies; all kingsnakes (L. getula) and rat snakes (L. obsoleta) are treated as one species a piece, despite each having over six very distinct subspecies. This is problematic as the various subspecies of kingsnake have remarkably different size, patterns, and ranges; a desert king is a rather different animal than an eastern king, but the book just gives you the same info for both. It happens numerous times with king snakes, milksnakes, ratsnakes, and all the pituophis species. It list some 10 subspecis for P. melanoleucus, and gives the same info for all of them, despite radical differences between, say, a northen pine and a bullsnake or SD gopher snake. It does the same thing with kingsnakes; it list 7 subspecies ranging from the Eastern to the Mexican, and gives on set of info for all of them. This occurs many times throughout the book, and negates it's value as a field guide. By now, with the explosion of herpetocultural writings, you're better off buying a good area specific guide; a Peterson's is a decent choice, or you can by a guide just for your state if there's a good one; such books typically give more in depth info and better done.

Over-rated
This guide has a lot of nostalgia for me; it was my first real field guide, a birthday present when I was in 2nd grade. But like many nostalgic items, it hasn't stood up to the test of time. On the plus side, the photos make a good book to introduce youngsters to the joys of the herping world. and animals are arranged by similarities to each other, not by family; a great help for the novice. And it covers "all" the reptiles on the continent, no need for 2 books. On the negative side, photos usually aren't helpful for id, and can in fact be very misleading. But the worse complaint is that the publishers haven't bothered trying to update this book, as they have some of there other guides. Reptile Taxonomy changes every year, and this book is over 2 decades old. Many new introductions, newly discovered species, and split off species aren't covered, and many animals go by out of date names. The ranges maps are also less than helpful, rarely delineating subspecies or race range, just species. Overall, skip this book and invest in the Petersons. They have been updated both in the late 90's, have better range maps, and use modern taxonomy ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first comprehensive guide to the unique wildlife of theGalápagos, encompassing the birds, mammals, and reptiles a visitor to theseextraordinary islands might encounter. The innovative, simple-to-use format of thepocket-sized volume will help beginners and experts alike to identify with confidence thestriking and charismatic Galápagos fauna.

Highlighting the differences between similar species, the guide focuses on the keyidentification features of each. Information on the status, habitat preferences, breedingseasons, and significant behavioral characteristics is provided for each species, alongwith 78 distribution maps for all resident species. Fifty-three remarkable color platescompiled from a composite of 500 photographic images and 20 illustrations depictvirtually every bird, mammal, and reptile ever recorded on the Galápagos. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Guide
This book is, in the words of my 8-year-old son, "incredible"! The layout is very easy to understand, the photographic plates that show the various species in related groupings are marvelously well-done. The text is informative without being pedantic, and the plethora of full-color photographs and excellent illustrations make the book a joy to use. If you are going to the Galapagos, BUY THIS BOOK! Better yet, buy more than one, because you will wear it out so fast flipping pages and grabbing it out of your travelling companions' greedy hands. If you aren't going, but want to learn about the fauna of this unique archipelago, you will find no better resource.

The best pocket guide to Galápagos land and air critters
Unless you are an advanced nature buff, birder, etc. this book should fulfill the need for travelers to recognize habitats and the land and air critters that inhabit them. Lavishly illustrated, good identification information, and even range maps- all very compact, and accurate. The information is next to the photo, so there's no paging back and forth- a good thing when you have a critter right in front of you. There's even a cross-referenced check-list by habitat! I'll definitely be taking this slender book with its strengthened, plasticized covers on my next trip to the "Islas Encantadas". You'll be glad you got this for your trip.

A Superb Guide for Scientists
A friend bought me this ID guide to take with me on a week-long cruise of the islands. The trip was magical and defies description; this ID guide was very helpful to me. It discusses not only the specific animals but also the ecology of specific vegetation zones of each island and documents sightings of each species. Not strictly for the layperson, because it requires some familiarity with scientific terms. I shared this guide with the National Park guides on our trip and they praised it highly - so I bought them each a copy. How's that for an endorsment? ... Read more

Book Description

From a well-known outdoors and nature writer comes a narrative that explores a lifelong obsession with competitive birding.

What drives a man to travel to sixty countries and spend a fortune to count birds? And what if that man is your father?

Richard Koeppel's obsession began at the age of eleven, in Queens, New York, when he first spotted a Brown Thrasher and promptly jotted the sighting in a notebook. Several decades, one failed marriage, and two sons later, he added an astonishing 517 birds to that list on a single trip to Kenya. Soon after, he ended the last romantic relationship he would ever have, scaled down his medical practice, and decided to see every bird on earth, becoming a "Big Lister," a member of a subculture of competitive bird-watchers worldwide, all pursuing the same goal. Over twenty-five years, he collected more than 7,000 species (of a known 9,600), becoming one of about ten people ever to do so.

