America's 100 Most Wanted Birds [Paperback]

Steven G. Mlodinow (Author)

Book Description

Series: Regional Birding Series | Publication Date: September 1, 1996

Here's how to find 100 of the rarest birds in the contiguous United States. America's 100 Most Wanted Birds is your complete guide to finding Ross' Gull, Kirtland's Warbler, Lucifer Hummingbird, Blue-footed Booby, and 96 others. No serious birder's library should be without it. Authors Steven G Mlodinow and Michael O'Brien, two of the country's top birders, have done exhaustive research on each bird and presented it in an easy-to-use format. Each species description includes information on present status and distribution, patterns of occurrence, favored locations, identification, and your best bets for a successful sighting. A special Site Guide gives you the latest information on the hottest birding areas in the country-all the important information you need to plan your next birding trip.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

If you want to see a gyrfalcon or a fork-tailed flycatcher, this resource might be your best help in spotting them. Mostly for serious birders intent on adding species to their life lists, America's 100 Most Wanted Birds provides detailed strategies for locating 100 of the most uncommon-to-rare bird species in the lower 48. Driving directions are included for locating species that can generally be counted on to show their feathers in a certain area (like the gyrfalcon); the rest are dealt with more generally in relation to when and where they are most apt to appear.

Review

America's 100 Most Wanted Birds is the complete guide to finding Ross' Gull, Kirtland's Warbler, Lucifer Hummingbird, Blue-footed Booby, and 96 other popular birds. America's 100 Most Wanted Birds presents the results of exhaustive research on each bird presented in an easy-to-use format for birdwatchers. Each species description includes information on present status and distribution, patterns of occurrence, favored locations, identification, and best bets for a successful sighting. A special "Site Guide" gives the latest information on the hottest birding areas in the country. America's 100 Most Wanted Birds has all the information necessary to plan a successful and rewarding birding excursion. -- Midwest Book Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Falcon; 1st edition (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560444924
• ISBN-13: 978-1560444923
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,982,563 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars There is something here for most dedicated birders, June 1, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: America's 100 Most Wanted Birds (Paperback)

While there is something here for everyone, there is also info that people won't want. The choice of limiting the scope of the book to the lower 48 is interesting. It makes all the locations (relativly) accessable. It also means that some birds which are included (like Ross' Gull) are difficult to pin down in the lower 48 (they can point to no pattern of occurence) but are definitly finadable in North America (Churchill, Canada in this case).

The rarity of the 100 birds varies greatly. There are many birds which are so rare that no pattern of occurence can be given, while others are quite regular in certain areas (ie Pacific Golden-Plover). The book is most usefull for the rare birds which show clear patterns of occurence (like Tuffted Duck in the San Fransico Bay Area or Cook's and Stejneger's Petrels of the California coast). This book is just usefull for listers. Each description includes information on ID, which can be very difficult to find on some of these rare species.

Is this book a must have? No. But for many birders, who seem to lust after every bird book on the planet, this book is a usefull addition to a personal collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Now there's a bird I'd like to get on my life list !, December 15, 2005

By 

J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America's 100 Most Wanted Birds (Paperback)

This is a rather unusual 'Bird Book'and certainly not a book someone just starting out in Birding would find very helpful.In the first few years of birding one finds new birds to see without chasing all over North America,to find rare birds listed in this book.However;that being said the book makes for interesting reading as to what are some of the most sought after birds that Birders are on the search for as their North America life list grows past the 500's.
What birds were included could be debated.Some are quite easily found at the right time and location while others require a lot of effort unless staked out,or on an up-to date Hot Line posting.The birds included are very well described ,with excellent directions and information on occurrence.
Even if one were not intending to chase down all these birds,it is certainly a good book covering these prized additions and where one might find them.This is not a book you would take with you during a day of birding;but certainly a great asset to turn to if you are planning a trip away from your normal surrounds and want to make sure you know about and hopefully add one of these birds to your list.
Although the book limits itself to the Lower 48 states,it is still useful to birders who keep an ABA list,although directions and details are not provided outside the Lower '48'.
All in all,a great book for an avid birder whose birding ranges over the ABA.

5 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Usefull to listers and birders., July 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: America's 100 Most Wanted Birds (Paperback)

This book is usefull to birders and listers in delineating how to seek out some of the more unusual avian visitors to the US. At times though you wonder if the information provided would truly help you "get" the bird.