The Complete Birder: A Guide to Better Birding [Paperback]

Jack Connor (Author), Margaret LaFarge (Illustrator), Roger Tory Peterson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 30, 1988

Lively, anecdotal, and authoritative, this guidebook takes the birder by the hand and leads him or her into the field showing exactly what is needed and not needed to be a better birder.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

One of this book's virtues is that it does not try to give a complete overview of birding. It concentrates effectively on selected subjects, describing how a complete birder masters, for example, recognition of the different plumages and identification of five difficult bird groups: warblers, hawks, shore birds, terns, and gulls. The chapter on optics, otherwise excellent, unfortunately omits mirror lens telescopes, but compares brands of other optics, which many other write-ups do not. Other sections detail acoustics, the seasons, and the psychology of birding. Entertaining anecdotes illustrate many of Connor's points, for he has associated with many leading birders. Anyone interested in birding should benefit from this thoughtful guide. Henry T. Armistead, Thomas Jefferson Univ. Lib., Philadelphia
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (March 30, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395468078
• ISBN-13: 978-0395468074
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,014,625 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:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential birdwatching reading, February 20, 2000

By 

R. Gluck (N. Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Birder: A Guide to Better Birding (Paperback)

For any active birdwatcher who goes beyond their backyard this volume is essential reading. Connor writes in a lively, entertaining, but also very educational style. Chapter on optics will be very helpful for beginners, but probably best are his chapters on various bird groups where individual species can be difficult to learn (I especially like the chapters on warblers, hawks, and shorebirds). Out of the multitude of birdwatching books available there are few, if any, that fill quite the same intermediate niche as this volume does so well. Warning: there are no color pictures or photos here for those especially interested in such, but this now classic instructive text is well worth the price for avid birders.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take your identification skills to the next level, June 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Complete Birder: A Guide to Better Birding (Paperback)

This is a GREAT book that takes you beyond the basics and the common field marks in field guides. It has chapters on optics, seasonal birding, gulls, warblers and shorebirds, etc.

Years of experience are condensed into simple approaches to identification and topics like identifying shorebirds by their habitat choice and behavior or identifying all warblers by their head and face patterns only, a great help on our recent warbler migrationt trip.

I can't recommend this book highly enough if you want to get to the next level of birding. It's also very well written with lots of anecdotes and examples.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Birder--THE Essential Guide, February 5, 2000

By 

Charles Hagan "u4icstargazer" (Shenandoah Valley) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Complete Birder: A Guide to Better Birding (Paperback)

As a novice birder, Jack Conner's guide impressed me as the #1 essential book next to the field identification guide of your choice. Although it's over 12 years old, the Complete Birder has slightly dated but still essential info on optics, chapters on acoustics & migration, and lots of tips for identifying birds. The chapters on warblers and hawks should be required reading for all birders! Those living near the shore have similar chapters. It's full of important information beautifully presented. Don't miss the forward by Roger Tory Peterson!