To See Every Bird on Earth explores the thrill of this chase, the all-absorbing crusade at the expense of all else, and travel, to places both dangerous and dull, for the sake of making a check mark in a notebook. It's also the story of obsession-answering the questions why list? and why birds?-and how it defines us. A riveting glimpse into a fascinating subculture, To See Every Bird on Earth traces the love, loss, and reconnection between a father and a son, and explains why birds are so critical to the human search for our place in the world. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

"To go where no man has gone before"

What a wonderful book! The editorial reviews are real good on this book and I won't repeat the same,just no need to. Also, the first customer review is a real good effort ,especially for someone who appears somewhat of a birding novice.Lisa AA has posted her 1st review, and I would like to commend her on her efforts.She very well shows that this book can be of interest to anyone who enjoys life,people and also the world of birds.I have the same experience when people who learn that I am into birding.Everyone seems to be fascinated about my interest,has a million questions and are amazed over the interest,sport or even the obsession that it can become.Questions like, "You mean you would drive 500 miles,just to see a bird;and it might even be gone when you get there?" As you will see, if you read this book;that can just be the start of it.
Of course ,not all birders can,or even begin to take on this interest the way world lister birders go at it.Some "bird" in their own back yards,towns,county,state or province,country,ABA (which takes in all the continental US,Hawaii,Alaska and Canada ,and then there are those tha make the whole world their target.What this book does is to give one an idea of what this pursuit can be all about.
The people who take up birding come from all walks of life,all ages, all abilities,all financial backgrounds.The one thing they all have is the desire to see as many birds as possible.Whether it is as simple as adding the number 78th bird to their yard list or the 4078th to their world list,the pleasure is the same;only the scale differs.
While the author centers on his father,he also discusses a lot about Phoebe Snetsinger ,who held the record of seeing the most birds in the world at the time of her untimely and unfortunate death.It just so happens that I know,and often bird with a lady who knew her well and was on the bus with her when the accident occurred.
I also knew another "Birder of the World",as is incribed on his tombstone.Norm Chesterfield held the world record for 7 years into the late 1980's.What a great fellow to talk to and what stories and experiences he had.He even went to Vietnam while the war was on.Just imagine,this little old man ,well into his 70's, birding while the the war was underway.He complained "the birding was lousy;too damn much shooting and banging going on.Couldn't hear nothing (birds singing)."
I guarantee anyone who likes birds,enjoys the outdoors or wonders what this obsession with birds is all about will love this book.
While most of us can only dream of what these World Listers do, we have to be content to read about it and dream ;or grab the bins and go see what's around.

One for the Big List!
I never thought birdwatching was even vaguely interesting until I read this book, and now I'm viewing every pigeon in Los Angeles with new eyeballs.
Dan Koeppel is a wonderful storyteller, and this tale of birds, family, and the evolution of birdwatching brims with amazing details, vivid description, and heartfelt anecdotes. His fluid writing is a joy to read. Complex concepts of scientic nomenclature are elegantly explained. The book revolves around an intense subset of birdwatchers- the so-called "Big Listers," folks so obsessed with the flying creatures that they have a need to see every species that exists on the planet. Sparing no expense, Big Listers jetset from jungle to jungle, equipped with tape recorders, binoculars, and field guides looking for more and more birds to put on their well-kept lists. At the same time, the designations of species are constantly changings, so from time to time lists grow due to splitting or shrink from lumping! Koeppel patiently explains this fanaticism of hardcore birdwatching. His perspective is unique; his father, Richard Koeppel, is currently one of the top 10 Big Listers on the planet. Woven within the stories of birds and birders is a tale of the relationships within Koeppel's family, as if this can possibly explain his father's arcane obsession.
Very readible. Perfect beach reading, especially for beaches that might have some avifauna nearby. ... Read more

Book Description

One of Abbeville's most spectacular achievements, representing the highest standards in fine art printing, now available at a more economical price.

This marvelous edition of Audubon's Birds of America displays all 435 of Audubon's brilliant handcolored engravings in exquisite reproductions taken from the original plates of the Audubon Society's archival copy of the rare Double Elephant Folio. Although many attempts have been made to re-create the magnificent illustrations in Audubon's masterpiece, nothing equals the level of fidelity or scale achieved in this high-quality edition.

Completely reorganized and annotated by Roger Tory Peterson, who was America's best-known ornithologist, and issued with the full endorsement and cooperation of the Audubon Society, this volume is the first to rearrange the plates in a more scientific order. Peterson's fascinating introduction places Audubon in the context of the history of American ornithological art and also reproduces a wide sampling of the work of Audubon's notable predecessors and disciples, including Peterson's own justly famous paintings.

This new systematic arrangement of the prints, complete with informative commentaries about each bird, made it possible to correct many of the problems or errors in Audubon's original edition that later scholarship revealed.

Other Details:428 full-color illustrations, 435 duotones. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Beautiful volume of audubon
If you are a birder and you collect all the great bird books, your collection is not complete until you get this. A beautiful book, contained in a hard case, with excellent printing. A steal at $250 at its original price, now knocked down between $125 to $185. Get this book! A great tribute to Peterson and Audubon. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A Must have for any real birder.
This book provides bird watchers with an excellent guide to almost every bird found in the Eastern half of the US. The quick index and color tabs make finding the right page easy for most birders, and the introduction provides the information an inexperienced birder needs to learn how to use this book. The photographs are mostly excellent and show most of the important field marks. Immature, female, and non-breeding season plummage pictures are provided for many birds, and a wonderful description of the bird's plummage is always included. The maps, although sometimes inaccurate (as I've found with most guides) are easy to read. The addition of shading for migration routes would help, but could be confusing for some birders. The learning pages provide an excellent comparison of similar species; especially useful for sparrows and warblers. I would reccomend purchasing Peterson's guide in addition to this, but if you can only buy one, this is the one I'd buy. Keep in mind that every person is different, and will benifit from different organizations of species. Purchase the book you think will suit your preferences best.

