5 comments about Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America.

1. I really enjoyed the way Kaufman grouped birds together according to type. If you know your birds a little then you can just go to the type and pick which one it looks most like. Also,there were photos of the bird in it's different plumages...male, female, juvenile, winter, summer, etc. and he showed pictures of different subspecies variations. The maps and graphs were thorough and easy to understand. Kenn took much of the confusion out of birding!



2. I own lots of bird books, and the ones you're "supposed" to own - National Geographic (3rd edition), Peterson Guide to Western Birds, Sibley, Golden, and a few others. This one's my favorite, and the most practical in the field. One reviewer wrote that they prefer illustrations - I disagree. As amazing as the illustrators for other guides are, photographs just go somewhere where a drawing can't. And I do love National Geographic and Sibley, but the editions I own, by the time you've looked up the bird you're looking for, it's probably flown away. This is my favorite. That's not to say I don't think any birder should go without National Geographic or Sibley; but those two books are better for doing your homework; Kaufman beats them in the field.



3. I grew up with the Peterson guides and I know many don't like the idea of photgraphs in a guide book, but i love it..The complaint is that photo's can make the natural coloring look different in shade,etc,, but I have not found this to be a major issue with these enhanced pics.. The photos are color enhanced and actually do have the "painted coloring look" rather than a plain stock dull photograph. I can only imagine rare times that this would cause any real issue, but to each their own.. In regard to the book, I LOVE the flex cover..My old peterson held up well, but the flex cover is 100 times better for durablity. The bird habitat map system is great and easy too read. The short narratives through out the book are interesting and infromative. I love the back page, "quick index", which is arranged alphabetically so you can quickly go directly to the needed page to better identify the exact bird. I also like how he has used small "indicator arrows" on the pictures which directs the reader to some distinct item of note regarding the bird which helps to identify it or differentiate it from a close match.(this has helped me a few times with similar looking birds)
   Another nice thing as a field guide,The paper is very durable as I learned when my canteen leaked onto the top portion of the book. I was fearful as I opened the book, expecting the worst, even though every page on the top section of the book got a bit rumpled from the water there was NO,NONE, NODA, smudging or running or ink smears on the page and no pages were stuck together even though it had dried out. Not many field guides can take that and come out that well. It is also the perfect size as a carry full time field guide.
   Though I can only compare it to my 20 year old Peterson I must say I am quite happy with it as a casual birder..



4. We have gifted Ken Kaufman's Field Guide to Birds of North America to almost everyone we know. It is perfect for a newbie, casual birder and even the most seasoned bird watcher. This field guide was originally introduced to us by way of our daughter's professor. Text book? NOT! This book will be one of your classics.



5. I love the Peterson field guide and thats the one I always bring out into the field. That being said, the Kaufman is a great guide I'll bring in addition to the Peterson. Sibley is great also but the large book is better as a home reference. The field Sibley is too think for my liking too. I hadn't found a photo field guide I liked until the Kaufman. All of the colors are accurate and I like how the birds are grouped together. My only complaint is that the arrows that point out differences between the sexes and important identifying marks aren't always the best. For example, the Kaufman guide only points out that Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers have white outer tail feathers. It doesn't point out that the male gnatcather has a black line above his eyes. And the photo doesn't really accentuate the line either. The Peterson guide clearly has this distinguishing mark and its pointed out on the photo. The description in the Kaufman guide does say that there is this black "eyebrow" line on the males but a beginning birder may easily miss this. I do like that with photos, the proportions of the birds won't be slightly distorted like they can be in illustrations. Overall this is a great guide but shouldn't be the only guide you bring into the field. Especially for beginners, an illustrated guide will have more identifying marks pointed out.

5 comments about The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America.

1. This is a compact field guide derived from David Allen Sibley's highly regarded _The Sibley Guide to Birds_. This may be heresy, but in this instance the derivative surpasses the original, and that is no mean feat.
   
   Most notably, it is compact enough to carry into the field, and that's where birders try to sort through as many diagnostic puzzles as possible. Most species accounts include fewer visual representations than the corresponding accounts found in the Guide to Birds, but the illustrations selected are usually quite sufficient.
   
   Remarkably, the text associated with many species accounts is more informative than the information found in the larger guide: more information about habitat preferences, behavior, and description.
   
   I have noticed some separation from the binding near the middle of each of the two field guides I have (eastern and western) but in neither instance is it really a problem. This isn't going to be my primary North American guide (I'll still rely on the National Geographic field guide for that purpose) but if I carry two guides into the field this will often be the second.



2. I purchased this book for my Biology class and it has been more than helpful. It shows each bird in various poses, stages of life and shows the differences between the two sexes. Very informative and easy to navigate!



