Customer Reviews

Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This guide is a combination of the previously separate Eastern and Western Peterson guides. The look and feel of this guide will be immediately familiar to any users of past editions, especially the latest Eastern. However, every aspect of the book, even the art, has been enhanced and updated. Here is a brief summary of the changes.

The book's size is the first change that will be noticed. It is now probably too large to carry into the field. However, the increased size means that the plates are less crowded, and the art can be reproduced in a larger size. This allows the art to be better appreciated and studied.

Unless you are extremely familiar with Peterson's art, you won't notice many changes on the plates. But there have in fact been many. The most extensive changes have been in the form of digital enhancements to Peterson's art. These are touch-ups and corrections to make the bird on the page look more like the bird in the field. Thankfully, these enhancements have been artfully done, and do not stand out. In virtually every case they have indeed improved the image of every species that I'm familiar with.

There are also entirely new paintings, contributed by Michael O'Brien. Some, like the Himalayan Snowcock, are new species that have never before been included in a Peterson guide. But some previously included birds have been completely replaced by new paintings. These have been done in Peterson's style and some are very difficult to pick out. However, many are fairly obvious. They are not bad by any means, just different, and that difference can be jarring.

Like the art, the text has also been extensively enhanced and updated. For the most part, this consists of editorial changes such as word usage. But there are some significant changes, such as new field marks.

Likewise, the maps are entirely new. They are done in the same format as the previous Eastern edition, but the data they are based on is up-to-date, and supplied by the foremost expert in North American bird distribution. There is an entire section of large range maps in the back of the guide, and each species account includes a small thumbnail map. The thumbnails are much larger, and infinitely more usable, than those included in the Eastern regional guide.

As with the previous reviewer, I feel that although this is a good field guide, it does not reach the mark set by other recent guides. However, I still recommend it because Peterson's art has never looked better in a field guide. The art here looks a little better than in the latest Eastern edition, due to the increased size. Compared to the Western guide, however, it is a revelation. The same paintings in the Western guide are dull and soft. But here they are vibrant, and you can see more of the fine detail.

As a reference, this guide is superior to the previous Peterson regional guides, yet not quite as good as some other North American guides. But for me, the showcasing of Peterson's art makes up for this, and makes it well worth having.

My 5-star rating is based entirely on sentiment for Roger Tory Peterson and what his work means to all nature enthusiasts in the US today. Like countless other birders I grew up with an abiding interest in the avian life around me informed almost entirely by RTP's field guides starting with the 1947 Second Edition (still on my library shelf). This new volume almost certainly will be the last published that reproduces King Penguin's incredible art in field guide format, given that it combines birds from both the Eastern and Western guides for the first time, brings taxonomy up to the most recent level, and finally adopts the most up-to-date species order. But this is the ultimate Peterson, perhaps in the most poignant sense, because this volume celebrates the centennial of Peterson's birth, right down to the date it was to be released (but I still thank Amazon for shipping it a month early). In my humble opinion, anyone and everyone who likes birds even a little bit needs to own this book.

Now I do have a few points to make that are directed at the book's value as a field guide in 2008, and my opinion here is that a rating of 4-stars (or perhaps even 3) is more appropriate. The "trim size" is indeed larger than previous, by about an inch on a side, bringing the height to just one-half inch less than the Sibley Guide (regularly criticized as too large to carry in the field). The art is less crowded for sure, but portability suffers. The paintings are for the most part the exact same as earlier editions, with frequent rearrangements (digitally performed) to account for the East/West combination and taxonomy modifications. New paintings by Michael O'Brien are inserted and are virtually indistinguishable from RTP's own work - a very high compliment to Mr. O'Brien, if you ask me. But quite a few species are no longer illustrated at all - they were previously depicted on plates in the back of either guide labeled "accidentals", "vagrants', or "strays". While these birds are highly unlikely to be seen by the average observer, their inclusion was a sign of thoroughness which is now missing. I had hoped for a major revision in the art of those species shown only by a "head shot", but I am completely disappointed here, as the owls are still mostly missing their beautiful body plumage and gulls and terns still don't stand on pilings or the beach to display their mantles and tails. I haven't yet tried the podcasts, but I'm sure they will be informative, and are certainly a novel inclusion in a field guide.