Very impressive and helpful.
Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region is a very impressive and helpful bird identification tool. This happens to be a field guide that I feel confident using whenever I go birdwatching. I find that aspect to be the most important of any field guide--whether it's good enough to actually be trusted out in the field. This bird identification guide contains over 900 full color photographs. Also, all of the information pertaining to the particular species of bird is on the same page: this includes the color photograph, range map, and detailed text information (behavior, voice, feeding, nesting, and habitat for example). Having all of the information on one page is always very important. The book also contains quick alphabetical indexes inside the front and back covers that happen to be very useful for quick reference. The guide has a color tab index to bird groups, a quick guide to the most common backyard and feeder birds (good for beginners), and learning pages, too. I find the color photographs in this field guide to be clear, crisp, and very good. The guide also includes idenification symbols on the pages of particular birds that use feeders or birdhouses. A glossary of terms is included, too, along with a page that points out the names of the anatomical parts of a bird. Donald and Lillian Stokes have done an admirable job of putting this guide together. It's one of my favorite bird identification tools. I recommend it.

A tried-and-true field guide
The Stokes Field Guide-Western Edition has become my pocket reference of choice in the field. I wore out my first copy from overuse, which is a high compliment to its usefulness (and binding sturdiness).

As a pocket guide and quick reference, you cannot beat Stokes' "bang for the buck." It offers most of the basics that most birders would need in the field:
* Quick color tab index
* Large photos (which usually capture indicative plumage)
* Good all-up glance at ID, feeding, nesting, and other relevant behavior
* Nice North American habitat guide that zooms in if the range is geographically smaller
* Habitat type info has been very helpful

Downsides are few, but:
1. I think the anatomical reference is incomplete, but for most purposes basically adequate.
2. The "quick reference to the most common birds" pages seem somewhat pointless because the species are so arbitrary.
3. The color quality in some photos aren't as indicative as I'd like, but you have to expect some inconsistencies due to the nature of photographs, habitat and lighting.
4. There really isn't a section on responsible birding, ethics, and avian conservation. Their conservation section consists of BBC and CBC census data only.

That said, I love this guide. Between the Stokes and Sibley ID guides used in tandem, most people won't need another field resource for visual field identification.

SUPERB FIELD GUIDE WITH LARGE PHOTOS!!!
I recently got into this hobby of birding, and was looking for a good book to take with me on weekend jaunts, or to I.D. birds in my backyard. I am by no means a professional, but a casual birder. For that purpose, this fantastic book is much more than adequate! I like to 'check off' each corner page when I spot one of the birds shown, and the real color photos are an invaluable tool! Just this morning, this gorgeous Red Shouldered Hawk was sitting on a fencepost (was visiting my brother in the Cleveland, Ohio area), and I was able to readily I.D. it using this book. My next purchase will be a pair of digital binoculars with a built in digital cam. That way, I will be able to take a snapshot of these critters, and I.D. them later, if I can't at that moment! Plus, all the information on each bird is on one page! This is really a fascinating hobby, and I am glad to own this book (and the Western version) as my first guide! I highly recommend it.

Adequate
This is an adequate resource for a novice birdwatcher and it is well-organized. However, after testing this book in 3 Western wildlife refuges, I've decided that I would like more information on the behaviors and habits of each bird. I am by no means a "bird geek," but am simply seeking to know more about the natural world as I hike or row through it. The book provides little more than just name, rank, and serial number. Also, although the photography is mostly sharp and useful, some of the seagoing bird photographs are blurred and grainy, resembling a Bigfoot photo. I have been looking for the ultimate guide to Western birds but I'm going to keep looking. ... Read more

Book Description

Following one of the world's experts on birdsong from the woods of Martha's Vineyard to the tropical forests of Central America, Don Stap brings to life the quest to unravel an ancient mystery: Why do birds sing and what do their songs mean? We quickly discover that one question leads to another. Why does the chestnut-sided warbler sing one song before dawn and another after sunrise? Why does the brown thrasher have a repertoire of two thousand songs when the chipping sparrow has only one? And how is the hermit thrush able to sing a duet with itself, producing two sounds simultaneously to create its beautiful, flutelike melody?

Stap's lucid prose distills the complexities of the study of birdsong and unveils a remarkable discovery that sheds light on the mystery of mysteries: why young birds in the suborder oscines -- the "true songbirds" -- learn their songs but the closely related suboscines are born with their songs genetically encoded. As the story unfolds, Stap contemplates our enduring fascination with birdsong, from ancient pictographs and early Greek soothsayers, who knew that bird calls represented the voices of the gods, to the story of Mozart's pet starling.

In a modern, noisy world, it is increasingly difficult to hear those voices of the gods. Exploring birdsong takes us to that rare place -- in danger of disappearing forever -- where one hears only the planet's oldest music. ... Read more

Book Description

Book Description

Reviews (7)

Attracting Birds Made Simple
This colorful book is full of many ideas for attracting birds and keeping them interested in your backyard. There are many books on this subject, but this book is exceptional.

Sally Roth's explanations of how to go about attracting feathered friends are easy to understand and further made easy by the many illustrations.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in birds and their unique habits.

Couldn't be better--absolutely wonderful!!!
This book is loaded with practical info. about the most prevalent back-yard birds, including the type of food they like, nesting preferences etc., as well as key elements of their behavior. There are many wonderful suggestions for attracting birds and detailed instructions for implementing them, including wonderful & fun recipes. This is what the Audabon Backyard Bird Garden book should have been but isn't--so buy this one instead--useful, fun to read as well as to implement, wonderfully organized, and visually very attractive--a real winner!!!

Something for everyone ...
Whether you're a birder or a gardener, or like me, a little of both, you'll love this book! I'm a novice birder and I bought this book hoping to find ideas about feeding and gardening for birds. I found what I was looking for and then some. This book has refreshing ideas, is user-friendly, humorous and practical. You'll learn interesting facts about some of our most common birds, identifying them, attracting them and how to landscape to keep them coming back. This is truly one of the most delightful books I've read this year. In fact, I've purchased additional copies as gifts for family members. It's definitely a book to keep in your library to refer to over-and-over again. It's A-to-Z reference and color illustrations are extremely helpful. Ms. Roth has done a superb job.

