5 comments about Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania.

1. I simply had to acquire this one when I saw it in a bookshop in Nairobi. I had another field guide, but wasn't happy with it. Great illustrations. It is now my faviourite souvenir from Kenya. Its only fault is its weight, but I carry it in a shoulder bag. The book also has usefulness outside the target zone: Several birds seen in Cameron are illustrated in it. I always like to compare illustrations and was glad to have it with me when in Yaounde. A book to make others jealous by. You can set it on the coffe table as a conversation piece or to get the children interested without coaxing them.



2. This book is one of the best field guides I have ever had on African birds. It is extremely detailed and has pictures of so many birds, it is just AMAZING.



3. I used it many times in Tanzania and it is also fantastic book for Israel and the Middle East!
   
   Ofir



4. An outstanding and essential book to help you identify the many magnificent birds inhabiting the savannah when on safari in Kenya. In fact, this is the book our certified guide and driver, a Masai, used daily and kept next to him at all times! LLC



5. The book is very comprehensive. Unfortunately, even though it claims to be a field guide, it is too heavy to carry around. It is not a book to take with you on a bird walk.

5 comments about Birds of Southern Africa (Princeton Field Guides).

1. Well worth the money to enjoy your trip to South Africa even more. Even with a good guide (like we had with Transfrontiers) it is well worth taking a strong field guide like Birds of Southern Africa. That way when your guide is trying to tell you what you are looking at, you can see the picture up close and get a better idea. We have done many trips to various parts of Africa and this is one of the best guides we have used.



2. Warning: using this field guide will make you dissatisfied with many other field guides. You will enjoy studying and using this guide.
   The illustrations are large and detailed, distinctly more accurate than most guides. In addition most are just beautiful works. They are grouped in species settings with juveniles, alternate plumage, flight and significant field marks highlighted.
   On the opposite page: written description, habitat, abundancy status and call descriptions with a range map plus the Afrikaans name.
   As an example of the illustrations: the Laughing Dove is illustrated by two flight poses and a profile. The profile has arrows noting 'no hind collar', 'cinnamon back' and 'black-flecked necklace'. The written text notes marks that distinguish this bird from a Cape Turtle-Dove.
   The cover is plastic coated and the pages have a lesser water resistant coating.
   A lot of attention to detail went into creating this book --colored coded page edges according to bird group, groups of waterbirds and hawks in flight for comparison, a checklist near the index and internet addresses of birding resources in the area.
   All this in a work that I carried in a large pants pocket every day.
   It just makes me wish such books were available for many more areas.



3. This guide looks perfect for my needs. I have looked it over carefully, even though I haven't had a chance to use it in the field. I definitely like the quick reference guide to bird types inside the front and back covers and the color-coded reference to bird groups. Look forward to using this guide in the field.



4. We wanted to label all the photos of birds we took in South Africa. This book made it easy to locate the drawings of the birds. . .drawings that were very lifelike. . .and attach the names to the photos. We highly recommend this guide.



5. The size of the book is appropriate for carrying in the field. The narrative is concise and well presented. The pictures of the birds are easy to reference. The real test of a field guide, though, is how useful it is when there is an unidentified bird in front of you. I will not know that until I get back from S. Africa in March but this book appears comparable to the better guides for US birds.

5 comments about A Field Guide to Warblers of North America (Peterson Field Guides (R)).

1. Several years ago, while watching the bird feeders at Muskatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour, Indiana, I heard a voice behind me pointing out that there were two races of White-crowned Sparrow at the feeder. He went into detail about the subtle differences between the two. At first I thought to myself, who is this guy? Later, I realized that it was Jon Dunn! I have had a high respect for him ever since.
   Years later, he was the guest speaker at our bird club meeting. He presented some of the plates from his, at the time, upcoming new field guide to warblers. I fell in love with the plates from the very start. Thomas R. Shultz and Cindy House did a remarkable job, and the detail that was carefully gathered from museum specimens is second to none. I knew from the beginning that I had to have this new field guide and I couldn't wait until it appeared on the shelves.
   When I bought my copy of the finished product, it was even more than I expected. Aside from the detailed plates making fall and female warbler identification easier, the text is filled with information on virtually every aspect of life history of each species, with cross-references that will aid any serious researcher. More than just a field guide for identification purposes, this book belongs on the shelf of beginners and experts alike who share a passion for warblers.



