Review of my new handbook on birds of North America

16 years ago

We have always like to watch birds and have fed them for years, but I never really took the time to study them. Since my husband and I both got the Panasonic ZS3 point and shoot camera we have really become avid bird watchers and enjoy taking their photos. Our old bird book of North America was adequate but the pages were falling out and has drawings only with 5 -6 birds on a page. At the bookstore we looked at Peterson, Sibley, Audubon, and the one we chose, which is the Smithsonian Handbook-Birds of North America-Eastern Region. I would rate it 5 stars for it single page profile on each of the 706 species, color photos, and understanding of information given. A possible con would be small print, but my progressive lenses work just fine. This handbook is not one you would carry in your pocket 6" x 8" and 2" thick. Someone wrote to consider it as a mini-encyclopedia. While the computer is great to retrieve information, etc. I am still the 'give me a good book to curl up with in the corner of the sofa' kind of person. This book sells at Borders in-store for $30., but I belong to their Rewards program and had a 40% coupon, and paid $18.00. I believe the other books sold for $20.00 each (before coupon). The reasons we did not care as much for some of them were because on a quick look the bluejay color was not like we see it, fewer actual photos, map locations, not as comprehensive info. etc., although if size of the actual book is important to you, all the others were much smaller.

This is not intended to be an advertisement, but a bird watcher's review of a bird handbook.

I would really like to hear your opinions of the books you use. I love books and am an avid reader.

Thank you. Jane

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Comments (7)

kendra2003
16 years ago
I have the Smithsonian bird guide, and I agree it is really good. I also really like the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, (Eastern Region). I like using them both because one may have information that I'm looking for that the other doesn't. Thanks for posting this Jane. I think it is a great idea to see which books people really like and use.
chickadeemelrose
16 years ago
I echo Kendra's thanks for doing this Jane. This kind of sharing of opinions and info is wonderful.

I find the field guide I have very frustrating - too much information spread out too much, in a very small book.

I have a very, VERY basic Peterson's Guide to Feeder Birds of North America - great for newbies or kids starting out.

In looking at all the guides you and Kendra mentioned, I would agree that the Smithsonian guide would be the one to have. Everything about just one species on one page is great. I also find it visually pleasant to look at.

I did like the Sibley guide, and the Stokes seemed nice too. But I will probably get a Smithsonian for future bird identifying. Thank you!

P.S. - They have it on Amazon for $19.80.
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donald lucius
16 years ago
i have received a variety of bird books from friends and family mostly for x-mas or birthday gifts.
The one i refer to most often is Birding featuring Joseph Forshaw and some others it is easy to use and fairly comprehensive. Another Birds of Colorado Field Guide by
Stan Tekiela has a checklist off all birds of Colo. and i am slowly going thru the list. Though i'm mostly a backyard amateur i do vist lakes or parks and mountain camping trip hunting or fishing Ect and have binoculars or camera handy
orrin_h
16 years ago
My personal favourite for use in the field is 'Nat'l Geographic guide to North American Birds'. Both text and colour plates are excellent.

Another very useful book is Peterson's 'Advanced Birding' guide, which deals with many of the somewhat problematic (in terms of ID) groups of birds, ie: sparrows, accipiters etc.

Peterson's 'Hawks' is also pretty tasty, both colour plates and b/w photos, very helpful for this sometimes challenging group of birds.
-O-
bandjzmom
16 years ago
Of the 3 guides I own Jane, (Smithsonian, Stokes, and Peterson) I do prefer the Smithsonian guide most! It is good sometimes to go and check each one if I have a real ID dilemma. Peterson did a good job of illustrating the juvie birds I think. Thanks for sharing!
jannd
16 years ago
Jane, this is a helpful post and I've enjoyed the comments by all. I have Peterson, Sibley, Stokes and National Geographic, but not the Smithsonian, so I'll definitely check it out. Like bandjzmom above, I use all of these guides, as I find each to be helpful in its own way. There's something I like about each of them and I have learned so much from all of them.

Thanks for bringing this up and sharing your review.

Jann
organic_bassetlvr
16 years ago
I had the good fortune to be in a birding group led by the author, Fred Alsop back around 1996-98. He's a wonderful teacher. My go to guide is Peterson's but I also have Sibley's, Nat'l Geo, Kenn Kaufmann's and the Stokes guides to bird behavior. I keep my Kaufmann's at work for people that say "I saw a blue bird but it wasn't a jay" or whatever-An old Peterson's is in my trunk along with old bins. Oddly I don't own the Smithsonian, but my brother does. Great thread!
Susan

Review of my new handbook on birds of North America

Comments (7)

kendra2003

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