This one's a keeper!
This book is extremely reader friendly. I find myself looking it through it frequently and finding something new and useful each time. It's set up in such a way to make finding what you're looking for very easy. Great projects for birdfeeding. I love this book!

Great for Gardeners as Well as Birders
This is a beautifully illustrated book that contains great information for gardeners as well as birders. The information about the various flowers, trees, and shrubs that attract birds is very useful. Instructions for building bird baths, water pools, shelters, and other bird attractions are included. The descriptions of the birds and their behavior make the book a marvelous reference. Well done!! A wealth of information and a delight to read. ... Read more

Book Description

When Steve Howell first visited Mexico in November of 1981, he arrived armed with a strong background of birding in Britain and the Western Palearctic, and an even stronger enthusiasm for the diverse and exotic birds of Northern Central America.But he also arrived without an adequate field guide.Indeed, to his surprise, he found that relatively little was known (and even less written) about the myriad of bird species that inhabit the region stretching from the U.S.-Mexican border to Nicaragua.And so, after eleven years of research in Northern Central America, and with the essential collaboration of Sophie Webb--a biologist and one of the most talented ornithological illustrators working today--we now have the definitive guide to birds of this fascinating region. drop rest as varied as the Laysan Albatross, the Blue-footed Booby, the Collared Trogon, even the rare Guadalupe Storm-Petrel.

A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is astonishingly comprehensive, covering the identification, status, and distribution of all 1,070 birds species known from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and western Nicaragua.No other book approaches the thoroughness of this unique field guide.Beautifully illustrated with seventy-one color plates and thirty-nine black and white drawings, the guide shows 750 species and includes many plumages never before depicted.Of special interest are illustrations of some of the most notoriously difficult groups to portray, such as raptors in flight, owls, and nightjars.In addition, superb, easy-to-read maps help the traveling birder locate particular--even rare--species, and the entries describing individual birds detail their appearance, voice, habitat, behavior (including nesting and eggs), and distribution. With the U.S. birder in mind, the guide also includes birds that can be seen north of the border, showing these American migrants on plates when they could be confused with similar Mexican species, thus enabling the birder to make quick and ready comparisons in the field.And, with readable and fascinating presentations of the natural history of Central American birds, this guide will be welcomed not only by seasoned birders, but by any traveler exploring the rain forests, coastlines, and deserts of Mexico and the Central American isthmus.

Sponsored by the distinguished Point Reyes Observatory in California, A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is a wonderful addition to the library of birders, nature enthusiasts, and travelers alike.With its lavish illustrations, clear writing, and unprecedented range, it offers hours of compelling reading and pleasant browsing for anyone intrigued by the colorful diversity of birds and the wild, largely unspoiled world next door. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Best Neotropical Field Guide - Hands down!
I will be brief - I find this to be the best field guide to the birds of any neotropical region currently available, and I pretty much have studied them all on depth! The only guides that come close to this level of usefulness are Hilty's Columbia field guide and the new Ridgely/Greenfield Ecuador 2 volume set. This book has excellent, seasonally specific range maps, and illustrates many plumage variations. I am astonished to read other reviews in which this book is considered cumbersome, because all too often smaller, lighter books sacrifice completness of information and thoroughness, which compromises their usefulness. True, it's a hefty volume, but it treats a complex avifauna without sacrificing necessary information. The other criticism I was surprised by was that the pictures were too "cartoonlike"; I have found these plates to be some of the most useful in the field, for they emphasize key characteristics with clarity. In the field, simplicity is far more practical than overly-detailed artwork which may be more lifelike, but blurs the differences between species. Anyway, praise for Howell! May this volume set an example for future field guides throughout Latin America!

The Best Guide for birders in Mexico
I've found this field guide quite complete, cause all the plates are well distributed, you can find the bird in perch & flying wich are really good when you're in the field, I've used this guide in all mexico for 4 months and work great!! even with the birds of tres marias island, it's rare find a book which describes the bird of this particular zone, the part describing the mexican border with guatemala it's fantastic, relating possible sightings of great birds of prey like (guiana crested eagle)in this part, and also mexican goverment used this book as a first bibliography, in it's bird conservation programmes,(parrot, birds of prey, passerines) first released on 1999 (PREPS)Semarnat.

i really recommed this book

Not exactly a field guide
I purchased this book before going to Mexico for a three-month research trip. While this guide is fairly complete, it is more than a little cumbersome to take along on any birding expedition. Also, some of the illustrations seem cartoon-like, especially after seeing the real bird in the wild. However, the general information at the beginning of the book about birding in Mexico was helpful, and it helped to initiate some interesting discussions with local nature guides.

Needs Pictures w/ Information
Used the book in Honduras (Ruinas Copan) and lowland Guatemala (Peten). Great work in many ways. Just needs to be more user and field friendly. In many ways it is far superior to Sibley's for NA, but lost many identifications due to not having picture adjacent to the text. Oh, more "in flight" information needed.

Best reading before/after birding Mexico
Of all books about birds of Mexico, this is the best. Very good illustrations and information. Some map distributions could do better, but everything else has been of great help. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A must for any level of birder in Costa Rica!
A great field guide! After 8 days, my guide was well worn. The "human type" guides that we went birding with on two occasions used the same field guide. They would tell me what plate to go to, from memory, to find the birds we were viewing. My husband, a novice birder, ID'd as many birds as I did using this book. The printed information on the birds was excellent also, as it clinched several ID's.

