Backyard Birds of Winter [Hardcover]

Carol Lerner (Author)

Book Description

Featuring more than forty common birds of North America, a beginner's guide to winter bird-watching offers a colorful life-size picture of each bird, along with accurate information about their habits.

--This text refers to the Library Binding edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6-A guide to identifying and observing birds that survive in the cold climate of the U.S. and southern Canada. Introductory statements point out that their range may vary due to lost habitat, milder winters in some areas, and the ability of some to adapt to urban environments. A flowing narrative and realistic illustrations combine to present chickadees, cardinals, sparrows, juncos, and more. Species found only in specific regions are carefully identified and have adjacent range maps. The material is well organized, with species grouped under appropriate headings. Birds are drawn to scale in natural tones with distinctive markings for easy identification. Simple backdrops unique to each one's natural habitat are set against white to create an open, airy format. Providing more information than is found in basic identification guides, Lerner's book describes requirements for survival, adaptation to cold temperatures, and diet as well as distinguishing physical characteristics. One section discusses the best seeds for individual species and well-designed feeders that attract birds and discourage squirrels. A valuable selection to include alongside Golden Guides, Peterson's guides, and Rob Hume's Birdwatching (Random, 1993), which includes more detailed advice for observing birds in all seasons.
Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. This handsome introduction to birds in winter begins with a discussion of how their anatomy and behavior help them survive the cold weather in northern climates. The heart of the book presents the physical features, diets, habits, and ranges of more than two dozen relatively common species. Precise watercolor paintings of birds, usually shown as three-quarters life size, appear on nearly every page, making this a beautiful as well as a practical way to learn about wildlife that even city children can observe. Lerner mentions winter bird feeding as a possible reason for the increasingly northern range of many birds but reasssures readers that birds do not rely solely on backyard bird feeders except in extreme conditions. An appended section provides practical advice on food, feeders, and water for backyard birds. An informative guide to the birds that North American children might expect to see at their bird feeders in winter. Carolyn Phelan

Product Details

• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068812819X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688128197
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,762,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Backyard Birds of Winter, May 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Backyard Birds of Winter (Library Binding)

This book is just what I was looking for so my children and I could identify the birds that come to our feeder in the wintertime. It gives very good illustrations, map locations of the region where each particular bird is seen during the winter, feeding habits and other information about each bird. I like this because it sorts out which birds stay for the winter. I was having trouble identifying some of the birds from a general bird book. It also has a section on bird food and bird feeders which was helpful. I am looking forward to enjoying this book for many years to come.