Book Description

This guide brings together, for the first time within a single volume, a comprehensive review of all the world's pheasants, partridges, quails, grouse, turkeys, guineafowl, buttonquails, sandgrouse, and the enigmatic Plains-wanderer--over 250 species in all. The group includes some of the world's most familiar and beautiful birds, such as the Indian peafowl and the stunning tragopans, as well as some of the rarest and most threatened. This book concentrates on detailed identification and distribution, but also highlights conservation issues where relevant. The seventy-two color plates, by leading bird illustrators, show male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages, and form the finest set of illustrations of these birds to date. There is also a color distribution map for each species.

Pheasants, Partridges, and Grouse is a landmark volume in the literature of this attractive and vulnerable group of birds.

*Comprehensive identification guide to over 250 species of pheasants, partridges, and grouse throughout the world
*Detailed text covering identification, description, geographical variation, voice, status, habitat and behavior, distribution, movements, and measurements
*72 color plates depicting male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages
*Information on conservation issues
*Glossary, index, reference, and bibliography

Reviews (1)

Excellent book on the basics
As with the vast majority, but not all, books that bite off huge taxonomic groups this one fails to provide detailed updated information on this group but does provide an overview and excellent illustrations. If you desire more than the basics purchase Johnsgard's books or some other title that limits its treatment. If its the basics that you desire its worth the money. ... Read more

Book Description

Marie Winn is our guide into a secret world, a true wilderness in the heart of a city. The scene is New York's Central Park, but the rich natural history that emerges here--the loons, raccoons, woodpeckers, owls, and hundreds of visiting songbirds--will appeal to wildlife lovers everywhere. At its heart is the saga of the Fifth Avenue hawks, which begins as a love story and develops into a full-fledged mystery.

At the outset of our journey we meet the Regulars, a small band of nature lovers who devote themselves to the park and its wildlife. As they watch Pale Male, a remarkable young red-tailed hawk, woo and win his first mate, they are soon transformed into addicted hawk-watchers. From a bench at the park's model-boat pond they observe the hawks building a nest in an astonishing spot--a high ledge of a Fifth Avenue building three floors above Mary Tyler Moore's apartment and across the street from Woody Allen's.

The drama of the Fifth Avenue hawks--hunting, courting, mating, and striving against great odds to raise a family in their unprecedented nest site--is alternately hilarious and heartbreaking. Red-Tails in Love will delight and inspire readers for years to come. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Terrific! Well-written about hawks,humans and Central Park
Ms Winn presents the story of red-tailed hawks that appeared in New York City and their unlikely selection of a posh condo building to locate their nest. She does a tremendous job of weaving birds, birders, and others who played key parts in putting this story together. This is not a book just for serious birdwatchers; I keep an eye on my birdfeeders, but have no great interest in doing more than watching. The book does address the adaptability of wildlife to urban areas (nesting in skyscapers, dining on pigeons and rats) with the availability of parkland nearby. Red-Tails in Love is quite readable, with brief encounters with the likes of Woody Allen, Mary Tyler Moore, and an astronomer key in the vital process of reading bird bands from afar. The book would be an excellent choice for anyone who wants a good read, nonfiction, with an element of suspence and lots of humor.

Brilliant!
This was one of the best books I have read this year. I'm not a bird watcher by any means, and, despite the drama that I'm obviously missing, do not intend to become one. Nevertheless, I was captivated and moved by the story of Pale Male, a red-tailed hawk who builds a nest in Central Park, and then builds another, and then builds yet another. I thought the writing and story-telling were superb. The way Winn intertwined the story of the hawks with the story of the people watching the hawks, complete with celebrity references (if you blink you'll miss Glenn Close), was excellent. (It did not occur to me until the acknowledgments that one of the reasons the story-telling was so good is that the author is married to a film-maker, who offered advice on how to keep the story moving.)

Perhaps because I'm just not into birds generally, I was less interested in those parts of the book that did not relate to the hawks. Of these sections, the more memorable birds were the saw-whet owls and the woodpeckers. But the prose about these birds is not as moving as the prose about the hawks. Or, perhaps the hawk story is just so well-done it makes the other birds seem, if I can resort to anthropomorphism, pedestrian.

The book is obviously a labor of love, and it was a pleasure to read.

A must read!
I read this book as Pale Male's latest brood are preparing to fledge. This book is interesting, insightful, funny, sad - and absolutely entertaining!

A must read for New Yorkers, animal lovers, and those who like a tale to be told well.

Charming and Delightful
This book is everything a book should be. Funny, sad, entertaining, well written and truly captured my attention. I didn't want to put it down. I only wish that I had been there!

Marie Winn Makes Bird-Watching Irresistible.
"Red-Tails In Love" is more than a story of migrant red-tail hawks raising a family in the middle of Manhattan. It's the most inspiring piece of writing about birding that I've ever read. This book would entice anyone to break out the binoculars and head outdoors to meet the avian neighbors. Author Marie Winn, who also writes a nature column for the Wall Street Journal, tells the tale of her birding colleagues, a group of regular bird watchers in New York's Central Park, and their obsession over the course of a few years with a pair of red-tailed hawks' attempts to breed in the midst of America's largest urban jungle. The drama repeats itself every year as the hawks try to cope with threats from humans and birds alike in order to raise broods of young red-tails in their 5th Avenue nest -ensconced in some of Manhattan's most prestigious real estate, no less. The most incredible part of the story is the rehabilitation of several injured female red-tails, who make their way back to Central Park and annually provide the birdwatchers with a new mystery to solve as to the identity of Pale Male's mate. Interspersed with the adventures of the hawks and hawk-watchers are other stories of bird-watching in the Park, including unusual sightings, some near-disasters with the city's Parks Department, and introductions to some very knowledgeable, and occasionally colorful, birders. In the last section of the book, entitled "A Wildlife Almanac", you will find guides to "Birds Through the Year in Central Park", "Butterflies of Central Park", "Migrating Hawks Over Central Park", "A Taste or Two Along the Way" (edible plants), and a map of the park. The guides are written by some of the Park's birding "Regulars" who are experts in those subjects, and contain information on where and when to find the species mentioned. If you live in New York City or are planning an extended visit, you may find this section of the book extremely useful. And to think that when I lived in New York City, it never occurred to me to go bird-watching in Central Park. If I ever return there, I won't make that mistake again. "Red-Tails In Love" is a very readable story of birds who thrive in an urban environment and the humans who are fascinated by them. It's a real page-turner...and a cure for anyone who ever thought birds were boring. The best thing about this book is that makes bird-watching irresistible. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide includes the nest and eggs of 285 species found in the 26 states east of the Mississippi River. Descriptions of breeding range and time, habitat, and nests and eggs are enhanced by 222 color photographs. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Not Many Like This Out There
This is a highly recommended book for identifying bird's nests.It's amazing to see all the different types of nests that birds make.These creatures have true workmanship.It must have been a great challenge forthe photographer(s) to find and photograph all the different neststhroughout this fascinating book.You don't see many books out there onthe market like this, so I recommend it.

