Birds (Golden Guide) [Paperback]

Ira N. Gabrielson (Author), Herbert S. Zim (Author), Chandler S. Robbins (Editor), James Gordon Irving (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 14, 2001 | Series: Golden Guide

This guide will help you identify-quickly and easily-the birds you are most likely to see. It tells you:

What to look for
Where and when to look
How to attract birds

Range maps show where each bird is found, and handy tables at the back of the book contain a wealth of additional information about migration, eggs, nests, and food. This is the perfect bird book for beginners at any age.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Instant fun... you'll always have an answer when the kids wail: "I don't have anything to do..." -- Boston Herald --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Book Description

Combining 50 individually die-cut cards with full-color illustrations, plus hundreds of intriguing facts, stories, statistics, and trivia, Fandex is the newest breakthrough in information-packed, family publishing.

With its large images, bright colors, and die-cut profiles unmistakable the bird and the bird card could almost be one and the same. Birds: Wild Birds of North America is the ideal way to learn about North America's songbirds, backyard birds, shore birds, and birds of prey. From the diminutive Indigo Bunting, which navigates by starlight during its long migrations, to the fearsome Red-Tailed Hawk, Birds introduces 47 species and covers their habitat, range, diet, nests, eggs, and up-to-date conservation status. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (April 14, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582381283
• ISBN-13: 978-1582381282
• Product Dimensions: 6.1 x 4.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,117 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #8 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Birds & Birdwatching > Field Guides
  • #11 in Books > Science & Math > Nature & Ecology > Field Guides
  • #46 in Books > Children's Books > Animals > Birds

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A good guide for beginners. October 19, 2000

By sauerkraut

Format:Paperback

This was either the first or second guide that I started out with when I was very young. I will always have respect for it. It contains full-color drawings of the most common birds that a person is likely to see. A total of 129 of the most common American birds is included. Text and range maps are also included in this pocket-sized guide. The drawings display spring plumages of adult male birds, and normally females or young if they are very different. The text is good and gives the common name, length, description, behavior, verbal descriptions of vocalizations, and sometimes abundance. The text also points out the differences between males and females, and related birds that are similar. This guide contains some nice introductory information. Some of the information deals with how to use the guide, how to identify birds, equipment, where to look, bird classification, and attracting birds. There are also two illustrations that detail the parts of a bird. I find all of the drawings throughout this guide to be pretty good. Most of the drawings share the same page as the text and range map, but a few of the drawings are on the right page, while the text and range maps are on the left page. This guide has some very useful information that is located in the back. For each bird that is illustrated, there is information dealing with migration, eggs, nests, and feeding habits. The back of the guide also contains a listing of scientific names for the birds illustrated and an index. I used to take this guide out with me when I first started birdwatching. I still have the older and also the newer edition. Whenever I would identify a particular species of bird, I would write all of the important information about it on the page.... Even though I don't take this guide into the field anymore, it's not because I don't like it. I feel confident with the organization, drawings, and information; however, this guide does not contain all of the birds of North America--only the common ones. That aside, I still think that this guide is a good choice and starting point for beginners. Read more ›

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A great guide for beginning birders and children April 28, 1999

By A Customer

Format:Paperback

This was either the first or second bird guide I ever owned. It's a birding guide that contains the most common species of birds that you'll see. The maps are good, the drawings are excellent, and the information on each bird is great. Greater starter guide for beginners and children.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice way to introduce kids to birding... February 24, 2001

By Laura Haggarty

Format:Paperback

My kids find the Fandex format easy to use, and the information on them accessible. We have several, and they're fun for all of us to use together.

This Fandex covers a number of wild birds of North America. Each page has a large photo of the bird in question, its Latin name, a description of it, and the following Field Note categories: Habitat; Range; Diet; Nest; Eggs; and Status. Mind you, this is not a scientific, adult field guide, but a fun way to introduce children to the joys of birding.

The only quibble I have about these decks is that sometimes when they're completely fanned out, the edges of the illustrations get caught up in each other, making it hard to close them properly. But other than that, they're cute, informative, and a nice format for kids.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I love these Fandex Guides! February 25, 2000

By Wendy Gunn DeHaan

Format:Paperback

A fantastic "quick & dirty" reference tool! The PERFECT aid for persons in the online auction selling business. For example, I had a lovely antique plate that I wanted to put up for auction. This particular plate featured a bird sitting in a tree. I got out my trusty Fandex Bird Guide and there it was ... a Yellow Warbler. I then got out my equally trusty Fandex Tree Guide and there it was ... the Downy Hawthorne Tree. Therefore, instead of describing my treasure as a plain ol' "Bird Sitting in Tree - Plate", I was able to give it the justice it deserved and described it as a "Lovely Yellow Warbler Nesting Atop a Downy Hawthorne Branch - Plate".

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars These books are so much fun! October 18, 1999

By Susan Farricielli

Format:Paperback

These books are so much fun! They are great gift items for adults or children. I try to keep one copy in my car on Trees and Birds. What a great idea!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Guides for the Rest of Us January 9, 2007

By Victor A. Gallis

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I don't suppose dedicated birders would have much use for this guide, but for those of us who think it would be fun to be able to name the birds that live in or migrate through our neighborhoods, this is a wonderful resource. For the parent with curious children, Herbert S. Zim's guides are indispensable.

These hip-pocket sized books are nicely designed and simple enough so that children can use them on their own after just a little guidance. At the same time, though, they offer plenty of solid information. The illustrations are clear, copious, and attractive.

If you are looking for a basic guide to common birds, this is a perfect choice. Also, be sure to see the other Golden Guides by Herbert S. Zim.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars FYI January 7, 2008

By O's Nana

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Just wanted to pass along that this book is only approximately 3" wide by 6" long. When it arrived, I was very surprised to find out that the book was so small.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointment February 25, 2007

By Lee Orcutt

Format:Paperback

The original of this book, in hardcover, is fabulous. Unfortunately, this edition is not true to the colors of the birds. Compare for instance the Indigo Bunting in this updated edition with the Indigo Bunting in the original Hardcover Version (not the original paperback version which is just as bad as this). We have Indigo Buntings at our feeders every year. Their color is so vivid, it's breathtaking. But you wouldn't know it by looking at this poor substitute for the original book.