In conclusion this is a terrific book for one's birding library, but I'm not at all sure that I will be taking the new Peterson to the field with me, as I always did the old ones before the National Geographic Guide came out years ago. Even the more recent photographic guides (National Wildlife Federation last year and Smithsonian this year) are more likely to be carried due to their more compact size. But to be completely honest I have studied the Peterson paintings so often and for so long that the images are permanently recorded in my memory, meaning I really don't need to carry any printed version of them - and what higher praise or better endorsement can I give but that?

I have deep respect for the life and achievements of Roger Tory Peterson. His impact on ornithology, ecology, avian medicine, wildlife art and birdwatching have often been underestimated.

The latest edition of the guide melds East and West and does a great deal to upgrade coverage of Western species through enlarged maps and improved digital renderings.

My problem with the Peterson series has been occasionally inaccurate renderings of some common common species -- the Barred Owl is one example -- which might cause a novice to misidentify an individual in the field.

Many bird enthusiasts purchase and use a variety of field guides because each has its strengths and liabilities. Sibley is the strongest on artistic renderings. Peterson is the best for species differentiation. Smithsonian's excels because of its bird-call DVD. For anyone who wants an all-in-one, National Geographic's Fifth Edition is probably a best bet.

As for the podcast benefits advertised on the cover -- they are continually available to bird-lovers on the net at Roger Tory Peterson Institute's site without a book purchase.

One of te best perks of purchasing this book is a free, one-year membership in The Roger Tory Institute in Jamestown, New York.

I purchased this volume as a tribute to the series and because so many of the renderings of species are excellent. I also appreciate the fact that all maps have been enlarged so that old people like me can see them.

Production values for the book are superb, without question the best field-guide binding available in print. While the paper stock has some annoying opacity, it really doesn't get in the way.

Diurnal raptor fans should look elsewhere -- Brian Wheeler's guides are a good choice. Owl fans should reach for Lynch or Johnsgard.

More than worth the price for its editorial strength and production values.

The reviews here on Amazon and elsewhere describe the great value of this lovely tribute to Roger Tory Peterson for anyone interested in birds in the United State and Canada. It was fun to compare those reviews with how the first of Peterson's books was received back in 1934; here's John Kieran writing for "The New York Times":

'This handy volume is offered as "a bird book on a new plan," possibly under the influence of the New Deal in wider but not always greener fields. The jacket warning includes the public notice that "This book will at once take its place as an indispensable pocket companion for Eastern bird students, both beginning and advanced." If the word "helpful" is substituted for the word "indispensable," this reviewer will accept the claim without further question.' (The entire review appears in the first Comment.)

Over the next decades, the jacket's claim proved to be prescient; for me and for many other bird lovers the book became not only "helpful" but "indispensable". We have three well annotated versions in our library, one stored right next a pair of binoculars.

Peterson's contributions to birding continue with the publisher of this memorial volume; "The mission of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History is to continue the legacy of Roger Tory Peterson by promoting the teaching and study of nature, and to thereby create knowledge of and appreciation and responsibility for the natural world."

Today there are a large number of excellent guidebooks which make Peterson "helpful" but no longer strictly "indispensable"; here's my personal checklist of some other great birding books and resources:

The Sibley Guide to Birds with its wonderful paintings.

The Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America with its excellent photographs.

The National Geographic Complete Birds of North America with its comprehensive coverage of all birds north of Mexico.

Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource for Identifying North American Birds describing birds in words only.

The Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America by Ted Floyd with multiple photos and CDs of bird songs.

And, of course, the almost limitless resources offered by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology such as A Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern and Central North America

One can carp a bit about the title; "North America" apparently excludes Mexico, which has a tenth the area of the US and Canada but 30 percent more bird species. Birds of Mexico and Central America (Princeton Illustrated Checklists) is a great way to start exploring the birds of that part of North America.

Nonetheless, Kieran's summary paragraph is still absolutely accurate: "But for the amateur, the eager bird student, the text and charts will be a real help in the big days afield or the quiet evenings at home when a satisfying expedition has been completed, or an even more ambitious one is being planned."

I would argue this book is still "indispensable" for any bird lover's library, simply as a collector's item, but much more for its great beauty and for it's wonderful "feel" in the hand and and when lying flat on the table.