Unique and excellent resource for birders.
This book has information which to my knowledge cannot be found anywhere else.The photographs of nests and eggs must be seen to be appreciated.It is not difficult to identify a bird on the basis of its nest or eggusing this book. ... Read more

Book Description

The winning photo-encyclopedic formula of the DK Handbook series, which have sold over five million copies, is taken to new heights in these comprehensive guides to the birds of North America. Created in association with one of America's leading learning institutions, the Smithsonian, Birds of North America are an absolute staple for any birder or ornithologist. Containing a superior visual format with more information than any other bird guides on the market, these books feature more than 700 species in the United States and Canada, each one receiving its own full-page profile along with a precise description and annotated photographs to highlight chief characteristics and other points of interest. An introductory overview for each species is followed by six important sections that no competitor to these books covers in full. With over 1,000 total photographs and a range map for each entry, these remarkable guides will have bird-lovers soaring! The 100th Parallel of Longitude is the dividing line between the Eastern and Western volumes. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Gorgeous !!!1
While looking for a gift for an elderly relative who likes to watch birds but is not an avid birder, I happened upon this gorgeous book and was so impressed with it.

It is beautifully organized and illustrated. Birds are described by song, breeding habits, nesting, behavior, migration, population, flight pattern, conservation, as well as by the more obvious characteristics used for identification such as size, head, plummage, tail, markings, trill, and behavior.

Each page is laid out so nicely and with great clarity, and has space for notes on where and when the bird was sighted.

The silhouettes of the birds in flight was an interesting addition to the identification process.

The author(s) also included the variations within each species (variations due to sex, juvenile status, seasonal characteristics, and genetic differences).

One section contained the anatomy of a bird and another the orthinological terms, illustrated. Both were most interesting and added to making birds easier to identify.

Not really a field guide, not really a natural history guide
Once upon a time, people who wished to identify and learn about birds found few books from which to choose. Today, however, there are many, and the competition between them for birders' purchasing dollars is keen. I tend to buy just about any book that bills itself as a "guide to the birds of North America," however, so I recently picked up Fred J. Alsop III's new Smithsonian Handbook. There is much to appreciate and enjoy here, and I can recommend the book as a welcome supplement to anyone's basic bird guide collection (especially people living the western states). However, by itself it is adequate neither as a guide to bird identification nor as a supplemental source of information about bird habits and natural history.

This book is long (752 pages) and definitely hefty. No one but a true masochist would consider carrying it into the field. Consequently, in terms of helping with bird identification, this guide at best can serve as a supplement to other current field guides. In this capacity, the book will indeed be useful with respect to many birds. Each full-page treatment of a species includes lots of useful information, including key field marks, range, vocalizations, distinctive behavioral habits, nesting habits, and even flight patterns.

The key to whether or not this works for particular types of birds lies in Alsop's approach to bird illustration. Here, he relies mainly upon high-quality photographs. For most birds, particularly songbirds, this works adequately. However, as is just about always the case with bird guides illustrated with photos, the results are uneven. Some of the photos are spectacular, but a few are so-so. What's more important, however, is that Alsop's reliance upon a single large photo for each bird precludes adequate illustration of species for which inclusion of more than one picture is essential. This mainly includes species for which flight patterns are important, including gulls, terns, pelagics, hawks, shorebirds, waterfowl, swifts and swallows, and nightjars. This adds up to a lot of species.

Traditional field guides also provide additional illustrations to show immature or fall plumages. Alsop does try to include additional illustrations for some of these plumages, but these extra drawings mostly are so tiny as to be virtually useless. For some species, at least, he would have done better to limit some of the verbal information to accommodate more space for these additional illustrations.

One of the strengths of the book is Alsop's obvious commitment to providing the reader with information pertaining to each bird's behavior, nesting habits, and population/conservation. Because the author is combining this effort with identification material, however, the book doesn't measure up to certain others in terms of being a complete "natural history guide."

To his credit, Alsop includes some extra materials that are welcome and well-done. There is a section on extinct species (including the Ivory-billed woodpecker, which apparently may not be extinct after all), and also some "how to's" on birding as a pastime.

Overall, however, I can recommend this book mainly to people who really enjoy owning lots of bird books. A good strategy for birders generally is to purchase one (or more) good field guides for identification purposes, and then to supplement these with another good book that provides natural historical information. This volume certainly has its uses and contains lots of excellent information, but in trying to be both identification guide and natural history guide, it doesn't truly succeed in either function.

A true all inclusive guide...
This is a wonderful book; each page has a single bird on it with all related information to the bird i.e. migrations (map showing in color what time of year the bird is found where), feeders, identifacation with clear pictures, song of the bird, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, conservation, size, wingspan, family, species, nest identification tips and chart, and habitat locations. In my opinion this book would be classified as a "must have" for a lover of birds and especially for a novice just getting into birds it is a excellent identification tool.