2. This book provides good color plates of the warblers in various stages of plummage. The distribution maps are easy to read and color coded. I bought the book because of the multiple pages of natural history information on each species. The birding guide I use in the field has excellent illustrations but totally lacks in the supplemental information. So, when I get home, I grab this book to learn the biology of the species.



3. Kimball Garrett and Jon Dunn worked together once again to produce a masterpiece. The information on status and distribution is remarkably accurate given the exceptional detail in which it is presented. The identification discussion is thorough and accurate. The discussion of subspecies, their taxonomy, and their identification (as is possible) is remarkable. The books only failing are the illustrations, which are flat and unrealistic for the most part. Their usefulness is limited.



4. This book is much more than just a field guide to the warblers. It contains a wealth of information on identification, but it also functions as a summary of the scientific literature on the ecology of each species, complete with references to the primary literature. This guide is a great way to not only get more serious as a birdwatcher, but also to help this interest develop into an interest in and understanding of ecology.
   
   As a field guide, this book is exhaustive and excellent. The illustrations are extremely clear, and there are distinct illustrations of different sexes, ages, and plumages (fall/spring) whenever these plumages are distinct. In addition to the illustrations of perched birds, there are also excellent illustrations of undertail patterns, which are very important and useful. Throughout the text as well, there are a number of detailed color photos. Visually, this guide has it all! The range maps are large and clear, although I wish that the range maps would mark migration paths more clearly.
   
   The expanded chapters on each species are outstanding. While some of this information, especially the plumages, range, song, habitat, and behavior, would be interesting and useful to birders, this book goes above and beyond by discussing in depth the ecology of each species, taxonomy, and conservation status. The writing is clear and concise, and there are numerous references to the primary literature as starting points for people who are interested in further reading.
   
   Bottom line? If you like warblers, you have to get this book! You will not be disappointed.



5. Book about Warblers
   this reference book is very helpful in identifying the migrating warblers.
   It arrived in very good condition.

5 comments about Raptors of Western North America: The Wheeler Guides.

1. Brian Wheeler has created what are likely to be THE standard guides to these taxa for the foreseeable future. Excellent photos, tremendous detail--a heroic effort with incredibly helpful results.
   But what is wrong at Princeton UP? First they mess up Olsen's _Gulls_ to the point that the entire edition is pulped; and now Wheeler's text in both books is marred by what you would think would be embarrassing editorial errors. Wheeler's prose, for the most part serviceable, was obviously never read by an editor, and there are entire passages that make no sense (fortunately, they only rarely include identification matters). The very first page of the author's introduction has a shameful printing error, an entire half-line left blank.
   This is a great book, I own it, I use it, I recommend it every chance I get; but the editorial and production slips make me wonder if Princeton has given up on its birding program--or whether it maybe ought to.



2. This book is wonderfull. With dozens of photos for each bird, this REALLY helps an amateur identify a bird. The best in it's class!



3. This guide is more like a textbook in its attention to detail, and I rate it the best raptor guide I have seen and read. The photos are great, showing various poses and the way the birds look as juveniles and as adults of both sexes, and the text covers all the traits, habitat, morphs, etc. to help I.D. and understand the birds.



4. The text is technical and takes some work to understand but the effort pays off. The pictures are beautiful and flesh out the text. A wonderful aid to getting closer to some amazing creatures.



5. This is the most comprehensive guide available. The species discussions include practically everything you need to know (molts, morphs, subspecies, habits, etc), and covers Western variants rarely covered in other works. The range maps by Economidy and Wheeler are the gold standard and will, it is to be hoped, encourage others to produce such extremely precise maps. It is a reference work, too large to fit in a pocket, but is indispensable. Keep this in your vehicle and Clark & Wheeler's Hawks of North America in your pocket, and you've got our western raptors covered.

5 comments about Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America (Peterson First Guides (R)).

1. My 7yo daughter and I have had great fun identifying the birds in our backyard with this little book. It features the most common birds one might see. I like how they how it organized by size and type of bird (all the water birds are together, all the birds of prey, all the smaller Fenches and Sparrows, etc. Easy to find that way. There was one bird drawing that was more colorful than the actual bird we saw. This might be due to the fact that they don't picture every type of one kind of bird. It is a GREAT first guide for kids and adults that are just starting. I like also that it shows the male and female of a type.



2. I bought this book just so that I could identify some of the birds at my backyard birdfeeder. So far, I've only been able to identify one from this book. The pictures and descriptions aren't very good, and it's very hard to narrow down the type of bird, since they're not organized by geographic area, etc. I would definitely recommend the National Audobon Society books over this one.



