National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: California [Paperback]

Mel Baughman (Editor)

Book Description

Series: National Geographic Field Guide to Birds | Publication Date: March 1, 2005

These handy, informative pocket-sized guides are an essential resource for the novice or experienced birder. The guides in this regional series focus on America's most popular birding hotspots.

Featuring 200 specimens each, the guides group birds by family rather than alphabetically, as approved by the American Ornithological Association. A quick-reference alphabetical guide on the inside cover provides an easy way to find a name quickly.

Each entry has a vivid photograph showing the bird in its native habitat. On the facing page, a list of bulleted points confirms at a glance the bird's identity. These field ID clues note the bird's size, color, beak and wing shape, markings, song, flight pattern, habitat, and hotspots in which to find them. Special field facts highlighted at the bottom of each entry give additional information about what to look for in the bird's behavior, and detailed maps show the range of each bird's habitat. With a comprehensive index including life list, these user-friendly guides will quickly become favorite companions on the track to lifelong birding.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

A new field guide introduces a new series of regional handbooks on local birds. With more than 900 species of birds occurring in North America, the novice or casual birder can be overwhelmed by a standard field guide when trying to identify a new bird. Regional, and particularly state-specific, guides are often the best introduction to the fun of watching and identifying birds for newcomers to the avocation of birding. California os one of the continent's bird-rich hotspots, with the added attraction of being a premier vacation destination, and National Geographic has made a wise choice to spotlight this state in launching their series. It covers the 150 most easily spotted of the state's birds. All are presented on a two-page spread, with a clear photograph of the bird facing a page of bulleted facts. These identification aids include the common and scientific names of the bird, its field marks, a statewide range map, behavioral notes, locations where the bird is most easily found, and field notes that provide extra information. This affordable introduction will be very useful for beginners and tourists. Nancy Bent
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Mel Baughman an accomplished birder, conservationist, author, and publisher, is editor of he best selling National Geographic Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792294653
• ISBN-13: 978-0792294658
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #709,020 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fine for the beginner, but not the expert., July 3, 2007

By 

P. Hoppe "science nut" (Ontario, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: California (Paperback)

I have been a long time user of the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. When I heard they were beginning to produce state or small area specific mini-guides, I welcomed the reduction in mass and volume for my back pack. However, the new California field guide fell short of my expectations. Less than 200 of the 600+ species observed in California were illustrated in this guide. As such, it holds little appeal to me as a true field guide. However, my volume has been passed to friends that enjoy feeding birds in their yard, but are rarely sure of the ID of their visitors. They have told me how much they enjoy the book and how useful they find it. This would appear to be the niche that this new set of guides will fill. It will whet the interest of new birders and feeders of birds. From there, hopefully they will find they enjoy the hobby enough to pursue it more completely. At that point, they will need more than this book can offer.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nat. Geo Bird Book, October 2, 2011

By 

RSP "RSP" (San Diego, Ca.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: California (Paperback)

I wanted one and the price was right. Used, but in perfect condition. I have already started carrying it on hiking trips around the area. I like it as well as others I saw. Photos are great. Size is perfect. Not too heavy. Sturdy enough to hold up and water repellant.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: California, May 22, 2007

By 

R. Coombs - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: California (Paperback)

We are really enjoying this book. We have recently moved to a new home and have placed many bird feeders in our yard. We can now identify most of the birds that are dining at our outdoor restaurant, which is providing much entertainment.