Apparently still a secret
As a 40+ year novice birdwatcher, and incurable lover of books, I have acquired numerous field guides over the years. Raised on Peterson, in recent years I have enjoyed the Audubon guides by Farrand. Looking for something newer, I was assured that "The Sibley Guide to Birds" was now the king of the hill. Next to Sibley on my dealer's bookshelf was this Alsop. I already knew the publisher-Dorling Kindersley. They have perfected the art of visual teaching. This same teaching technique works very well for a nature field guide. There is a single page devoted to each species. The page is well laid out but packed with the information you want. The illustrations are superb-better than the Sibley. This book is a masterpiece, and I think will become a well-loved legend. It far surpasses Sibley, Peterson, and other field guides at this general, comprehensive level. Despite its breadth, it would be perfect for a beginning birdwatcher of any age. It must be new-I can't find it reviewed anywhere! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An Aukful story of extinction
Ask anyone you know with even a cursory knowledge of birds and animals to name you an extinct species. After the Dodo, the Great Auk will probably be the most frequently mentioned name. The reason the story of the Auk's extinction has remained in our brains, in the recesses yes, but remembered nevertheless, is because of the sheer size and horrific destruction associated with the hunting to extinction of the bird.

The book deals not just with the hunting of these large flightless birds (think Penguin) for food but also looks at what their feathers, fat and oils were used for. Other subjects include the history of the trade, a full description of the birds appearance and it's behaviour. Although the last bird died in 1844 the story does not end with their demise. Fuller talks about the stuffed specimens and the eggs and how the greed associated with the Auk's extinction continued in the behavoir of collectors and museums.

Plenty of color illustrations. Gift for a bird lover.

The best book ever written on a single account of extinction
Fuller's book cannot possibly be surpassed on its subject, the extinction and remaining artifacts of the The Great Auk. A truly amazing book which details every stuffed auk from around the world, as well as all the eggspecimens. Mostly with photographs, the history of how each specimenfinally came to its current residence of display is a story in itself.Great detail is given to theobsessive collectors and dealers through thelast 150 years also. Forget the price, just buy this book! Fuller's own Aukis photographed extensively in colour. Only question remaining on thesubject is, What did Eric Fuller pay for his Greak Auk?"

stunning
a volume with meticulous research, and also a sad inventory of the last specimens of this extinct bird. Let us hope there won't be too many books in this serie.

EXTINCT BIRD LOVERS PARADISE
THIS IS A MOST EXCELLENT AND SUMPTUOUS BOOK.THE AUTHOR COMBINES IN HIS STYLE VICTORIAN IDEAS ABOUT COLLECTING WITH MODERN CONCERNS ABOUT CONSERVATION.A BETTER MAP WOULD BE IN ORDER"TRY FINDING FUNKISLAND".HE OPINES THAT LIKE THE PASSENGER PIGEON,GREAT AUKS CAN ONLYEXIST IN GREAT NUMBERS"PG.63" HE ALSO DOES NOT TELL US WHAT HEPAID FOR HIS OWN SPECIMEN."PG.141" A BEAUTIFUL AND TECHNICALBOOK. ... Read more

Book Description

Published in association with America's preeminent authority, the Smithsonian Institution, this comprehensive handbook to the birds of North America: Eastern Region includes 706 species ---- all birds known to breed east of the 100th meridian on the United States and Canada, as well as regular visitors and vagrants to this region.The Smithsonian Handbook is the first identification guide that includes details of the bird's life history in a concise and user--friendly format. Each full--page profile combines a precise description, annotated photographs, and artworks to highlight the key field marks of the species in each plumage. Similar species are shown and distinguishing characteristics are noted. Further information on the bird's habits describes the typical song and other vocalizations, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation concerns. Typical flight patterns and nest locations and shapes are described with clear icons, and amplified in the text. Each bird's range during summer, winter, and on migration is clearly shown on a map. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Something new for the birdwatcher
Here's a fine addition to the serious birdwatcher's library. Well illustrated showing juvenile and sex variations in plumage, maps and range for each species, details about similar types, population, etc. Only drawback for the birder is the heft of the book. This is no in-the-pocket volume but should be taken along on any auto trip as reference.

a useful companion guide
I take issue with the Book News Review. Every birding guide has strengths and weaknesses, and few (if any) can compete with Sibley on illustrations. This book's main attribute is its standardized format that provides song, behavior, breeding, nesting, fight pattern, nest identification and similar birds for every species, plus a sighting checkoff at the bottom of each page. The comprehensive information makes it a useful companion to other guides. As for field portability, my reliable, dog-eared Peterson's still wins out.

a helpful companion birding guide
I take issue with the Book News review. Every birding guide has strengths and weaknesses. For illustrations, we'll leave that to Sibley. The Alsop book's attribute is its standardized format of song, behavior, breeding, nesting and population summaries, plus similar birds, flight patterns and nest identification, for every species. This comprehensive information makes it a useful companion to other birding guides. The Alsop guide may be too heavy to carry in the field (my trustworthy, dog-eared Peterson's still wins out here), but it doesn't take up too much room in the car trunk.

