What bird book?

[Wes]

i'm pretty much amateur at bird watching, can id many species but frequently need to consult with a book to id new species. i use The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. what's better than this book and why?

[billhouk]

I like the Audubon Field Guide for North American Birds. It comes in an eastern and western edition and is organized by general shape and predominant color so you don't need to know Latin to use it. The photos are excellent. Another option is the iPhone iBird applications if you have an iPhone. The Pro edition contains 945 birds in North America, drawings, photos, range, and song!

[Brad Williamson]

Just when I thought that birding guides had reached their limit along come a couple that I think are above the others.....

I recommend:

David Sibley's books:

The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Allen Sibley (too large for the field but great for home---all the birds for the US
for Wichita, I'd recommend:
The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America by David Allen Sibley and Rick Cech
smaller and field guide size.

Ken Kaufmann's (native Wichitan) book:

Birds of North America (Kaufman Focus Guides) by Kenn Kaufman, Rick Bowers, Nora Bowers, and Lynn Hassler Kaufman

This one is field guide size and utilizes actual photographs that are digitally enhanced to emphasize important field marks. I find a lot of folks like this.

What is really nice though, today is the iPhone apps that bring the books with illustrations, photos and songs directly to your phone. I have a couple---each with advantages and disadvantages. Can't wait until one puts it all together. Very handy in the field, especially if you want to geotag observations or check on the call you just heard.

btw, There is a very active group of birders down in Wichita. They'd be more than happy to introduce you to birding or to answer you questions. They meet out at the Great Plains nature center and actively discuss birds on the KSBIRD list. Send me a pm if you'd like contact info.

BW

[quivira kid]

Wes, I'd recommend either the Sibley book, or Peterson's Eastern edition. Peterson's is what I use ALL the time! Get a book with good accurate drawings as opposed to photos. With drawings you see all of the field identifications, where photos show you one bird.

[Brad Williamson]

Wes,

If you didn't see it, the paper had a good article on beginning birding, today.

http://www.kansas.com/2010/05/09/130...beginners.html

[TyroneFly]

Wes, I'd recommend either the Sibley book, or Peterson's Eastern edition. Peterson's is what I use ALL the time! Get a book with good accurate drawings as opposed to photos. With drawings you see all of the field identifications, where photos show you one bird.

Both would be a great way to go. Sibley is great for using markings to id a bird. Peterson books are heavy with pictures, but with lots of information for identification. Pictures alone can be difficult for use to id given variances due to age, sex and time of year.

Some online resouces are the Cornell Lab of Ornothology "All About Birds", fatbirder.com and the birdforum.com.

iBird and BirdJam are suppose to be two excellent iPhone applications, but are very expensive.

[Big Bad Wulff]

IMHO Chandler Robbins' Birds of North America is the best guide out there. Straight forward, simple and pictures and drawings like how YOU SEE the birds. Peterson's is just OK in comparison.

[greenlantern]

Wes, I,m also in Wichita. I like the Sibley book myself. Live near Oak Park and the river, so there are lots of birds around. Spring is great, because many birds molt at this time, free feathers!