Its a good field guide!
Just back from 2 week guided tour to Costa Rica. This was a tour featured as "Nature's Museum" and led by a trained biologist that was good on bird ID, though his time was demanded more for logistics and keeping everyone of our 26 tourists happy by hitting the majors such as monkeys, butterflys, and birds like Quetzels, Motmots, and Toucans. I found the Stiles and Skutch guide to be most helpful. Recommend that a new user, read all of the general information just prior to a visit to the country. Also read in advance, the descriptions of bird families and look thru the plates to get a feel for birds you might see. Then when in the field, you can easily scan the plates, and check out the narrative descriptions, including their habits and ranges. Though this was not a bird trip, we did pick up 150 species that we felt comfortable on ID and perhaps a dozen unknowns mostly because of only flighting glimpes. About half were first called out by the local guides and the others by ourselves with help of the book. I find this book's info. on bird ranges to be most useful especially for neotropical migrants for which our North American guides generally ignore wintering areas south of US. One note of caution, is that the color plates aren't always perfect, for instance the tree swallow is too green, the palm tanager a bit too drab, and variants are not shown. Looks like there is room for a next generation "Sibleyian" guide to birds in central America.

If you have a more casual interest in birds, you may be more happy with "A Pocket Wildlife Guide" for Costa Rica, published by Rainforests Pub.,... commonly available locally in Costa Rica. It has nice color plates of common birds, butterflys, reptiles, and mammals.

One of the Best
This book along with the essay collection "Costa Rica : The Last Country the Gods Made" should be owned by anyone who loves Costa Rica, even if they think they despise nature studies as dry and limited. This book's spirit is undeniable.

Classic and Useful
It is hard to add much to the reviews provided by readers. The book is a superb guide to the birds of Costa Rica. It is a bit heavy and many guides cut the text out and bind the pictures into something a bit lighter for the field.

Working with birds in Costa Rica
Excellent book, invaluable for field and in-hand identification of birds in Costa Rica. If I could offer criticism, we need a more up to date edition (many species' range information needs updating a little) and species with strong population clines need more plates (eg Caribbean versus Pacific races). For birders visiting in the winter an extra book for US species (I recommend The North American Bird Guide by David Sibley) will compliment Stiles & Skutch for many variable and eclipse plumage migrants. ... Read more

Amazon.com

On a mission to map the migration of the peregrine falcon, Alan Tennantand his friend George Vose logged thousands of miles in a rattletrapCessna. On the Wing is as much quest narrative as nature book,and the tale of the two men's voyage is unforgettable. At their firstmeeting, when Tennant suggested that they track a radio-tagged falcon byair, WWII vet Vose assessed naturalist Tennant with a keen eye."Aviation takes intestinal fortitude, Mister. You were pretty green upthere today. Calm air, too." Nevertheless, Tennant convinced the gruff pilot that the project wasworthy, and they set off, soaring north over the dunes of Gulf Coastbarrier islands. The falcon was just a beeping signal to them most ofthe time, but they became obsessed with its movements. In the smallcockpit, they shared extremes of disappointment and elation as theydealt with bad weather, lost signals, run-ins with the Army, andequipment problems. They ended up posing as highway patrol officers,crossing international borders, and risking their lives in order to keepon the track of their wayward subject. Threaded into the funny and moving adventure story, Tennant scatterscasual snippets of science--peregrine falcon biology, pesticidetoxicology, and the little-understood fact of animal migration itself.The facts never get in the way of the fun, though--this is real WildKingdom action. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

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.

Reviews (27)

Love it and recommend it.Great novice field guide
I grew up with an aunt who loved Birding.When I was a child she gave me a Golden Books Guide.I havent birded since and decided to buy a new book and compare the two..Ken's guide blows it away..Many have opinions about the advantage/disadvantage of photographs or paintings, but after having the book I'll choose Ken s photos every time. He did a superb job with this book and photos. I always hated how the books with painted images appeared brighter in its colors than the birds in real life.I went thru most every pocket sized guide outthere and this book was my #1 pick.It has a tougher Flexicover than most all others and the color coded pages are quick and easy for a novice.The picture set ups are great and not jumbled/jammed together as other books.Granted this is not a desk manual so it only has the minumum required info on each bird, but thats all you need for a pocket field guide.

A new approach to a field guide...
This is an excellent book.If you are looking to buy a bird guide for yourself or as a gift, you can't go wrong with this.The problem of buying a bird guide is that there are so many to choose from;especially if the buyer has not been birding for several years.Personally,I would recommend this for a fairly new birder as opposed to Peterson's guide for one reason alone.this book covers all of North America.Peterson has one for the East and one for the West;and while if you only want your guide to use in either the East or West,that's not too bad,but if you are in the center of the continent, or plan to travel,you'll need both.So,simple ,why buy 2 when 1 will do?The Golden covers all N,A. but does not have the "arrows" pointing out the best identification features.I also feel the computer enhanced pictures are better;but that can be a matter of preference.The single page index at the back of Kenn's book will be a big help to new or average birders.Either of Kaufman,s Peterson,s or Golden are excellent to start birding.The National Geographic and Sibleys are also excellent;but a better choice for a more experienced (5+ years).Up until Kaufman's book,very few birders liked photographs ,as opposed to drawings,but this book has changed all that.
After saying all that,and it would be easy to go on comparing these guides,in the final analiyis ,you can't go too far wrong.If you or the person you are buying the book for takes birding serious you'll probably buy all the guides mentioned before too long.There are good points going for all of them.

best field guide
i own several bird guides and this is by far my very favorite.i love having the maps with the descriptions.i also like the notations about song and calls, which have helped me ID birds long before i have seen them. if you have to choose only one guide, i'd recommend this one.

