Birds of North America: Life Histories of More Than 930 Species [Hardcover]

Fred J. Alsop (Author)

Book Description

Series: Smithsonian Handbooks | Publication Date: October 1, 2001

Published in association with America's preeminent authority, the Smithsonian Institution. This comprehensive reference to the birds of North America includes full-page profiles of more than 930 species -- all the birds known to breed in the United States or Canada, as well as regular visitors and vagrants to the continent. Smithsonian Birds of North America provides essential identification tips for each species together with fascinating information on feeding and behavior, breeding, and nesting habits. Identification. Full-page species profiles combine a precise description and annotated photographs to highlight the key field marks of the adult male. Other plumages are portrayed with photographs or artworks if they differ significantly. Species similar to the one profiled are shown with a brief summary of the key differences. An explanation of the typical flight pattern of each species includes both schematic artworks and a verbal description. Life histories. Knowledge of behavior can be critical to differentiate between similar species, and an understanding of life histories enhances the total birding experience. Each profile includes a description of the typical vocalizations, feeding behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation concerns. A range map shows each bird's occurrence in North America during summer, winder, and on migration.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

With its DK and Smithsonian imprimaturs, this five-pound book will get attention it does not deserve. The information it provides, with sections on identification, song, behavior, breeding, distribution, conservation, etc., is accurate and complete enough but adds little to what is found in the many good books already available on the subject books that are generally smaller, cheaper, and easier to use. Thus, titles by David Sibley, the National Geographic Society, Chandler Robbins, and Roger Tory Peterson serve much better as field guides; Paul Ehrlich's The Birder's Handbook (S. & S., 1988), although under-illustrated, provides more information on the biology of each species. Alsop includes ultra-rare species most advanced birders will not see in a lifetime, giving them unrealistic significance. His photographs, devoid of background and often one per species, appear as mounted specimens and are not helpful for identification. Though it may seem counterintuitive, field guides with stylized, generalized paintings give a much better distillation of a bird's appearance than photographs do. A professor of biological sciences at East Tennessee State University, Alsop has also published smaller Eastern and Western region spin-off titles of this work, with the same text for appropriate species. An optional purchase. Henry T. Armistead, Free Lib. of Philadelphia
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

This handsome book fills an important gap in the already rich literature on North American birds. For the first time, birders will be able, not only find what standard field guides include, such as field marks, range maps, and voice, but also a wealth of information on each species' foraging and social behavior, breeding patterns, nest location and nesting habits, clutch size, and flight patterns. All of this is presented concisely and clearly, with icons allowing quick overviews of all the important aspects of a species' life history. (Francois Vuilleumier, Curator and former Chairman, Department of Ornithology, American Museum of Natural History, New York City)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 1024 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789480018
• ISBN-13: 978-0789480019
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 8.1 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,068,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tremendous Value and Information, February 2, 2003

By 

Peter W Hurley (Fairmont, West Virginia United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds of North America: Life Histories of More Than 930 Species (Hardcover)

This book has more information than any other book I own. You will find birds listed here that you won't find elsewhere and the information offered is second to none. Considering the cost of this book, the value is tremendous. You will find common names, scientific names, very specific identification notes and interesting facts on all the birds listed. In the upper right hand corner of each page is a diagram showing the relative size of the bird to the size of this book and this is very helpful. You'll also find information on breeding, nesting and basic behavioral aspects of each listing. I personally recommend this book to any casual or enthusiastic birder.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Greatest Bird Book, February 9, 2002

By 

Chris Jacobs (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds of North America: Life Histories of More Than 930 Species (Hardcover)

This is one of the best bird books that I've ever read! It is a very complete book featuring more species than any other North American bird book. The pictures are great. Each of the profiles are concise, and include many interesting facts. I also really like the way this book includes pages that give information about the bird families and orders. Even the distribution maps are great-- they use orange for the summer range instead of using yellow like some older books, which can be very hard to see, and I like the way it uses asterisks to show areas where a vagrant has been recorded instead of just telling you. The idea of listing, describing, and showing small photographs of similar species on almost every profile can also be a big help for me when I try to identify unfamiliar birds, so I don't confuse them with others that may be quite similar.

In comparison to other books like Audubon and Peterson, I think that this book is much better. It includes more species, more information, and is arranged much better. Peterson can get quite confusing. In Audubon, I don't like the way that you have to turn all the way to the back of the book to get information on species and see a range map. I'd rather have everything on the same page; Smithsonian meets this criteria!

There couldn't be any better book on birds. Buy this book! It's great!!!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Birds of North America, December 1, 2002

By 

Joe Zika "Khemprof" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Birds of North America: Life Histories of More Than 930 Species (Hardcover)

Birds of North America written by Fred J. Alsop is one of the most complete books on birds of North America that I've seen.

The contents of this book is comprehensive and has a very well-written introduction and a how the book works section, this describes how the books pages are set-up for easy indentification of the birds you find in the wild. The guide to visual references helps again to further refine your classification and a identifing of the bird you've found.

There is an anatomy, topography, and variations sections; also a how to identify birds, birds in flight and by silhouette, but to further hone your indentifing of your birds, there is a behavior, abundance and distribution; classification and how to watch birds in the backyard, along with those in the field.

There is a very fine glossary and index with this book to get the birder to the species you've found. this book classifies birds by species... this I found is the best and fastest way to find and classify to birds you're looking for.

I highly recommend this book for those who really need a book for their birding experience. Along the outside margins of the pages, there is a place for a date, time and location on the page for you when you spot a bird species.

All in all, this is by far, one of the best bird book that I've seen. Excellent choice for a gift for the birder in your family or to get the children involved in what is around them while the are with you on walks through the woods.