3. I own every book on bird identification that I have been able to find for birds of the western United States. This is by far the one I use the most. I've purchased it for several of my birding friends, keep a copy at my home site and one in my truck. One of the points that makes Sibley's guide so useful is that there are no actual photographs of birds. He has drawings that give the "more common" colorations of each species. Photographs seldom yield such a wide spectrum of coloration. I use other bird guides because they have good information, but Sibley's guide is the one most easy to use, and the most practical for really knowing the bird you are identifying.



4. I bought this book for my little brother in California for his birthday. He has just started getting in to watching the different birds and trying to identifying them by there calls. He really loves this guide book. For any body woh getes in to bird watching, Sibley field guide is a must have...



5. I purchased this book for my fiance's birthday, as we're new to the birdwatching world. It's aboslutely wonderful, and we'll use it for many years to come.

5 comments about The Sibley Guide to Birds.

1. Excellent water colors,excellent descriptions,excellent organization.Only minor problem is the size.It is a little large for a field guide.I haven't come across any better guide to birds.



2. I've had this book for years, but recently purchased a copy for my mom on Mother's Day. She loves it as much as I do and we both prefer it over the other bird field guides we have. For non-experts on bird identification, this book is a must. I have identified a number of birds in my back yard and around the area with this book. The illustrations are excellent. I agree with one of the reviews I saw that said it is not the right size for carrying out into the field in a backpack. It is a hefty and detailed reference book for the home.



3. The Sibley Guide to Birds was exactly what I ordered and exactly what I got. Sale went as expected and was delivered on time.



4. I used this book so much that this time I bought it to give as a gift.



5. I bought two of these books for gifts but when my husband saw it he had to have one for us.
   It's that nice. We love it.

5 comments about National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds--E: Eastern Region - Revised Edition.

1. Great book. My husband and I have this book that my parents gave us several years ago and we love it so we purchased one for our friends who live in Atlanta, GA and are just getting into birds and wanted to be able to identify the birds that visit their feeders.



2. Everything I could have hoped for. Great photos and information. Compact enough to put in my field bag. Easy to access, even with gloves on! A great book for a beginning bird watcher. "Audubon Society", that says it all. And, it was certainly priced right.



3. I purchased this as a gift for my recently retired father. As soon as it arrived I checked it out and wished I had bought it for myself. My meager field guide was no comparison! It contains beautiful photos and is so nicely cross referenced. A few days after I gave it to my dad, he called to thank me again and also raved about what a superior guide it is.



4. Beautiful pictures combined with superb write ups on habitat and habits. We have used to identify many beautiful birds right in our own backyard. Makes a great gift for the bird watcher in your circle.



5. I have an older Audubon bird book that I like better.Although the pictures are nice in this one,I like the layout better in the old one.

5 comments about The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America.

1. My Uncle, G. Max White, gave my son a hand-crafted peanut butter feeder that he'd made and stained. He explained to his great-nephew, in specific detail, the kinds of birds he would start to see. We hung the feeder outside my son's window and within three days the birds started to arrive. My son was elated! We decided to add a birdseed feeder, a woodpecker feeder, a finch feeder, and a hummingbird feeder to his collection. We put a songbird clock on the wall next to his window so he could compare the birds he saw with it until we received the field guides we ordered from Amazon. He was in heaven!
   
   We purchased the National Geographic guide and The Audubon Backyard guide, but THE SIBLEY FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS of EASTERN NORTH AMERICA is by far the best. Everything about each bird is all on one page. The illustrations, "(more than 4200 total)" are smaller but plenty large enough to see each bird's features.
   
   We are able to see the bird's appearance from juvenile to adult and breeding or non-breeding. We love the way we can look at the characteristics of the bird, the detailed descriptions and a map showing where the bird thrives all on the same page. It is informative and concise.
   
   My son has discovered a vast array of birds in our area. He has been intrigued by their characteristics and songs. Uncle Max's love for birds and nature, and the spirit that has been passed on to my son through his artwork, lit the spark! My son's enthusiasm for bird watching has been fueled by referencing David Sibley's meticulous and inspiring work, THE SIBLEY FIELD GUIDE TO BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Together, G. Max White and David Sibley have encouraged my son's passion for birds; a love that will last a lifetime!



2. I love the Sibley guides. The one criticism that I have heard and will agree with is that some of the drawings are a bit "dull" in comparison to other guides. Having said that, this has never deterred from my ability to identify a bird in the field. I both watch and study birds and absolutely adore these guides. Everyone who I've spoken to agrees that these books are excellent. Probably the best feature to me is how each species is depicted in flight as well as percing. Arrows highlight key features to look for. Juvelniles and females depicted. Other unique characteristics noted or depicted (e.g. diagnostic flight patterns or other movements). Wonderful! (Western edition too).