Bird Identification made easier.....
Did you ever try to decide whether the little wren on the back patio was a Winter Wren, a Carolina Wren, Bewick's Wren, or a House Wren? With this book you can add a few more wrens to your list. You'll also find plenty of Sparrows, Warblers, and members of other bird families. BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA: EASTERN BIRDS contains a comprehensive listing of the birds who spend at least part of their year living east of the Mississippi as well as plenty of western birds of interest--like the House Finch who migrated east. This book is large-more than 700 pages-so it's heavy, but it has a plasicized cover so you can haul it in your backpack if you're strong. Since the Smithsonian developed it, the book is literally jam-packed with information, including: a description with a color photo; call notes; habitat; nesting habits; relative size (the bird is silhouetted against the book); bird look-alikes; and plenty of other useful stuff. Each bird receives a full page of coverage. My only complaint, and it's barely worth mentioning is that the maps appearing with each bird entry are a bit small. In some cases a bird's domain is barely visiable, but partly that's owing to the demise of the domain. You not only will discover where the little guys summer, winter, and breed, you'll discover which birds are threatened with extinction owing to the human caused destruction of their habitats. The book contains a listing of now-extinct birds, each of them profiled as the still living birds have been. The loss of the Carolina Parakeet is the saddest tale. Carolina Parakeets were once prolific. They ranged over most of the Eastern United States. They were so loyal to their flock mates the live birds would fly to the side of the dead and dying birds. As they hovered around their dying mates hunters killed them. (John Muir pointed out ages ago that animals feel sorrow, and all of us who are close to animals know this.) The Carolina Parakeet was destroyed for it's feathers. The Veery is facing a similar fate. Not only is it's habitat being destroyed, the lichen it depends on is disappearing from the trees in the Eastern part of the country and around the Great Lakes owing to air pollution. (Think twice about those polluting smoke stacks and SUVs!!) Talk about a canary in the mine!! Bird-watching is a pleasurable past time I have shared with grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, and now share with my children and grandchildren. If we all don't get more serious about preserving the places birds live and breed there won't be any birds to watch. The Smithsonian is dedicated to preserving our heritage. It's Guide will raise your consciousness and help you identify many more birds than you ever thought possible. ... Read more

Book Description

Describing all of Colombia's birds, Steven Hilty and William Brown bring together information on one of the world's largest avifaunas-nearly 1,700 species. Over half of all the species of birds in South America are included, thus making the book useful in regions adjacent to Colombia, as well as in the country itself. The primary purpose of the work is to enable observers to identify the birds of the region, but it also provides detailed species accounts and will serve as an important handbook and reference volume. Fifty-six lavish color plates, thirteen halftone plates, and ninety-nine line drawings in the text illustrate over 85% of the species, including most of the resident birds. Notes on the facing-page of each place, and range maps of 1,475 species, facilitate identification.

Written with the field observer in mind, the text gives special attention to comparisons of similar species, transcriptions of voices, and comments on behavior, status, and habitat. It also provides ranges, breeding data, and references. Notes outline taxonomic problems and briefly describe species that eventually may be found in Colombia. Introductory chapters and photographs highlight Colombia's geography, climate, and vegetation, and discuss migration and conservation questions, and the history of Colombian ornithology. Appendices contain a large bibliography, a section on birding locations, and coverage of two of Colombia's far-flung island territories, Isla San Andrés and Providencia. Maps depicting vegetation zones, political boundaries, national parks, and the most text localities are included. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

¡Qué belleza!
Es un libro que no debe faltar en la biblioteca de ningún ornitólogo. Describe casi la totalidad de especies de aves del país con más especies de aves en el mundo. Excelente.

An example for every Field Guide
This work is all a bird watcher could wish for. The splendid paintings by Tudor add to the very helpful in-depth descriptions. Completed by nearly 1500 distribution maps there's nothing left to wish, except go out there and see them. I used it when birding in Peru and I could still determine nearly all the birds I saw.
It's an example for every bird field guide.

Made birding in Amazonia easy
Since no definitive bird guide is available for the Amazon region and Brazil in general, I was forced to choose between this guide and the Birds of Venezuela. I ended up with Hilty and Brown's book by sheer coincidence, and I was not at all disappointed. The text and information is superb throughout, and I was able to identify several species on habitat description alone. For example, the authors clearly describe the preference of many taxa for varzea (seasonally flooded) or terra firme forests, which made a fleeting glimpse more of a certainty, and the range descriptions were invaluable. If I have only one very minor criticism, it is that I have never found plates in black and white particularly helpful, and since several artists were employed, there were differences in visual interpretation in several groups (e.g. the Picidae). However, these are minor detractions from an outstanding volume.

Native peoples laud volume
In my linguistic work with a native people of Colombia I have found Hilty & Brown to be an invaluable resource for my learning of vocabulary and for adding countless items to the dictionary. The research done for this book is accurate. For example, when the authors say a given species is found in the area where our indigenous friends live, our friends verify that time after time.

The best for Neotropical South American birds
This is currently the best field guide for the Amazon Basin, and anywhere in Colombia. As the worlds #1 bird nation, this bird guide gives you a good insight into the birds of tropical South America, with national maps and still-adequate recomendations of where to see birds. The guide includes illustrations of most of the birds of Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, all of which lack comprehensive bird guides. Venezuela has a guide, but not as detailed as this one for the Amazon basin. You can't go wrong with this if visiting Neotropical South America in search of birds. ... Read more

Book Description

The Secret Lives of Hummingbirds takes the reader into the sometimes-mysterious, always-fascinating world of North American hummingbirds. The text, which is supplemented by numerous sidebars and 29 full-color photographs, is written in an engaging, comprehensible manner.

Topics covered in this book include: anatomical adaptations of hummingbirds, coevolution of hummingbirds and their flowers, convergent evolution of North American hummingbirds and North American hummingbird flowers, territorial and reproductive behavior, migration and distribution, the Desert Museum's hummingbird aviary, and attracting and enjoying wild hummingbirds. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Jewel's Of The Air!!!
A fantastic insight into the amazing world of the Hummer! As a Southern California native, we have many species of Hummingbirds and this book gives a great basic overview of the little jewel's of the air!