3. This book is just the right size to put in your pocket & head
   for the woods, it's a very handy tool when out birdwatching!
   Love it!
   Diane



4. Yes, I know this book is for absolute beginners, and the pictures and descriptions of the birds are adequate. What is missing are the latin names of the species, and even a beginner or a child should get used early to use them, as they are the international standart.



5. This is a great first book for those who think they may be interested in birding. It is small, easy to carry, and inexpensive. The book begins with a tutorial on the basics of bird identification including wing patterns and shapes, tails, bills/beaks -- and habitat and behaviors. Then if provides some simple silhouettes to guide the reader to likely matches. The color illustration are well drawn and information is given to help identify the differences between male and female birds. A great first resource for young and beginning birders.

5 comments about Birds of Colorado Field Guide.

1. Great book. Lots of pictures to differentiate between male and female birds (and also a description of immature birds). I found this book to immensely helpful in identifying birds in my backyard. It was everything that I was looking for in a book on CT birds.



2. I bought this because we recently moved to the Rocky Mountains about 50 miles NE of Denver (9000 ft elevation), and there were many different kinds of birds that would visit our feeder. This book really helped me in identifying all the birds I've seen so far, and it also describes what kind of nesting the bird does, migration patterns, interesting facts about the bird, and general overall description. It is also sorted by the color of the bird for fast ID. The photographs are large and clear, and the bird's info is always on the page next to the photo. I am looking forward to purchasing the author's other 2 books on Colorado mammals and plantlife. I would reccomend this book for anyone living in or visiting Colorado, and is interested in birds!



3. This book is easy to use, well-organized, beautiful photos, chuck full of information. I highly recommend it for the novice bird watcher.



4. I love this bird book. It is divided by color and very easy to use. The Stan's notes section has interesting facts and useful information. The photos are close up and very helpful when identifying a bird.



5. I found this book to be very frustrating and not very useful. The birds are arranged by "color" so for instance two of the Colorado hummingbirds are under one color, while the third hummingbird is under another color. All three hummingbirds should be together so you don't have to thumb back and forth when trying to identify the bird in front of you. It was also lacking photos of birds flying, so I never could identify the number of different swallows that I saw. I would skip this book and stick to the National Geographic or Audubon field guides.

5 comments about Birds (A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press).

1. I already have this book and use it often. The information is written understandingly and the pictures are very good. When my son requested a bird book, I immediately went for this one.



2. I don't suppose dedicated birders would have much use for this guide, but for those of us who think it would be fun to be able to name the birds that live in or migrate through our neighborhoods, this is a wonderful resource. For the parent with curious children, Herbert S. Zim's guides are indispensable.
   
   These hip-pocket sized books are nicely designed and simple enough so that children can use them on their own after just a little guidance. At the same time, though, they offer plenty of solid information. The illustrations are clear, copious, and attractive.
   
   If you are looking for a basic guide to common birds, this is a perfect choice. Also, be sure to see the other Golden Guides by Herbert S. Zim.



3. The original of this book, in hardcover, is fabulous. Unfortunately, this edition is not true to the colors of the birds. Compare for instance the Indigo Bunting in this updated edition with the Indigo Bunting in the original Hardcover Version (not the original paperback version which is just as bad as this). We have Indigo Buntings at our feeders every year. Their color is so vivid, it's breathtaking. But you wouldn't know it by looking at this poor substitute for the original book.



4. This book has become very popular with our friends and family because it gives accurate color drawings with an easy-to-read, informative text. It has been updated twice over the years. A great, compact gift for for both children (7+) and adults.



5. Just wanted to pass along that this book is only approximately 3" wide by 6" long. When it arrived, I was very surprised to find out that the book was so small.

5 comments about Hawks in Flight: The Flight Identification of North American Migrant Raptors.

1. Buteo identification has always been a challenge for me, but over the Christmas Day Birdcount I was able to get an identification I would have never gotten without the volume. The subtle parsing of the various colors, sizes, behaviors, etc. of raptors makes this more useful then a field guide for understanding on what you should be focusing when catching that 5 or 6 seconds of "flying away raptor".
   
   Another reviewer mentioned the grainy photographs, which is dead-on. Unfortunately, I have to say that those photographs are (approximately) how I am seeing most of these birds. So, they are an odd bit of help, really.



2. "Hawks in Flight" is a different kind of ID field guide. Most guides feature many colored plates and or photographs of the birds. That is very useful if you are within a reasonable distance from the bird and the light is decent.
   