3. I owned this bird book before my purchase from Amazon. The two copies I recently purchased from Amazon were for gifts. The Shibley field guide is my favorite because it also includes the color configuration of the underside of the bird's wings which other authors don't include.



4. Love my new Sibley Field Guide. It's better than the old standard guide I've used for years. It's easy to navigate, and I love the varied views of individual birds, flying, perched etc.. It stays on my kitchen table for constant reference!!



5. This is an outstanding field guide, easy to use and understand.I live in the mountains of western North Carolina and many species of birds migrate through here and also there are many year round species that I have identified with this bird guide. I highly recommend this guide if your looking for a bird field guide that is easy to tote in the field for a quick reference for any unusual birds you may want info on readily.

5 comments about Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America.

1. These photographic guides just keep getting better and better. 2007 marked the entry of the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America (National Wildlife Federation Field Guide), a phenomenal book.
   
   A new wave of photographic guides are replacing the lesser guides like the Stokes or Audubon guides.That said, guides illustrated with paintings are better for actual use in the field.
   
   Buy this book as a complementary book to your primary field guide; use it for help with tricky IDs or as a rich wealth of information (Floyd's rhetoric is great); store it on your shelf or leave it in your car when you go afield.



2. This is an excellent photographic field guide - up-to-date and well-illustrated. It, arguably, is the best photographic field guide yet published



3. Like the previous reviewers, I prefer field guides that use paintings. However, a photographic guide is extremely helpful as a reference and "supplemental" guide. And photographic guides are getting much better, each one improving on the previous. It is no different in this case, as I consider this guide the best available photographic guide to North American birds.
   
   The most important aspect of the book, the photographs, certainly do not disappoint. They are sharp and simply look great. More importantly, the author has obviously taken care to include images that show off the most important field marks. Each species gets approximately three photographs, with a minimum of one and maximum of 10. Most species are covered adequately, but there are some that could use more coverage, such as the swallows, where surprisingly three of the eight are not shown in flight.
   
   Each photo includes a caption that highlights the most prominent field marks for the species, as well as other important information. This is often the only "traditional" identification-related text, so reading them is crucial. Additionally, each picture is labeled with the state/province and month in which it was taken. This ought to be a standard feature for any photography-based guide.
   
   The species accounts are included on the same page as the photographs, and include a good bit of information, some not found in other field guides. The species' abundance is indicated through the use of the ABA Code system, which is a numeric code defined by the American Birding Association that classifies the general abundance of all North American birds. This is a very welcome inclusion, as most field guides surprisingly do not give the reader a good idea of how common or rare a species is. Also included in the accounts are: habits; ecology; voice; size; and variation.
   
   The range maps are fantastic, having been compiled by the leading expert in North American bird distribution. They use a whopping five colors to indicate breeding, winter, resident, migratory, and rare ranges.
   
   A much publicized feature of this book is the inclusion of a DVD with "587 downloadable bird songs". Only 138 species are included, but that means that each species has an average of 4 tracks each. Obviously, this collection is not extensive enough to be your sole source for bird sounds, but the large number of tracks per species makes it a great supplement. The tracks are in MP3 format, which should make it easy to transfer them to a mp3 player.
   
   Overall, I would recommend this guide as a great supplement to your primary field guide. But it is good enough that it would also be acceptable for use as a primary guide. And the DVD certainly is a nice bonus.



4. Very simply, this is one the best field guides out there. Don't pass it up !!!



5. Its a photographic based field-guide like book. It covers all of the Continental US. Good Photos and a range map for each species of bird. Brief descriptions (as you would expect in a field guide). The bird song DVD is a nice addition. If they were to redo this guide I would suggest an Eastern and a Western editions. Then it could be reduced to a field guide size.

5 comments about A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America.

1. Some folks like the Sibley guide and a couple of the others but I have stayed with this one since my first birding days in the '60s. Since that time, I've been many places in the Eastern U.S. where this field guide has been invaluable.
   
   Of course you need the softcover edition to use in the field (which this one is). It will fit in a pocket IF you have a big pocket! As the years go by and this book gets revised, it gets BIGGER, so I'm glad to have an older edition. I also still have my dad's First Edition which he used a great deal as a science teacher and locally renowned naturalist.
   
   Like my father, I'm more of a botanist (a "generalist," really) and my wife is the Macro-birder. She switches between any one of three guides for this region but has nothing but good things to say about her well-worn Peterson guide.
   
