National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (National Audubon Society Field Guides) [Turtleback]

NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY (Author)

Book Description

Series: National Audubon Society Field Guides | Publication Date: May 21, 1996

From a stop-action photograph of the amazing flying squirrel to Big Horn Sheep perched on a rock face, this guide puts the world of mammals in your hands. Illustrated with more than 300 full-color photographs, each species account includes information on physical characteristics, size, similar species, breeding, tracks and other signs, habitat, and range, as well as commentary on feeding, nesting, and other behaviors. Easy-to-read range maps, detailed anatomical illustrations of different mammals, track illustrations, and a state-by-state location guide make this the decisive authority on North American mammals.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Consider the lynx, a medium-sized cat of boreal regions of North America, "a solitary animal, associated with the opposite sex only during mating." Consider the Oldfield mouse, Peromyscus polionotus, once abundant in abandoned fields and beaches from South Carolina to northern Florida. These are but two of the 390 species covered in this densely informative, well-illustrated guidebook to the mammals of North America, with photographs keyed to textual descriptions that cover a given animal's physical features, range and habitat, breeding characteristics, and behavior (and, helpfully, that list other animals with which it might be confused). This easy-to-use handbook makes a superb addition to any naturalist's library. --Gregory McNamee

From the Inside Flap

From a stop-action photograph of the amazing flying squirrel to Big Horn Sheep perched on a rock face, this guide puts the world of mammals in your hands. Illustrated with more than 300 full-color photographs, each species account includes information on physical characteristics, size, similar species, breeding, tracks and other signs, habitat, and range, as well as commentary on feeding, nesting, and other behaviors. Easy-to-read range maps, detailed anatomical illustrations of different mammals, track illustrations, and a state-by-state location guide make this the decisive authority on North American mammals.

Product Details

• Turtleback: 992 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; Rev Sub edition (May 21, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679446311
• ISBN-13: 978-0679446316
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Zoology > Mammals
  • #28 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Biological Sciences > Animals > Mammals

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best of Its Kind, August 17, 2000

By 

Matthew Schenker (Western Massachusetts) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (National Audubon Society Field Guides) (Turtleback)

I have several Audubon field guides, but this is the best of them all in my opinion. In this book, the editors made a wise decision to write more expansive descriptions, including a lot of information about the animal's behavior, eating habits, breeding, migration, and, often, its conservation status. The editors also show a sensitivity to man-made trends. For example, the domstic cat is listed here, as well as wild horses. In the former case, human carelessness has actually created a viable, but problematic, animal species; in the latter, humans intentionally let loose hundreds of horses at the end of the "wild west" days, and the animals have now actually found a niche.

The editors also did an excellent job of including rare species (such as the lynx and bobcat) as well as very common species (such as all the different kinds of squirrels).

It is unlikely that most amateur naturalists would have a chance to actually encounter every mammal in this book, so it is great to have a reference like this. Like other Audubon field guides, just reading the descriptions is fascinating. I would venture to guess that most people will discover species they never knew about, or learn new facts about what they thought were familiar species. Some of my favorites are the wolverine and the wild cats of southern North America.

This book, as well as most of the Audubon field guides, is a terrific resource for igniting children's imaginations. Reading about the animals' lives should help give children insights into the diversity and interconnectedness of species, and spark an appreciation for the beauty inherent in the wild.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent field guide, March 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (National Audubon Society Field Guides) (Turtleback)

I thoroughly enjoy my Audubon field guides and the Mammals of North America is the most Interesting of the list. It is definitely a must have for anyone interested in animals. With tons of color photos of virtually every species in North america this is a great buy! Descriptions are longer and have more information than the Peterson series but some photographs are hard to see the identifyable traits of the specimen. Perfect size to throw in the pack and head out to the field to spot your favorites.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Field Guide, June 16, 2006

By 

Stephanie Bailey (Buena Vista, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mammals: (Revised and Expanded) (National Audubon Society Field Guides) (Turtleback)

This guide includes all sorts of animals in and around my area. It has a very thorough explanation of the animals and how to identify them. Whats really useful is the pictures. There are several pictures for each species including Summer coat & Winter coat. This is especially helpful if you are out animal watching during different times of year. I love going out exploring and coming home to look up the critters I saw.