I give this one to my friends
I've owned and enjoyed numerous field guides through my 50+ years of life: Peterson, Golden, National Geographic Society, Audubon, Sibley and Kaufman. My homes have been Illinois, Alaska and Montana. The guide I carry in the field today is Kaufman's BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA.

His digitally altered photographs are not as lovely as the paintings in the latest NGS, Sibley or Peterson guides (which I own and admire). His written comments are enjoyable, brief and apt. Kaufman's guide works best, I believe, for quick identification in the field. That is why this is the first bird book I give to my friends.

Negatives? Sure. I do not care for the colored pages (indexing okay, but not entire pages), and I think some of the owls look weird.

A great book for the casual birdwatcher
I bought this book a year ago so I could identify the birds coming to my backyard feeder, and I still keep it by my sofa.The illustrations are very good, the descriptions clear, and the maps showing the range of each of the birds very useful. I've been able to identify every bird passing through my yard, and even enjoy browsing the pitcures/write-ups of those birds I likely will never see. ... Read more

Book Description

Every January 1, a quirky crowd storms out across North America for a spectacularly competitive event called a Big Year -- a grand, expensive, and occasionally vicious 365-day marathon of birdwatching.For three men in particular, 1998 would become a grueling battle for a new North American birding record. Bouncing from coast to coast on frenetic pilgrimages for once-in-a-lifetime rarities, they brave broiling deserts, bug-infested swamps, and some of the lumpiest motel mattresses known to man. This unprecedented year of beat-the-clock adventures ultimately leads one man to a record so gigantic that it is unlikely ever to be bested. Here, prize-winning journalist Mark Obmascik creates a dazzling, fun narrative of the 275,000-mile odyssey of these three obsessives as they fight to win the greatest -- or maybe worst -- birding contest of all time. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

A great people study book.
I think anyone who reads this book thinking they are going to learn about birding, or how to brid watch, are going to be very disappointed. This is a book about people, and their obsessions, rather than birds. I can just imagine me in a roomful of people, and then trying to figure out who is the avid, obsessed, birder. Try it. I dare you to. To be honest, I picked this book up, and layed it back down at least three times before I really got past the intoduction. I had a narrow minded view about the book going into it, and I knew I could not possibly be interested in a book about bird watching. But, once I got into the characters, I was hooked. What a great read.

A great Bird Voyeur birding book!
I have to admit, before reading this book I was totally clueless about the "big year". I'd heard about life lists and scoffed. I watch birds because its interesting, I feed them because I feel guilty living on what used to be bird habitat. But I care not a whit whether or not I've seen all 600+ native species. I really enjoyed this story though. It's light reading, and very well written. I had no idea that those hummingbirds at my feeder had crossed the gulf of Mexico. I'm even more impressed. (by the birds, not the birders...)

But that Autu Alaska is now closed to birders who could at one time get to see non native species blown over by a storm, well I don't really care. It is great though that some people remember to live their passion. And that part is what makes this book a fun read.

The most exciting book I've read this year.
No, I'm not being sarcastic. I mean it. Big Year is full of laughs, twists and yes, some touching moments. I love bird watchingand road trips but the guys in Big Year are hard core competitors who operate on an entirely different plain than the novices.

The book is so well written that you can almost see yourself sitting in the backseat of Sandy Komito's Skuamobile as he prowls down the highway looking for birds. In fact, it's so vivid that Big Year would actually make a darn good movie. While reading it I kept imagining James Cagney or Oscar Levant as Komito, Gregory Peck or Walter Pigeon as Al Levantin and a very young Jimmy Stewart as Greg Miller, the wonderful optimist who decides to do a Big Year on the cheap.

The things these guys encounter while pursuing their passion such asmountain lions, cowboys with potbellied pigs, the horrors of economy flight, crocodiles, frozen graves, and icy cold outhouses are the stuff of adventure novels with a good sized dollop of comedy thrown in.

The Big year is fascinating, fun, and daydream inducing. I and most of the readers of the book will probably never get closer to a Big Year than vicariously through the book but after reading it I have started thinking that maybe, just maybe I could survive a one county Big Day.I loved the book and even my non nature loving friends found themselves laughing out loud when I read sections of it to them.

Great look at serious birding
Being a novice birder, I was very interested to read about what it takes to complete a Big Year, a calendar year of birding in which the participants try to see more species than anyone else.Apparently it takes an obsessive personality, a lot of money, and an unrelenting competitive spirit.Mark Obmascik captures all of this in his book which features the top 3 birders in the 1998 competition.The birders are as different as they are interesting.Sandy Komito is a former Big Year winner, Al Levantin is a retired CEO who lives in Aspen, and Greg Miller is a computer programmer who attempts to work full-time while doing a Big Year in his "spare time".Author Obmascik follows them all over North America, from the mosquitos of the Florida Everglades to the blinding snow storms of the remote island of Attu, and chronicles their successes, struggles, and failures.Adverse weather conditions, only an advantage to birders, allow these three men to tally huge numbers of birds.The book contains a lot of interesting birding history, insider practices, and a lot of laughs which make this a delightful read.

Extreme Birdwatching! Yuck!
I have always harbored a fantasy where I retire with lots of money (yeah, right) and spend my remaining years traveling around the country looking for birds I have never seen. Forget that I am not a birder, have never been able to memorize the tiniest fact about species, and am bad at identifying bird calls: The truth is I just love birds, and love to watch them on my backyard feeders.

Well, any fantasy I may have harbored was killed forever with this strange and off-putting story of competitive birders striving to outdo each other in sightings in one Big Year (not my term or even the author's; a legitimate competitive birding term). Yes, the writing is sprightly, humorous, well done and competent--the author is a birder himself, although not in the same league as the three gentlemen he describes who take off at the beginning of 1998 to break the Big Year record.

