National Geographic Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America [Hardcover]

Mel Baughman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

The "National Geographic Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America combines stunning full-color photographs, the latest maps, and authoritative information into an accessible reference for every birder to enjoy. With lively and astute essays from leading ornithologists, conservationists, and other prominent experts, here is valuable insight into each bird family that will enhance birdwatching adventures anywhere from backyards to the most remote areas. Designed for accessible cross-referencing, this definitive volume provides vital statistics, specialized sidebars, charts, and full-spread maps dedicated to species comparisons, locations, behaviors, and endangered statuses.

Edited and compiled by Mel Baughman, director of the National Geographic Birding Initiative, with contributions from leading authorities in the field, this reference also provides answers to pressing questions regarding extinction, effects of global warming, and protective efforts to preserve species and ensure the growth of this increasingly popular pastime.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Go to your shelf and take a look at your National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America (2002). What you'll find is a detailed listing for each of the more than 800 species of birds that one can expect to see visiting or living in North America. But what about birds more generally? What of the particular characteristics of grebes or finches or crows? How are we to understand the general ranges, overlaps, and connection between closely related species within such groups? Baughman, of the National Wildlife Federation, has brought together an impressive array of experts to create this useful and fun volume, which will be a welcome companion to the Field Guide.

The volume begins with an informative essay on bird physiology, evolution, behavior, and classification. Each of the ensuing chapters treats one of the 42 major groups of North American birds, comprising 78 individual families. Following a general essay about the group, chapters provide details on each family, including classification, physical structure, plumage, behavior, ranges, observation tips, and conservation status. Major species are represented with outstanding illustrations, and sidebars treat special topics. A basic glossary of bird terminology, a brief bibliography, and an index that will be familiar to users of the Field Guide round out the volume.

The volume is populated with hundreds of very useful maps. Each chapter contains maps that chart the ranges and migration patterns of major species or families. In the "specialty maps" section, there is a wonderful map of "important bird areas in the contiguous United States" (great for vacation planning), and nearly 600 of the small range maps from the Field Guide are reproduced.

This is an outstanding companion to the Field Guide, but it also stands on its own as an excellent introductory text to the world of birds. It will be at home in public and school libraries and also belongs in all serious recreational and academic collections that serve those interested in birds and birding. More advanced readers may also want to consider the Audubon Society's Sibley Guide set (Knopf, 2000). RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792233735
• ISBN-13: 978-0792233732
• Product Dimensions: 12.7 x 8.3 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,403,867 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America, April 9, 2005

By 

J. Lindner (Gem Lake, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: National Geographic Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America (Hardcover)

This book has all the details a birder could ask for in a reference volume. It divides birds into families then describes in detail traits of the birds, migration patterns, behavior, feeding habits, plumage, sounds, etc., pretty much everything about the particular bird. There are detailed maps showing ranges and migration so everyone who sees a bird can appreciate what it went through to get to where you are.

This is not a field guide, and is not meant to go along on your next hike. It is hardcover and meant for desk research. But this book has so much valuable information, Audubon would be envious. The only real flaw is the green bar on the right hand side of each page. Different colors would have made for a handy reference index. But no real matter, this book more than makes up for minor flaws.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars A Great Disappointment, July 9, 2006

By 

Red Blayze "jl952" (Lancaster, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: National Geographic Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America (Hardcover)

It is hard to believe that this book came from National Geographic. The lack of useful maps is astonishing. This book is basically worthless to any birder as it presents very little information that is no already in any field guide. The book which is 480 pages has only 41 maps covering only 112 birds. OK there are also the standard thumb nail size maps found in any field guide book in the back of the book but this is a "Reference Atlas" from National Geographic!! Some of the choices for the full page maps are rather odd. Full page North American maps for the ranges of Wagtails, Brambling, Eurasian Tree Sparrow and one for the Sky Lark with only 4 dots on it. Another is separate facing full pages one for Lewis's Woodpecker and one for the Red Bellied Woodpecker even though their ranges hardly over lap. While several maps show migration routes only a few show date lines for movement. For those thinking that a very good choice would be range, migration and times for Wood Warbles look else where as there is only two maps one for the Blackpoll and another for "Eastern" warblers neither with date lines. Don't think at the text makes up for the lack of maps as it is only the very basic generalization on bird families with very little individual species information, if you have a good field guide you already have this. But there are a lot of pretty pictures, you know the type non birder editors like but are of little use for identification purposes. As you can see this book is aimed at non-birders and coffee tables. It is such a shame as National Geographic could have made a standard reference guide for the ages if they had just stuck to maps. We will give it 2 stars for being pretty.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Handsome Range Maps, October 19, 2005

By 

Bryce Stevens (Clinton, Tennessee, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: National Geographic Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America (Hardcover)

This is a handsome volume, basically a glorification of the range maps found in most bird guides. Although the wintering grounds are shown for inter-continental migrants, little other new information is presented. I had hoped for more practical information, like where and when species are most likely to be found in the U. S.