Wonderful book!!
I bought this book for my dad who lives in Tuscon AZ because of all the different species he has there (here in VA we're blessed with the Ruby-throated little sprites but no others). The pictures in this book are worth it alone. They're close-up and amazing! It really does give you a good peek into the lives of hummers. Highly recommend especially as a gift book for an overview of hummers (other books give more in-depth details of their real lives, miration but this gives a great overview)

Great little book
I bought this book when I visited the Arizona Sonoran Desert Museum. It was nice and short to read, with a variety of topics covered. I really enjoyed it, and the pictures were great too. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Aloof and powerful, the once endangered bald eagle is slowly making a comeback, ecologically speaking, throughout much of North America, to which it is unique. For the last two decades wildlife photographer John Pezzenti has been recording this reversal of fortunes, traveling where the eagles do and bringing home images from his travels, some 150 of which are gathered in this volume. Many of Pezzenti's striking views come from the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, home to a huge concentration of bald eagles; some 20,000 nesting pairs are found in the region, nourished by silver salmon and other large fish. Pezzenti captures images of little-seen aspects of eagle behavior, including courtship flights that involve several males, who compete to mate with a female by exhibiting an "impressive display of calls and acrobatic maneuvers." He also provides the only photographic record yet published of eagles hatching in the wild, a sequence that alone is worth the price of the book. While noting that conditions are much improved, especially after the federal ban of the use of the pesticide DDT, Pezzenti observes that bald eagles are not yet wholly safe from harm; a thriving black market for flight feathers exists, in which a single white tail plume can bring a thousand dollars. For admirers of this spectacular raptor, Pezzenti's book is required reading. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (6)

without exception
John Pezzenti has the nobility of an eagle...the stamina of a panther and the endurance of an owl intent on it's foe. He is beyond any human explanation of what a photograher should or could ever aspire to be. When I experience his photograghs I am transformed to the reality that all mankind could benifit from his example. We are but players in the realm of a wonderous life cycle...not within our command but certainly within our protection. Thank You John for your gift and sharing it!

Pezzenti brilliantly captures spirit of American Eagle!
Prepare yourself for another exhilarating adventure by one of wildlife photography's most talented photojournalists. John Pezzenti, Jr. has the unique ability to take his reader on a journey filled with fascinating tales and unparalleled photographs. In the American Eagle Pezzenti brilliantly captures the very essence and spirit of an American treasure - the powerful and majestic bald eagle - photographed by many but rarely to such perfection. Depicting the bald eagle in every conceivable situation, Pezzenti begins his photographic journey from the Florida Everglades through picturesque New England and northwest to Alaska - his home territory. I thoroughly enjoyed Pezzenti's engaging stories and portrayals of the dedicated eagle protectors across America who work tirelessly toward the survival of this magnificent bird. The photos alone make The American Eagle a "must have" for anyone with an adventurous spirit and a love of America's national treasure. Once again, Pezzenti has proven himself to be one of wildlife's finest photographers working in the field today.

Stunningly beautiful images!
Not long ago I sat with John Pezzenti Jr. in his beat up Suburban that he uses for nature photography as rain pounded upon the roof. John showed me a pre-release copy of his newest book, American Eagle. My 13 year old nephew from California looked over my shoulder as I turned each page, stunned by the breadth and depth of John's photographic coverage of this symbol of America. To say this is a remarkable book is an under statement. My nephew summed up how magnificant this book is when we were driving back home. "John's pictures are amazing," Shane said. "I'm going to start saving today so I can buy that book when it comes out!"

Truely remarkable!
Wow!! From the time you see the cover, you are completely riveted to the spectacular images contained within the pages of this incredible effort. John has captured on film the story of the Bald Eagle like no other. From birth to adolescence, maturity and death Jonh's stunning images ( many never before photographed behavior)have given us the rare opportunity to glimpse into the world of this magnificent bird. The pages take you across the country illustrating the plight of the eagle, as well as conservation efforts to re-establish it throughout its traditional range. Each photograph illustrates John's dedication, passion and incredible ability. I look forward to seeing more from this extremely talented man. I highly recommend this book to all. Congratulations John, continue your groundbreaking work!

ONCE AGAIN, PEZZENTI'S WORK SECOND TO NONE
Finally, a book on our nation's icon that does not bore you to death in thirty seconds with facts and statistics. Instead, the information is laid in and between the personal and heart-warming stories of biologists, scientists, and unique people that are responsible for our eagle's return. The narrative, although short, gives us the true reasons the Bald Eagle is back and repopulating our skies. In relationship to Mr. Pezzenti's photography, it is clear that he is not only unparalleled in his field, but has taken nature photography to a new level. He is without a doubt, second to none.

After reviewing an advanced copy five times, my mind still could not absorb the imagery of Bald Eagles in this book. How on earth does Pezzenti capture not only eagles fighting in mid-air, but the multitude of eagle photos with clarity, precision, and artistic appeal? Impossible! As a naturalist and nature lover, I believe that Mr. Pezzenti would be hard-pressed to duplicate his Alaska book (actually, no one ever will). But his American Eagle certainly runs a close second. I love this book. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A Great Birding Guide
I had owned this book for years, and always had it close at hand so that I could look up a bird that I had just seen. Now, the book has come out with a new edition with companion CD's and it is even nicer. First off, the book has beautiful pictures of the birds, one on each page, and a nice description on the next page. The CD's, and there are two of them, give a nice introduction to each bird's songs and calls. Each entry is quite long so that you really get to hear what eachbird sounds like. The order of the bird songs on the CD's corresponds to the book. The author gives interesting comments about each bird's song and call. I own several birdsong CD's and I believe that this is the best. I highly recommend the book and CD's and I am sure that it would be valuable for those living in states other than Michigan too.

Great little book
I love this book! Large, accurate pictures and easy to use (the bird info is on the page opposite the pic, no more thumbing through to find it!). It deserves to be in every Michigan bird lover's library.

Very Good for Beginners
This is a very good book for Michigan birdwatchers who are just beginning to learn their birds. The birds are organized by color. This is very helpful to beginners, but bad for birders with a little experience. In the "brown" category the Mourning Dove is right next to the Pied-Billed Grebe. So the water fowl are spread all throughout the book, which is not helpful if you know enough about birds to at least know that what you are looking for is a water fowl. The same goes for all the other types of birds. Organization by color has its problems.

