Bird/Birding Books Worth Reading

[The Peregrine Chick]

Peregrine Chick's Suggestion

Peterson Flash Guide / Hawks

Since most raptor sightings are of birds flying overhead, my favourite guide is not actually a book, but rather the Peterson FlashGuide for Hawks.  I like it because its laminated and folds up like a car map.  I can open it up, spread it out or whatever while i'm on the road and I can see what I need to easily.  One side of the guide is the standard bird-sitting-on-a-branch illustrations, the other are what they look like as they are flying overhead.   And it includes all the raptors you are likely to see in North America.

I have five copies that I thought I might give away as prizes when I got them a couple of years ago, if anyone is interested in buy one and in the process, support the Project, I'll put them on the website tonight and you can buy them via PayPal or credit card - or you can email me and I can put one aside for you and wait for you to send a personal cheque or a postal money order.  I have to check the price (its been awhile) but it will be on the website tonight.  I'll put the link to the e-store page here when its up.

I love my flash guide, I find it very handy!

[eagle63_1999]

Eagle's Suggestions

1. To See Every Bird on Earth: A Father, Son, and a Lifelong Obsession
Author: Dan Koeppel, © 2005
 - Biography of a Man obsessed with seeing every bird on Earth. Currently in bookstores. I got my copy at Chapters in the Bargain section.

2. Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North American
Author: Ted Floyd ©2008
 -Beautiful photography of every species found in North America, some notations of accidentals and stragglers.  Concise Maps of not just wintering range and breeding range but year round and migration ranges. Also included is a DVD of bird songs of over 100 species, various calls for each species such a mating call, calls in flight, or alarm call.

3. Field Guide to Birds of North America
Author: Edward S. Brinkley ©2007
 - This Guide was put out by the National Wildlife Federation in the USA. Another excellant resource filled with pictures of not just adults but Juveniles and various plummages in respects to age and molts.  Has a brief description in the photograph about distinguished marks and other notable things about each species. Includes maps of ranges also.

4.  National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Author: Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer ©2006
 -Although this is a guide with paintings rather than Photos it is still a good resource as it too shows the birds in a natural pose and the different plummages. Maps of ranges included.

5. The Sibley Guide to Birds
Author: David Allen Sibley ©2000
  -Another guide of paintings but what makes this guide stand out is not only does Sibley portray the birds of North Amercian he includes flight postions, standing, juvenile and adult plummages.  Another good resource. Good depiction of map of ranges and mirgrations routes.


I have come across a book that is an interesting read.  It is called "The Grail Bird:The Rediscovery of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker" by Tim Gallagher.  This book is the only book written about the first hand account of the rediscovery of the rare bird.  While many don't believe the bird exists this is a good read. And personally after viewing the video tape of the bird I believe it is the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.  Just my two cents worth.

[The Peregrine Chick]

If anyone has read any good bird or birding books recently, post them here.

If you have a bird identification guide that you particularly like, please share!!