   However, with birds of prey, you frequently see them from a considerable distance and from below. Most of the time you only get a good idea of their shape and flight characteristics. That is where this book comes in handy. Featuring nothing but B&W drawings (David Sibley) and B&W photos, "Hawks in Flight" shows you the bird as you will likely see it - a shape consisting of just a few colors (white, grey, black, brown) featuring some defining marks.
   
   The authors also do a great job of describing what are the defining marks of each species and also telling you how to make a determination between similar birds (featuring B&W photos next to each other).
   
   Highly Recommended



3. Of the dozen or so raptor identification books I own, I have learned the most from this book. The standard Peterson's guides work pretty well if you can get within 50 feet of a sitting bird, or if you use a gun as an accessory. However for most of us, you need to be able to work from a lot further away than that. Dunne takes you beyond plumage clues to descriptions of flight cadence, behaviour, posture, and relative body proportions. He discards the trivial details not visible from less than a hundred feet. He emphasizes what is still obvious in a backlit, soaring bird even miles away. On top of that he offers visual analogies that are cool 'sound bites' to help you remember features of the species. For example think of the flying 'stovepipe', the Northern Goshawk, or the 'arthritic' wingbeats of the Cooper's hawk. These clues offer the kind of practical wisdom that a seasoned birder will use.
   
   The only minor point I would make is that I found a few of the sentences a little hard to understand. However, like most good teachers, he explains important details more than once in slightly different form, so that understanding of key points is clear. This book is definitely a winner.



4. Excellent book. Great black and white drawings of adults and immatures of many species as well as different "phases" of the same species. No colour drawings are provided as hawks in flight are often seen in conditions that render them in shades of gray. Excellent text with even some humour thrown in. Highly recommended for those looking for a specific hawk book beyond the standard "all birds" guide.



5. I bought this book when it first came out in 1989 and it was just about the only raptor-only book out there at the time, and I found it quite useful. The book contains a great deal of basic information on hawk identification for beginners, but also on the more advanced points that many times aren't discussed in the more general books. For example, I found the discussions of the differences between juveniles and immature hawks, and between males and females, and their differences, quite helpful. As one reviewer already pointed out here, one great feature of the book is to juxtapose similar birds next to each other for comparison purposes, a great help. Overall, this was, and still is, a fine book on the subject even though the topic has become much more competitive just in the last five years.

5 comments about Birds of Mexico and Central America (Princeton Illustrated Checklists).

1. With 15 birds, and sometimes more, by plate; illustrations are very small and the one under an other ! The text of 3 lines is front of the illustration ... 3 lines is not a description.



2. Just the right guide, especially when used with "A Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas: Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador"



3. This is one of the most compact field guide to Mexican birding that I own. That's about it's best virtue. The illustrations are tiny, poorly layed out, and sometimes incorrect (that's the part that really bugs me - sometimes the illustrations flub key details). I suspect it's not the illustrator's fault, but rather the editorial and layout which seeked to create the minimum number of plates needed. As an example of equivalent size/species count done better look at National Geo's field guide, or Sibleys.
   
   I'd love to see the illustrator who did the most recent National Geographic Birds of America field guide take a whack at Mexican birds. That would be the field guide I'd want.



4. One reviewer mentioned "openly envious" Howell & Webb users. I think that may be a bit of hyperbole. I am one of those people who have separated the Howell & Webb plates (from a worn copy) for use in the field. I also carry the old Peterson & Chalif guide when birding down Mexico way, but the Howell-Webb plates volume is easily the most used. This illustrated checklist by Van Perlo really doesn't change that. It is what it claims to be: an illustrated checklist. It helps a birder in the field narrow down the choices readily by portraying many species per page and offering succinct diagnostic and distribution information on a facing page. But until someone does for Mexico what Garrigues and Dean did for Costa Rica, that will have to suffice. I recommend that any birder unfamiliar with the majority of species in Mexico and Central America (which includes me) take this volume along as one useful supplement. Just don't expect a field guide in the tradition of Peterson or National Geographic or Garrigues-Dean or Howell-Webb.



5. I birded several Mexico places with this little fieldguide booklet.. it was perfect for me!... I had experience birdng (not good book for the beginner or amateur) so it was eeezy.. in fact, better, faster, greater than birding a year or two later with the big MEXICO and CENTRAL AMERICA field guide...even illustrations are not as good as in other Princeton illustrated mini field guides, they were enough good to ID all species in the field...nice book, worth!!

No comments about For the Birds: A Month-by-Month Guide to Attracting Birds to Your Backyard.