Still, the pictures are a rather good quality and the range maps are helpful, as are the author's comments about each bird.
In short, a very good book for beginners (and older children); not a book for birders witheven a little experience.

Stop shopping and just buy this book!Deserves SIX STARS!
I don't consider myself "well read", but I know a great book when I see one.The cover hints what's in store when your thumbs open the book for the first time-brilliant and sharp color photographs that show both sexes, birds are organized by color (very nice), Michigan maps of where different species can be found (including county outlines), in-depth characteristic descriptions, a "compare feature" for distinguishing similar looking birds...and as the title states, ALL featured species actually live in Michigan!

The overall size of the book is perfect for the back pocket or to carry a field without giving the arm a workout.Pages are of quality paper stock.The author has a very logical approach; he gives the reader accurate, easy to find information on birds without all the usual wordy fluff found in most titles.

College students or hard-core bird watchers would probably think the content lacks.In my opinion, this book wasn't designed for "that level"; it's a Field Guide and a damn good one.

If you want to ID birds, then you just found the perfect book, buy it.Enough said.

Great for New Bird Watchers
This book should be the guideline for all other bird watcher books. There are so many features that make it easy enough for kids just starting out. The small glossy pages,color tab pages, real life photographs, range map and "stans notes" make identifying a bird easy, you spend less time flipping through a bulky book and more time watching the birds! The book features over 200 birds IN MICHIGAN. My husband and I take this book with us whenever we go out. Its small and sturdy enough that it fits right into our binoculor case. ... Read more

Book Description

Looking like a group of elegantly dressed gentlemen at a formal function, penguins remind us of ourselves. According to author Wayne Lynch, part of our curiosity about these stocky little birds is related to just that -- their almost human behaviors. Like us, they live in communities where they play and fight with one another, steal from each other, hunt for food, quarrel with their mates, form lasting pair bonds, separate, commit infidelities and care for and sometimes neglect or even kill their offspring. Day in and day out, their lives seem unnervingly like our own.

In Penguins of the World, however, Lynch suggests that the life of a penguin goes well beyond the realm of our common shared experience. In the past eight years, Lynch has traveled more than 130,000 miles (210,000 km) to Antarctica, the Galápagos Islands, Argentina, Chile, New Zealand and a dozen remote island clusters in the tempestuous Southern Ocean to observe, study and enjoy this remarkable bird. A self-proclaimed "penguin addict," Lynch has determined that penguin's are more complex and far richer in adaptations and behaviors than humans ever imagined. Penguins of the World is Lynch's record of a journey of discovery. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Penguins
I like this book because it can tell u and me alot about penguins but i think that this site is bad because is doesent show u the inside of this book to be better that other wed sites.My suggestion to the company if they read these is that u can do better.

Great photos and text between the same covers!
Picture books usually have boring text, and nature books usually have photos that look like the ones used to prove the existence of the Loch Ness monster. This book has great color photos of all 17 species of penguins AND informative, readable text. Lynch obviously cares about his subject and his readers. For those who want to know more, he even includes a bibiliography. If you are a nature photographer, bird lover, or penguin fanatic, this book is for you. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great waterfowl identification guide
"Waterfowl : An Identification Guide to the Ducks, Geese and Swans of the World" is a wonderful guide for waterfowl identification, with beautiful colored plates of all 155 species of ducks, geese, and swans. A really nice book for everyone who likes wild waterfowl. The only thing I miss are the screamers which are also a part of the anseriformes (waterfowl).

Poor reprint quality ruins a great series
Make a plate-by-plate comparison of the new Waterfowl or Shorebirds guides with the original hardcover editions and you'll see that the sofcover illustrations look like cheap color photocopies. All of the subtlety and detail that made the originals the best field guides of their kind has been lost. Save your money for the used bookstores.

Steve Madge delivers again
Maybe i'm a little biased but this is a great book.However trying to find a copy was something of a wild goose chase

Excellent for the birdwatcher or waterfowler
Waterfowl: An Identification Guide - This identification guide is part of a series of similar books each targeted at a particular family of birds such as shorebirds, seabirds, sparrows, etc. These guides are designed for the serious bird watcher, but the volume on waterfowl is an excellent reference for the waterfowler who wants to increase his knowledge and understanding of these wonderful birds. Most species are illustrated in juvenile, eclipse adult and breeding adult plumage for males (drakes) and females (hens). Range maps and detailed text descriptions are included for every species of waterfowl in the world. Descriptions include methods of distinguishing birds that are similar. ... Read more

Book Description

This guide shows how to recognize hawks the way we recognize friends at a distance: by body shape, movements, and locale. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Useful book...
HAWKS IN FLIGHT by Peter Dunne is a useful book because it includes many photos and drawings of various species of Raptors in flight. When you see a Raptor, you generally have no way to identify it except by it's flight profile. Feather markings simply cannot be seen when a bird is sailing on a current of air or scuttling after prey. Once in a while I've surprised a hawk at rest, but generally it is well hidden in the leaves of a tree and takes off before I can get a good look. Even the Cooper's Hawk I see on my morning commute along the parkway is usually sitting back on a branch waiting for road kill (he is one fat lazy bird).

The photos in HAWKS IN FLIGHT show the birds as seen from the side flying close to the ground and as well as overhead. The book also includes drawings showing birds that resemble each other juxtaposed side by side as they would never appear in nature. Some of the photos are not very clear and the drawings are darker than I like, but no less a birder than Roger Tory Petersen recommended this book which nicely complements his own books.

Although the title includes the reference to hawks, the chapters cover Buteos, Accipiters, Falcons, Kites, Harriers, Eagles, Ospreys, and Vultures. The chapter on Accipiters covers the Cooper's Hawk, the hawk I see by the roadside in Washington DC. We also see Falcons chasing our song birds. A whole lot of back-stabbing goes on in this town.