It seems to me that the more grueling the trek to spot a rare bird, the more humorous and tall-tale-like the stories became, the more put off I was. Nowhere in the book did I sense any joy of seeing a bird for its own sake, but rather for quickly spotting it, jotting it down in one's "life list" or Big Year list, and moving on. ALL the birders in the book appeared to me to care more about the competition and the listing of the birds than the birds themselves. In fact, in one horrifying story, an anonymous person actually KILLS a bird in order to make an identification. Although this is not condoned, it happens...and it's disgusting.

I disliked the book so much for its subject matter, I would have given it one star, but the writing is great, and this world of competitive bird watching is certainly described well, whether I liked it or not. Apparently, due to el nino and a strange combination of weather factors, 1998 was the biggest birding year of all time vis a vis The Big Year counts. Good. I hope I never have to read about it again! ... Read more

Book Description

A Neotropical Companion is an extraordinarily readable introduction to the American tropics, the lands of Central and South America, their remarkable rainforests and other ecosystems, and the creatures that live there. It is the most comprehensive one-volume guide to the Neotropics available today. Widely praised in its first edition, it remains a book of unparalleled value to tourists, students, and scientists alike. This second edition has been substantially revised and expanded to incorporate the abundance of new scientific information that has been produced since it was first published in 1989. Major additions have been made to every chapter, and new chapters have been added on Neotropical ecosystems, human ecology, and the effects of deforestation. Biodiversity and its preservation are discussed throughout the book, and Neotropical evolution is described in detail. This new edition offers all new drawings and photographs, many of them in color.

As enthusiastic readers of the first edition will attest, this is a charming book. Wearing his learning lightly and writing with ease and humor, John Kricher presents the complexities of tropical ecology as accessible and nonintimidating. Kricher is so thoroughly knowledgeable and the book is so complete in its coverage that general readers and ecotourists will not need any other book to help them identify and understand the plants and animals, from birds to bugs, that they will encounter in their travels to the New World tropics. At the same time, it will fascinate armchair travelers and students who may get no closer to the Neotropics than this engagingly written book. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Making you wish to go there
I've had to choose between 3 and 4 stars, but I'll stick to 4 stars.
It's really a good introduction to the natural history of the Neotropics. Yet, I've got the feeling that Mr. Kricher wants to tell us about too many things in too few space, thus leaving much things for further explanation. Of course, it's a heavy task to pack such a diversity in so small a book. The general introduction is thorough, but in the group description some groups remain heavily underexposed.
He shouldn't be playing on words this much only to let every pun be followed by a hypocritical "no pun intendeed". There's nothing against making puns, though.
The colour pictures do not add much to the book. I think he'd better have fewer and larger pictures than this stamp collection that give a somewhat disorderly impression.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it, making me wish to return to the neotropical rainforests.

A good companion to other books
Wonderfully researched, if sometimes silly in the execution. Like the other reviewers here mention, the incompetent use of puns is distracting. This book is best as a companion to other books on the subject or on a specific country.

I went to Costa Rica recently and I brought this book along with the coffee-table book, Costa Rica: The Last Country the Gods Made.

The essays, " New Conservation in the Costa Rican Parks System" and especially "House Made of Rain" touch on many of the subjects discussed in Kricher's text, albeit with MUCH more elegance in the writing!

Great Introductory Text
I found Kricher's text to be an enlightening, easy read for those interested in learning a subject they're not too familiar with. His explanations are satisfactory and he provides a broad, encyclopedic insight into the Neotropics as well as references for further reading. I also found his quips to be a nice break from the dry and tiresome technicalities that the topic often entails. Overall I think his book provides exactly what it he intended: an introductory text into Neotropical ecology.

Very, very good introduction to a tough topic
I thought this was a terrific introduction to the neotropics. The chapter on aquatic life was weak, and the author lowered himself to some unfortunate puns (he should have skipped the topic completely). The early chapters were the best.

For Students and Traveler's Alike!
Kricher's prose is easily read and digested with fascinating details of the workings in a tropical forest. A delightful read for both the student wishing to understand tropical ecology and the traveler who wishes to get a better feel for the environment in South America. Highly recommened. ... Read more

Book Description

Identifying shorebirds can be a challenge--and having a field guide specifically devoted to the species gives any birder an edge. Yet until now, no guide has illustrated or described the complete range of North and Central American shorebirds.

Dennis Paulson's book more than corrects that deficiency. This beautifully illustrated volume represents the first complete guide to North and Central American shorebirds ever published.

Unlike other guide books, which have traditionally relied on paintings to represent shorebirds, this one contains an extensive series of striking photographs--most never published before. More than 530 photos illustrate all shorebird species in their varied plumage, and are accompanied by text that points out the variation within common species.

The book also includes identification tips and ways for distinguishing shorebirds from all similar species, at rest and in flight. Brief descriptions of voice, behavior, habitat, and range are given for each species.

* First complete guide to North American and Central American shorebirds
* More than 530 striking photos
* Identification tips
* Descriptions of voice, behavior, habitat, and range

Book Description

A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, Second Edition provides a thorough, species-by-species guide to the breeding biology of the birds of North America. Some 669 breeding species are described in full, covering the birds of a vast area, from the Arctic to the southern boundary of the continental United States. The main text presents complete basic information on the breeding cycle of each species, summarized in a natural sequence: nest habitat, nest-site, nest construction, breeding season, eggs, incubation and nesting and nestling period. More than 700 color and line illustrations provide valuable information on the identification of the nests, eggs, and nestlings of 597 species. The book covers perhaps the most fascinating aspects of North American bird life, their reproduction and the care of their young, essential elements in the survival of any species. The book summarizes all that is known of this crucial part of a bird's life cycle, and by omission, points to what is yet unknown and may yet be discovered by the scientific ornithologist and birder alike. If your fascination in the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American birds centers on identifying them in the field, you will find this book essential. If conservation is also a concern, you will appreciate the value of understanding the breeding requirements and biology of even the most common of species. This book will prove invaluable whatever your interest in North American birds.

