Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species (Birds Ornithology) [Paperback]

S. David Scott (Author), Casey McFarland (Author)

Book Description

Series: Birds Ornithology | Publication Date: September 1, 2010

This guide teaches birders to use the characteristics of wing types and feather morphology to identify feathers - not only by species but also by their place on the bird's body. The introductory chapters give a detailed overview of the feather - how feathers developed, the parts of a single feather, and the variety of types of feathers on a bird. In the feather identification section, over 400 colour photographs show feather samples from 379 bird species from all over North America. Along with the wing type of the species and a map showing its range, several types of feathers are included for each bird; each feather is labelled with its type and its size.

Editorial Reviews

Review

an outstanding guide to feathers --Birder s World, (recommended in the 2010 end-of-year book roundup)

an invaluable resources for curious naturalists and birders --Birding Business

About the Author

Casey McFarland is a wildlife tracker and a tracking instructor and evaluator through Cybertracker International.

S. David Scott has been working as an environmental educator since 2003, focusing on ecology and wildlife behavior. He lives in the Seattle area.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Stackpole Books (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0811736180
• ISBN-13: 978-0811736183
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #53,415 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Birds & Birdwatching > Field Guides
  • #27 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Field Guides
  • #30 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Wildlife

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A gift to field biologists and hobbyist, September 28, 2010

By 

getthepaper - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species (Birds Ornithology) (Paperback)

What a delight to have this tool. This is the birdwatcher's geocaching. I have spent many years picking up feathers and testing my ability to identify the bird from which it has come. I enjoy it personally but am also a field biologist who uses that data to describe details of a discovery, including bird remains that have been left as a result of predation or impact from transmission wires or wind turbines. I have since purchased 4 more copies for my colleagues and field staff. Other than the unfortunate mislabeled plate on page 30, I have found the book accurate. I believe the authors approach to depict flight feathers was an appropriate choice as they are the most telling of species. The more we learn, the more we respect nature's gifts. Thank you for your tremendous tedious efforts.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An original contribution to the field of North American Natural History, November 30, 2010

By 

David Moskowitz - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species (Birds Ornithology) (Paperback)

My review of Bird Feathers actually started at the base of a fallen rotten trunk of an old Douglas fir in a forested ravine on the east slope of the Cascades. At the base of the log, close to the ground we found large chips of wood that had been removed from the log along with a half dozen feathers of an unidentified bird. They were black with a small bit of white close to their base. The longest was about 6 inches long. I guessed it was a woodpecker that had been killed and eaten while foraging on the log.

In the past the identity of such a discovery would remain just that, a guess. I collected the feathers and that afternoon I put Bird Feathers to work. Previously, I might have attempt to use a bird field guide to guess at whether or not the feathers I found could be from one bird or another. Or I might have used a text with a few examples of feathers, but it often was missing the species I guessed it might be or look-a-likes which prevented comparison and more certainty in identification. With Bird Feathers in hand I was able to identify the bird quite definitively as a Pileated woodpecker and even specifically which feathers I had discovered.

And here is where Bird Feathers excels further as a field guide. Beyond identification, Bird Feathers provides the opportunity for greater exploration. "Why do Pileated woodpecker primary feathers look different than other woodpeckers?" I wondered. This lead me to explore the detailed information in the front of the book on feather types, wing types, various patterns of bird flight. What started out as the desire to identify some feathers found in the woods, ended up with me having a much better image in my mind of how bird feathers WORK. For me, a field guide with the ability to draw you deeper into the subject rather than dead end with a common name and latin binomial, is a treasure.

Besides this, Scott and McFarland paid meticulous attention to their photography, measurements and layout all of which contribute to a handsome and highly functional text. It is a truly original contribution to the field of Natural History in North America and as such belongs on the bookshelf and in the backpack of any serious student of our continent's wild heritage.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last...a user friendly Bird Guide!, September 28, 2010

By 

Erin (Monroe, WA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species (Birds Ornithology) (Paperback)

I pre-ordered this book after hearing a good friend talk about the authors and the work that went into producing it. What an amazing book. The full color photos are fantastic...crisp and clean, easy to match in the field to feathers found. The regional maps are great. The book is laid out well and very user friendly (or idiot friendly in my case, haha). The information is clearly communicated. I hope that the authors will collaborate and do a non-native guide as well...hint, hint. :)