Hawks in Flight, great source
This book is a must have for any raptor fanatic. I used to be so confused on how to tell all those buteos apart, except when it was an obvious red tail. It is definatly worth the money, it is not meant to be a "ooh look at the pretty pictures kind of bird book", it is a holistic approach to identification, you learn about flight traits of each raptor, overall impression, plumage, etc. Read the whole thing so you really get whats going on. I am much more confident and knowledgeable after having studied this book. Buy it, worth it.

excellent book
This is a really interesting book. It has some photographs (which have inspired me to get out to Cape May and other cool birding havens) but most of the pictures are black & white drawings. The detail I think is actually pretty good. The drawings do not give specific detail of color shading etc but instead provide the broader strokes of major markings or wing shape or how the bird might look looking down at you. There are head-on profiles (in different modes of flight), some top down drawings, but mostly looking up and side. The raptors are segmented into the different groups of Buteos, Accipters Falcons, Kites, Northern Harrier, Eagles & Vultures, and Osprey. Within each section each bird has a few pages with pictures and really neat info about their migration patterns as well as tips for id.

I'm still not very good at id of these birds but I love watching them and trying to id them. This book is a really good resource!

Hawks in Flight
Disappointing. Many pictures are dark and/or fuzzy. I find that hard to distinguish features of different hawks.

The best guide for serious hawk watchers
There is no other guide which even approaches Hawks in Flight for thoroughness, clarity, and utility. Anyone who seriously pursues the sport of hawk watching must have this book.

For those just starting out in hawk watching, and for general use by even the most serious hawk watchers, I strongly recommend another work by Dunne et al., Hawk Watch: A Guide for Beginners, which is a large-format condensed version of Hawks in Flight. this book does focus exclusively on eastern species, however. Having both books is ideal. ... Read more

Book Description

This book-audio package provides a unique introduction to fifty of the most familiar birds of North America and the songs they sing. Each bird is described in vivid detail - its natural history, habitat, voice, range, and field marks - and illustrated in stunning color photographs. Range maps show where each species is found in different seasons. The audio CD features original high-quality field recordings of each bird's songs and calls, which are track-coded for easy access. Common Birds and Their Songs will be valuable to anyone interested in birds, from beginner to expert. It's the perfect gift for any birder - or anyone with a bird feeder. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Great beginners bird guide
Though I was surprised to receive such a small sized book, the picures are beautiful and the lessons very helpful. I am new to birding and have no doubt I can improve my bird identification with the help of this CD and guidebook. I do wish the veery and phoebe were included. Great book for anyone wishing to learn which bird goes with which song. So much fun! Would highly recommend. I'm thrilled.

Great Photos, Great Gift, Great Intro to Common Birds
"Common Birds and their Songs" is like a mini-coffeetable book (though it is softbound) with beautiful color photographs by Marie Read, and a page of text on each of 50 birds, which are grouped into 5 categories: Backyard/City, Countryside, Wetland, & Forest. The CD is a straightforward presentation from each species.

This makes a great gift for the bird/nature lover and its worth getting as many of Lang Elliott's tapes are hard to find.
Also recommended: "Know Your Bird Sounds Vol. I & II" and "Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs".

Wonderful for old and young.
I'm a grandmother, just learning the names of the birds whose sounds I have enjoyed for years. Now my youngest grandchild, Emma, age 4 months, is learning the sounds and pictures. She sings right along with them. This book is truly amazing. CD tracks can be selected "by bird" or can be listened to in order. And the geographic area map lets us know if any particular bird is one we might see in our vicinity. Five Stars.

Wonderful book for children to learn about average birds
My child just became interested in birds and this book is awesome for a child to learn what bird is what, and how they sound. My five-year-old child absolutely loves putting the CD in and paging through the book as he listens. I have even learned more about birds, and it is something fun we can do together!

Beautiful, informative, euphonious
This is a great book! Elliott and Read combine stunning photographs of fifty songbirds with lively information about their lives. And that's not all. They ice the cake with an audio CD that will fill your house with song. The recordings give a range of vocalizations for each species, so the listener can sit back and gain his own sense of how the birds sound in the field. There's never been another book quite like this one, and I recommend it most enthusiastically to bird lovers and their friends. ... Read more

Book Description

The Galápagos is a truly special place. Unlike the rest of the world's archipelagoes, it still has 95 percent of its prehuman quota of species. Wildlife of the Galápagos is the most superbly illustrated and comprehensive identification guide ever to the natural splendor of these incomparable islands--islands today threatened by alien species and diseases that have diminished but not destroyed what so enchanted Darwin on his arrival there in 1835. Covering over 200 commonly seen birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants, it reveals the archipelago's striking beauty through more than 400 color photographs, maps, and drawings and well-written, informative text.

While the Galápagos Giant Tortoise, the Galápagos Sea Lion, and the Flightless Cormorant are recognized the world over, these thirty-three islands--in the Pacific over 600 miles from mainland Ecuador--are home to many more unique but less famous species. Here, reptiles well outnumber mammals, for they were much better at drifting far from a continent the archipelago was never connected with; the largest native land mammals are rice rats. The islands' sixty resident bird species include the only penguin to breed entirely in the tropics and to inhabit the Northern Hemisphere.

There is a section offering tips on photography in the Equatorial sunlight, and maps of visitors' sites as well as information on the archipelago's history, climate, geology, and conservation. Wildlife of the Galápagos is the perfect companion for anyone who wants to know what so delighted Darwin.

