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 Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern Region (Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs).

1. Over 350 bird species are represented in this set (3 CDs, 99 tracks per CD, some tracks having more than one species). I find it to be very complete; it even includes several species that only occur as accidentals in the east region.
   
   The recordings usually include several vocalizations for each species (songs, warning calls, imitations of other birds, or chip notes). Most samples are about 35 seconds long.
   
   The short introductory track, in which the Stokes demonstrate reading from a script, is laughably bad, but fortunately that is not the point.
   
   I have enjoyed birding for years and am familiar with a wide range of calls, and I am finding this set very useful for reinforcement of the ones I know and for learning the ones that I only hear for several weeks a year, such as transient species of warblers. I recommend it.



2. Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs can be downloaded on an i-pod and used in conjuction with "Bird Jam" software to allow easy field identification of birds. If you are a birder, and like to know what birds are around, this product will confirm your identifications. You will even be able to ID the little guys by ear. It is thorough, accurate and fun.



3. Great product. Only criticism is that the cd case doesn't open and close properly/easily.
   Fast shipment. Would recommend.



4. Very handy and easy to use as a reference and with BirdJam for iPod, but not as good for a beginner just starting.



5. Hands down the best field guide to songs available. I've tried all the others - this one is the best! The recordings are more complete, including call notes and other noises that can make the difference for a positive identification.

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 First Flight: A Mother Hummingbird's Story.

1. First, a wonderful memoir of their cat, "Happy Birthday", and now an even more surprising story, an example of patience, persistence, perception and love. The adventures of hummingbirds, an entire life cycle in vivid beautiful color, and amazingly intimate details (this from a new Yorker whose only contact with bird life is pigeons). I think you'll be as delighted as I was.
   - Jay Maisel



2. This exquisite book is about loving and caring for what one loves. The Carroll's masterpiece springs from their love for Honey the Hummingbird as they daily devote themselves to watching her from her return from wintering in Mexico, the laying of two eggs in a nest on a clothesline which she had previously built and inhabited, the birth of her babies, which the Carrolls named Ray and Zen, and her nurturing of them until and after their fledgling flights.
   
   Everything about this book is done with devotion and great care. The text, written by Noriko Carroll, is a perfect accompaniment to what seems to me genius level photographs taken by Don Carroll. There are special lighting effects as a background to many of the photographs, and Mr. Carroll explains in an afterword called "Photographics Notes" that a mirror reflecting parts of his flower garden was used to create these stunning effects. I plan to order another copy of this book, take it to a framer and request that several of the photographs be removed and framed, to be hung on a wall of my home.
   
   The description on the inside of the book jacket cover is even unique. It is not the standard patois one usually reads. It is done with great care, depth and intelligence. It is the finest of its kind I have ever read.
   
   You will learn a great deal about hummingbirds, and if you have a backyard feeder, you will find out the proper and best way to maintain it. You will become more aware of the hummingbirds in your yard and in your life. And, unless you have a heart of stone, you will end up loving them, if you do not do so already.
   
   I heartily thank the Carrolls for their magnificent undertaking of introducing us to the life and ways of this wonderful bird and her offspring. It is their artistic skills, their intact sense of wonder and awe (which so many tend to lose in adulthood), and their capacity to love which has brought this book to us. Quite a gift!



3. This is a great book - I bought it for my mom and dad as they have lots of hummingbirds. But I had to check it out before I gave it to them. LOVED IT!!



4. We enjoyed this picture-story of a mother hummingbird. Excellent photographs and clear text. A book every (humming)birdlover will enjoy.



5. One of the nicest little books on Hummingbirds I have ever seen. I have just recently become interested in hummingbirds so this is a great little book to have.

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 A Photographic Guide to North American Raptors.

1. This is simply the best field guide for North American diurnal raptors that I have seen. Unlike some other photgraphic guides, it provides several images of each species in poses that one is likely to see in the field: perched and soaring from above and the side (showing field marks of top of wing and tail). It shows several examples of different morphs and ages for most birds. This is critical in understanding the variability in markings within a species. In addition, it has a section on field identification problems, detailing differences between similar looking birds. To my knowledge, there is no substitute.

   However, the paperback version is somewhat cheaply produced. The publisher should improve the binding and the quality of paper for this book. Try not to get it wet.




2. This is the best photographic guide to north american raptors available. The photos are very clear so you can see details on plumage. It also includes multiple photos of the species that have morphs, which is very helpful in the field. This is not a book I would recommend if you are using it for written reference. But I give it 5 stars for a field reference guide!



3. This is by far the very best book I have ever seen. The photos and details are just Great. I would advise anyone that watchs for these beautiful birds to have this as a guide!!



4. This masterpiece is one of the best field guides for raptors in North America. Readers are treated to several pictures of each type of bird. Raptors are shown perched and in flight, face on and in side view. Readers also see the field markings on the birds which are fully explained in a clear, direct way. A guide to helping readers identify the differences among the raptors is also provided. This is an excellent, outstanding work.



5. Being a naturalist from the age of seven or so, I have long been a keen observer of birds with particular attention paid to the raptors and soaring birds. All the books I had previously owned or seen about raptors stop far short of giving the info necessary for identifying the hawks and eagles of various ages and genders, as many of them will resemble another breed at various levels of maturity and in different seasons. This book almost eliminates those problems, giving excellent photos and descriptions that enable positive identification provided the observer gets a good enough look at the bird. It also provides useable field id pointers that will eliminate many questions with only a "sketchy" look at a flying or sitting raptor.
   A good book that should sit on the front seat of any raptor friend's car; one that will be used time and again in the field.

5 comments about Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Western Region (Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs).

1. The only critique I have is that some of the western birds are not in this guide. They are in the eastern guide. You actually need them both. I highly recommend this set of guides.