   I have written up a "So you'd like to buy a birding field guide?" site on Amazon. So if you're new to birding and you are confused about which guide you need, you might find this site helpful.
   
   Happy birding!



2. THIS BIRD BOOK IS AS I EXPECTED. HAVEN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE IT MUCH AS YET.



3. The Peterson Series is clearly the best. Other books may have quality real life pictures, but in the field our friends seldom look just like the pictures and we don't have time to view. So knowing the key markings makes it much easier and faster to identify the birds.
   
   Excellent service from Amazon as well.



4. Great in its day but now far surpassed by the Sibley guides. The females of the species tend to be the tricky ones to identify so in a field guide why oh why hide them behind the males so that the features can't be seen in the plates.
   
   A great guide 30 years ago but it is time to move on...



5. If you like to watch birds - even from your window - this is a must have!!!

5 comments about The Backyard Birdsong Guide: Eastern and Central North America (Backyard Birdsong Guides).

1. I bought this guide and the much larger "Bird Songs". I prefer this one by far. There are more song comparisons and much more in depth descriptions. It's also a manageable size. I love it.



2. Backyard Birdsong- Was familiar with other books in this series and knew that we would enjoy using this one. We are not disappointed



3. This book is suitable for all ages! The bird calls are clear and easily recognizable with what you hear in your "backyard". Good learning tool.
   You can call birds with these recordings and they will answer you. Easy to use and worth every penny.



4. This book is a great way to become familiar with the birds that surround our environment. It is an easy access book. The sound and mini speaker system works very well. No more looking in books that try to describe in words the bird's sound. No more trying to locate the specific bird sound on a CD. Just look up the bird and punch the number and there you are, quick and easy. It is a great book at a great price! It is a must for anyone who enjoys the little winged angels that visit our yards. The illustrations are also accurate and beautiful.



5. I LOVE this book! How often is it that you cannot see the birds you are trying to identify very well? I find it is more likely that you are able to hear them more clearly than they can be seen, and this book allows you to identify by sound, it's great. It can also be great fun to excite most cats and drive them a bit crazy. I hightly recomend this book to everyone.

5 comments about National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition.

1. After five revisions, this book is a fine-tuned machine. Absolutely every aspect of the book has been thought out in terms of field-usefulness. Once you use this guide, you won't settle for anything else, not even Sibley's excellent guide.
   
   The only thing that might discourage a beginning birder is: 1. use of scientific jargon, and 2. extensive subspecies coverage.
   
   These two factors can be confusing for neophytes, but on the other hand many veteran birders can't live without them. This is the single NA bird guide that approaches the avocation from a scientific standpoint; all the rest take a more relaxed standpoint. I find the subspecies pictures to be extremely useful when afield; some may view it as a hassle.
   
   Bottom line: you owe it to yourself to buy this book - it may be the best $16 you ever spend. If you are a beginner, you may wish to start out with the Sibley guide, or the Peterson guide.



2. This book is very helpful in figuring out just what bird is outside your window. It does help if you have a general knowledge of birds.



3. I wish this book had more detail in both drawnings and discreptions. As in more possable colorings from juvenile to adult and sex. Color of eggs, what kind of nest, habitat and sounds.



4. CHUCK FULL OF GREAT PICTURES, RANGE MAPS, QUICK FIND INDEX, AND THUMBNAILS FOR EASY ACCESS. BEING THAT WE LIVE IN A FAIRLY LARGE WOODED PART OF THE OZARKS, WE GET TO SEE MANY SPECIES OF BIRDS RIGHT IN OUR OWN BACKYARD.



5. This is a well organized field guide with an excellent index. The illustrations are also very well done.

5 comments about Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song.

1. It is a very nice, interesting, and useful book. It is not, however, well organized, so that it is hard to find a bird. Also, for each bird the book only gives one phrase from its song.



2. The book is excellent. Easy to find the bird and its song. A pleasure to sit on the porch and mimic the birds.



3. I've had so much fun listening to the songs of the birds I see...and the ones I don't. I'm learning to recognise the songs when I hear them outside my window! Beautiful bird book to share with my friends!



4. Bird Songs is a wonderful addition to our home library. We enjoy our backyard birds, watching them every morning from our porch. Now we can learn their songs so we can identify them if we don't actually see them. The book is easy to use. Just enter the identification number of the bird into the programmed speaker and the particular bird call will play. In addition to the birds' songs, much information is given about each of the birds such as their habitat, nesting, migration and any peculiar habits.



5. Excellent book. We all love hearing the 250 bird songs incluced in the book. If you hold the search button down you can quickly go to any of the 250 songs. My grand kids spend hours with the book.