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Covers over 200 commonly seen species including birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, plants, and coastal and marine life
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Illustrated with over 400 color photographs, maps, and drawings; includes maps of visitors' sites
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Written by wildlife experts with extensive knowledge of the area
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Includes information on the history, climate, geology, and conservation of the islands
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The most complete identification guide to the wildlife of the Galápagos

Reviews (1)

Well worth purchasing
This book is well organised, well written and beautifully illustrated. Written by people who truly know the Galapagos Islands and all that exists there, including landings and information on what one can expect to see on arrival at any one island. I actually used three other guides whilst in the Galapago this month and only accessed this one at the end of my trip. I have continued to read this book since arriving home and highly recommend it. ... Read more

Book Description

Learn how to train birds of prey correctly and safely. Jemima Parry-Jones, owner of the National Birds of Prey Centre, covers the five family groups in detail: eagles, hawks, falcons, buzzards and owls. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Training birds of prey - Jemima Parry-Jones
Much the same as her previous " Falconry Care, Captive breeding and Conservation" - but was well worth doing as is underlines serious points and issues. On the whole a very good book with excellent information and photography. The author does as with the last book seem to have a very high opinion of herself and holds herself up as THE FALCONER in Britain today.

I was concerned that the author also seems to put the notion across that her Falconry Centre is the only good one in the country and that everyone else is just either playing at it or only in it to make money - as if she isn't what with at least two books, courses, displays etc... I do believe that she holds the welfare of the birds as her highest priority, but this can only be maintained with adequate finance as is the situation with everyone else.

Note : Cover picture - Buzzard only held by one Jess 2nd page in - one of the jesses is not secured properly to the swivel, preventing the swivel from working properly.. Pages 78,79 and 81, these are surely unhelpful pictures to put on public view - a falcon shying away and hanging from the fist.The anti-hunting lobby would love this. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great Overview of Birds
This book has a wealth of information about a wide variety of bird topics. It has bird anatomy, songs, how to build a nest box, etc. The main chapter of this book, named 'The Habitat BirdFinder' is a field guide to about 100 of the most commonly seen birds in North America, and isn't in any specific order, but by which habitat it is most likely to be seen in. It is very useful, with a large photograph and colour drawings with text for each bird. The range maps are very clear and easy to use. In the back of the book there is a good selection of other books and resources, including local birding organizations.
If you are looking for a first birding book, to get you started and familiar with birds, then this is a great start.

You need to buy this!
This book has been an excellent addition to my library on birding. Splendid photography! Helpful tips!Interesting insights and all at a great price. The book is beautiful and is clearly of high quality. You won't be disappointed!

A beautifully illustrated and informative reference book
This is a wonderfully put together reference book for bird watchers. I also gave one to my father as a gift and he just can't put it down. The pictures are teriffic and there's a lot of information about each bird. I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys birds.

Beautiful book with full-page descriptions and photos.
My grandparents bought me this beautiful hardcover book for Christmas. It has full-page narratives and photos of many North American birds, and it has come in very handy as a reference when I see a new bird in my neighborhood. ... Read more

Book Description

Mount Kilimanjaro, the Serengeti Plains, tropical beaches, coral reefs, and such wildlife as elephants, lions, giraffes, zebras, and rhinos. With all this, Kenya and northern Tanzania are the ultimate destination for safaris, adventure travel, and ecotourism. They also form one of the world's most spectacular regions for birdwatching, with a variety of species unmatched almost anywhere else--from the tiny Amani Sunbird to the eight-foot-tall Somali Ostrich, from the elegant flamingos of the Rift Valley lakes to carcass-eating vultures and snake-hunting eagles. This book is the definitive field guide for the thousands of birdwatchers and travelers who visit this breathtaking area every year.

The guide features 124 color plates, depicting all 1,114 species in the area, including variations by subspecies, age, and sex. It contains over 800 range maps and succinct text that covers identification, voice, and distribution. Specially designed for use in the field, it is a compact version of the widely acclaimed Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania, hailed on its publication in 1996 as the most comprehensive, accurate, and beautiful guide ever produced for the region. With its modest price, small trim size and sturdy, weather-resistant binding, this field guide is the one volume that every adventurous traveler to Kenya and northern Tanzania must have. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

A Companion for All Kenya Safaris
The greatest field guide advance in my nearly 20 years of organizing East African safaris, this book is to birders what Amazon.com is to shoppers. If illustrations are the backbone of a field guide, this is the "vertebral" archetype. It features better illustrations of more species than do any of its rivals. Although this and its major competitor, "Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi", are somewhat hefty volumes, take both on safari as the latter is better organized with key descriptions and range maps appearing opposite its illustrations. To effectively use "Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania," you must turn to the back half of the book to find range maps as well as much of its key diagnostic text. Keeping your fingers wedged in two different parts of the book while focusing binoculars on a bird in the field requires great concentration and dexterity. I use both books, but consider the Zimmerman team's illustrations unparalleled.

Great Field Guide.
I have both the big version and this version. Without doubt you need both. One for back at camp reading and the Field Version for, well, the Field. This is quite packable and the layout makes field Identification pretty easy.

Birders paradise
A sign of environmental health and richness of biodiversity is the number of birds that a given area supports. Kenya then qualifies as a rich ecosystem with over 1,000 different species of birds.

This book was not around when I was a youngster living in Kenya but thumbing through it as an adult has brought back some fond memories of days out in the bush in Amboseli and Masai Mara or at lakes Nakura, Naivasha, and Victoria. Kenya is a birders paradise whatever your interest. There are fairly familiar Eurasian visiting seabirds and shorebirds and unique and beautiful East African sunbirds, weavers, rollers and bee-eaters. There are multitude birds of prey including the unmistakable tiny-tailed Bateleur Eagle and the most impressive hunting bird i've ever seen - the African Crowned Eagle. I can recall like it was yesterday watching one pluck a male colobus monkey right out of the tree tops. All of the birds are here in splendid color with the most appropriate profile presented to assist in making identification easy. You'll find the underside views of the birds of prey very useful.

While you probably won't see a Crowned Eagle on a casual birding visit to Kenya, any guided trip into the game parks will guarantee you at least 100 different species - probably in a single day! In the right locations, prepare to have your head on a swivel as the variety of birdlife you will behold has to be seen to be believed. You will find yourself regularly flipping through the pages of this book. This book is absolutely essential for your Kenyan trip.

The book the game park guides use
I live and work in East Africa, and