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The National Geographic Society's Field Guide to the
Birds of North America |
This was the first book I
got. As a field guide, it is made to withstand handling, moisture
and field conditions. It has tons of great information and lists a
lot of the "accidental" species that don't belong here but show
up sometimes. That can be good and bad since when you are looking
for the bird you just saw, there are more pictures to look at and many of
them are not "likely" prospects. |
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American Bird Conservancy's Field Guide "All the
Birds of North America" |
This is my favorite bird
book. It is extremely "usable" because of the way it is
organized and written. It is also a durable field guide with
moisture-resistant cover and it is sized so it easily fits in your jeans
pocket. It has become one of my favorite gifts to give and most
everyone in my family now owns a copy. This
book stays by my "bird window" when I am home and goes with me
on trips. One confusing feature of this book is that a "page
spread" counts as a page. So, if the index says page 29 and you
open to page 30, you have to go back a page, not just look on the facing
page. |
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Down & Dirty Birding |
This is a slightly irreverant
look at birding and birders that is highly entertaining and amazingly
informative, too. Using anecdotes from his own experience, the
author, Joey Slinger, manages to give you tons of good information while
letting you know that you are not the only one who has stumbled along the
birding trail.
It is great reading and you
might even learn something from it. |
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Guide to the Birds of Alaska |
I bought this book when I
went to Alaska in 1997. It contains only birds that are found in
Alaska but can be helpful other places since many of the birds are found
elsewhere, too. |
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All of the books listed are
available at bookstores as well as Barnes
& Noble online and Amazon.com.
You will find that they are all "pricey" so if you can only
afford one, get the American Bird Conservancy's Field
Guide "All the Birds of North America". Having said
that, I have found that having more than one book is a big help. The
descriptions, as well as the photos or drawings, vary.
It is important to read the
introductory information in the center of the book as well as that in each
section. The center section will fill you in on "birder"
language and, often, you will find exactly the tips you need to identify
your bird in the introductory information of a section or page. |
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