Key Features:

*

Describes nests, eggs, and nestlings and gives basic biological information on nesting and breeding biology
*

Includes up-to-date coverage of all North American breeding species, including Alaska and Canada in one comprehensive volume
*

Contains more than 700 color and line illustrations of nests, eggs, and nestlings

Species List by Family:
Loons: Gaviidae. Grebes: Podicipedidae. Shearwaters: Procellariidae. Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae. Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae. Pelicans: Pelecanidae. Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae. Darters: Anhingidae. Frigatebirds: Fregatidae. Bitterns and Herons: Ardeidae. Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiomithidae. Storks: Ciconiidae. Swans, Geese, and Ducks: Anatidae. American Vultures: Catharidae. Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Allies: Accipitridae. Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae. Guans: Cracidae. Partridges, Grouse, Turkey, and Quail: Phasianidae. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae. Limpkins: Aramidae. Cranes: Gruidae. Plovers: Charadriidae. Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae. Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae. Jacanas: Jacanidae. Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies: Scolopacidae. Jaegers, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae.Auks, Murres, and Puffins: Alcidae. Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae. Parakeets and Parrots: Psittacidae. Cuckoos, Roadrunner, and Anis: Cuculidae. Barn Owls: Tytonidae. Typical Owls: Strigidae. Goatsuckers: Caprimulgidae. Swifts: Apodidae. Hummingbirds: Trochilidae. Trogons: Trogonidae. Kingfishers: Alcedinidae. Woodpeckers: Picidae. Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae. Larks: Alaudidae. Swallows: Hirundinidae. Jays, Magpies, and Crows: Corvidae. Titmica: Paridae. Verdin: Remizidae. Bushtits: Aegithalidae. Nutcatchers: Sittidae. Creepers: Certhiidae. Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae. Wrens: Troglodytidae. Dippers: Cinclidae. Old World Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Old World Flycatchers, Thrushes and Wrentit: Uscicapidae. Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Mimidae. Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae. Waxwings Bombycillidae. Silky-Flycatchers: Ptilogonatidae. Shrikes: Laniidae. Starlings: Stumidae. Vireos: Vireonidae. Wood-Warblers, Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbreaks, Sparrows, Buntins, Blackbirds, and Allies: Emberizidae. Fringinlline and Carueline Finches and Allies: Fringillidae. Old World Sparrows: Passeridae. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Good Reference Book, NOT a Field Guide.
First of all, let me stress to potential buyers that this book is NOT a field guide. It is however a rather thourough reference book. The authors describe what kind of habitat the birds breed in, what the nests look like, the eggs, incubation, the nestlings, and nestling period. They also tell when the breeding season is. There are very, very few drawings of nests. There are sixteen pages of color plates showing paintings of nestlings. And another forty-seven pages of color plates showing photos of eggs. The smaller eggs are shown actual size, but the larger eggs are shown 3/4's or 9/10's of actual size. Why not go ahead and make them actual size even if it means adding a few more pages? I think this book is a good companion to the Peterson guides to bird nests (where you will see actual bird nests with eggs.) It would be great if David Allen Sibley would write or at least illustrate the ultimate guide to bird nests.

Superb reference
"A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds" by Baicich and Harrison is a sorely needed reference to a subject familiar and interesting to both casual birdwatchers and serious ornithologists. Up to now, the standard reference was Hal Harrison's "Birds' Nests" (one for the eastern U.S., another for the west), Peterson Field Guides published in 1975. As the title indicates, these books feature photographs of nests (one picture per species), most with eggs. Many nests (and eggs) look alike, and these books are not especially helpful in identifying nests or their contents. While the Peterson Guide to eastern nests, for example, covered only 285 species, the Baicich and Harrison book covers 669 species nesting in North America.

Baicich and Harrison have created a book that is both practical and beautiful. The first 16 color plates portray dozens of nestling birds -- even the most un-anthropomorphic of us will find many of them cute! A number of the plates show the distinctive "gapes" or open mouths of the nestlings. The rest of the nearly 50 plates are eggs, carefully rendered to show subtle characteristics in color and pattern and displayed to show relative size. For some species, more than one egg is shown to demonstrate variety. These plates are so well done that the varying degrees of gloss are captured, an extremely useful detail. Opposite each plate is a short description of the eggs of the family, a key to the species, and the page number of the text.

The text section contains additional black-and-white sketches of nestlings and nests of many species. Text is concise but thorough, covering breeding habitat, a description of the nest including materials and placement, dates of the breeding season, a description of the eggs including measurements, details on the incubation and nestling periods, and a description of the nestling.

The introductory material is worthwhile as well. A short section on the legal and ethical considerations of studying nesting birds is wisely included. Discussions on each of the items included in the text are presented. These go beyond a simple definition and into some detail. For instance, the paragraphs on eggshell color tell us that newly laid eggs can briefly have a pinkish hue; the types of pigments that color eggshells; that while there might be variation within the species, each female usually lays consistently-colored eggs; and what causes abnormally colored eggs. The mechanics of hatching and the types of nestlings and their anatomy are also covered. Next, there is fine text on responsible nest-finding techniques and an overview of nest monitoring and recordi