2. There is a pretty limited selection when it comes to birding sound cds. This is a good choice because each bird is given about 30 seconds of calls. I placed the entire cd into my iTunes library, then downloaded them into my iPod for field use. Really, calls and songs are the only sure way to identify birds when the bird could be one of several that look alike. (as most do).



3. The Stokes field guide to birdsongs of eastern and western north america are an excellent way to learn how birds attract mates and communicate to announce and protect their territory.



4. Great product. Only negative is that the cd case doesn't open and close easily. Fast shipping. Product as described. Would recommend.



5. Very handy and easy to use as a reference and for use with the BirdJam for iPod, but not as good for a starter just learning.

No comments about Falcons of North America.

5 comments about A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America.

1. I think few would question that this is the definitive guide to Mexican birds. Few would characterize it as the ideal field guide at 850-plus pages. For portable guides birders in Mexico can use the Peterson-Chalif guide (somewhat dated, but still useful), _The Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas_ by Ernest P. Edwards from 1998 (also quite useful and perhaps a bit underrated, though the sequence of some illustrations seems a bit baffling at times), and Van Perlo's illustrated checklist (not really a field guide in my view).
   
   But nothing compares to Howell & Webb. And with some real bargains on used (even worn) copies occasionally found at Amazon, one can (with the help of a copy-printing service) obtain a portable guide that works quite well in the field. It's not a new practice and I may be covering ground already trod by other reviewers, but this is how I did it.
   
   The copy service I used went with a small wire spiral for the plates and a large plastic spiral for the text. The Plates Volumes consists of:
   
   - a laminated copy of the front cover
   - a copy of the Color Plates table of contents
   - a copy of the Abbreviations page
   - all plates
   - a laminated copy of the back cover
   
   The Text Volume (kept in the car or hotel room for reference) includes:
   
   - the front cover
   - all text pages, including Appendices, Bibliography, and Index
   - the back cover
   
   Don't do this with your only copy of this book. My first edition copy is intact and used for reference at home.



2. This book seems to be a pretty thorough look at the birds of Mexico. It is a little difficult to use, but it does have a lot of information.



3. Good pictures and information but a very heavy book to carry around while birding. Perhaps the written information could be seperated from the pictures.



4. We found the book difficult to use as the color plates are centrally located and separate from written discriptions. Further it's size filled too much "valuable real estate" in the minimal luggage we travel with and the weight did not justify it's helpfulness. We saw several birds in the Yucatan - verified by our Mayan guide - that were not included in this book. Even had we listened to one recommendation which was "tear the book apart and take only the parts you think you may need", I would have been left wondering if the birds we saw (but not included in the guide) had been left in the portion of the book we didn't take with us. I'm still seeking a better bird book for this region.



5. By far the only field guide worth taking into northern Middle America. Thorough in coverage; mostly accurate plates and range maps. The size is not convenient, but the other guides (Peterson, Edwards, Princeton Checklist) don't come close.

5 comments about Birds of Ecuador Field Guide.

1. This is really the only option if you're traveling to Ecuador to bird and it's a great book as those before me have said. It's very hefty, both in information and in physical size. It's overwhelming sure, but so is birding in the tropics. The plates are pretty good, though some are laughably awkward, the raptors for instance. I didn't choose to bind the plates separately in my copy when I went, I carried the whole text in my backpack. It was heavy and sort of obnoxious to keep pulling it out to refer, but what are you gonna do?
   
   Those are really the only complaints, and by and large it's well worth the money and there's nothing else you would choose to take to Ecuador. I'm certainly glad I have it.



2. This is an exhaustive book with brilliant drawings - but not a field guide. Forget what the publishers say about two volumes and this one being the field guide. It's hideously impractical. It's over 700 pages, thicker than your fist, and a HEAVY load to be lugging around and getting it into an out of your backpack, especially when hiking or navigating slippery jungle trails in the sweltering heat. That said, I don't know of any other field guide and let's face it, we birders need a field guide. As many others I have had the plates with the drawings taken out and bound into a 'new' book, and brought only that with me. It's suboptimal, but hey, what can you do.



3. The book is an excellent guide. I could see the pictures and description of the birds I was lucky to see in my last trip to Ecuador.



4. Actually, this is volume 2 of a set of two books. But it is this volume that is meant to be taken to the field. For the first time, there is a full set of very useful color plates for one of the core South American countries. It is certainly a great accomplishment to have all the species pictured in color and on a more or less consistent standard. However, I do not agree with other reviewers who rave about the plates. Too many of the bird pictures have an overall flat appearance, with the color rendition being too simplistic or too bold. And while a good number of the birds are depicted in good or even in unnecessarily large size, others would have benefitted from a larger sized rendition. Just because a species is small does not mean it has to be depicted in a diminutive size, unless there are larger species of the same group on the plate. Thus, while the plates are most useful, it is nevertheless disappointing to see that the overall standard (except for the plates being all in color) is rather lower than what was already published decades ago e.g. in "Birds of Colombia".
   The book has excellent range maps and very helpful comprehensive texts. However, a somewhat more compact layout would have allowed for a smaller overall size of the book. The way to do it is being demonstrated in the book itself. The texts facing the plates use the suggested compact layout most convincingly. Spanish bird names are given in the main text, but, unfortunately, there is no index for them.
   
   (This is an adapted review I originally published in 2002 for the so-called slipcased two-volume edition. As it concerned the fieldguide, but disappeared, here it is again.)



5. I used it in Sumaco, Podocarpus and Mindo area in Ecuador in 2003 while working on Golden-winged Manakin display behavior stuff... and this was a perfect book!... illustrations use the page space very well, love that!...