Robert C. Ross 2008

In simple terms, as far as I can see, this book is a merger of the Eastern and Western Field Guides, using the same material. Of course no one can argue with the quality of that material. In an attempt to minimize the size, a large number of birds and pictures have been crammed on to each page, and I sometimes find it difficult to to tell which pictures go with which bird, especially birds that I'm not familiar with or which are similar. The dimensions of the book are larger than the field guides, and it seems unnaturally heavy for its size. I use the book as a reference but I won't be carrying it into the field.
I think the Peterson organization needs to come to grips with the fact Roger T. is gone. In order to remain a leader in the field guide business they will need to recruit new artists to provide new or updated pictures for their work. As of now this will be the last Peterson Bird Guide I buy until I see there is something new and different. In the last few years a number of really excellent new guides have appeared that already make Peterson second choice. The biggest plus the current East and West editions have is that they are small, and with this book they have lost that completely. Current versions of the National Geographic guide, the Sibley Guide to Birds and the Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds (Ted Floyd edition) are probably all better bets as an all-around bird reference.

If you are new to birding and wondering why the nostalgia quotient is so high for this book here is a brief explanation. Roger Tory Peterson is essentially the father of the birding field guide, and arguably birding as we know it today. His first guide was published in the 1930's and for many of us this was the guide we learned from. For myself I was 12 and used it even before I had binoculars from backyard to local pond, to hiking in the local woods. For many years it was the only real guide available. So when I saw it was being revised and updated there was no doubt it would be in my library.
Now nostalgia aside, here is why I reccomend this guide. If you are beginning birding this is an essential resource to learning the hobby. The organization of species and illustrations are the best suited of any guide for anyone not completely familiar with bird families, genera or classifications. The illustrations are specifically designed to teach you to use field marks for identification and similar looking species are compared together. The species desriptions and range maps are detailed and accurate and are now located on the same page as the illustrations. Voice desriptions are helpful and plainly described (who doesn't agree that the Barred Owl says "who-cooks-for you?")
For experienced birders, yes other guides surpass Peterson's in illustration detail and accuracy, but there it's still a very helpful reference and of use for more than just nostalgia. No matter your experience level, the fundamentals of bird identification remain. I know my frame of reference to identification of ducks in flight is still those plates in the Peterson's guide. Peterson's guide is a classic that remains useful, helpful and relevant.

Overall, I am happy with this field guide. Being an enthusiastic birder, I've learned that no single guide is the perfect one, so I own about six different guides. But I have always used Peterson's Guide to Western Birds the most. This new one combines both eastern and western which makes it more convenient for use throughout the US. The biggest drawback is that it is both larger and heavier. It has borrowed some ideas from other guides to make it more practical, like showing range maps on the actual bird pages instead of in the back, and added color coding and a quick index in the front. I'll get a lot of use out of this guide, but I'll also keep my other ones for backup.

I am well aware that I hold in my hands a national treasure, the product of a life well-lived, the "Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America." Its vinyl cover, its glossy pages filled with portraits of birds, not ordinary birds, but perfect birds, simply makes one catch her breath in awe.

A celebrated illustrator, writer, ornithologist, and educator, Peterson directly followed Audubon's footsteps in depicting the birds of North America, but with two differences: his book is a field guide in identifying birds and he didn't kill them to paint them. Peterson worked by memory and sometimes the hull of an old dead bird or a photograph or two. His son Lee writes in the Foreword: "He was able to piece together an image of the bird as it should have been. Not just any [bird], but all [birds]" (x).

The first thing I learned about birds when I began this new study is that they are the bellwethers of our environment. Peterson also "hoped to shift our relationship to our surroundings from one of exploitation to one of stewardship" (xi).

As for content, Peterson goes into much greater detail in teaching how to identify birds than he does in his First Guides, designed for beginners.

So, the list for bird identification:
Size, shape, wing shape, bill shape, tail shape,
Behavior, tree climber?, flight behavior,
Wade? Swim?
Field marks (one of Peterson's best bets for identification)
Tail, rump, eye, wing markings
Songs and calls
Nests
Ranges
Habitats

Of course, I looked up my Cormorants and thought for a second my special species wasn't there, but, aha! turn one more page and there he is with wings outspread--my Double-crested Cormorant who winters every January with all his buddies in my huge cypress tree standing alone in the bayou behind my house. Actually, now I feel honored that this big beautiful bird spends time at my house, so to speak. Oh, get this: he is similar in species with the loon who produces my favorite bird call.

Just how detailed is Peterson's Guide? In paging through the book I stopped at the Wren, described by Peterson as "mostly small, energetic, brown birds; stumpy, with slim, slightly curved bill; tail often cocked" (304). Here are six apparently quite similar birds, but Peterson's field guide arrows show us distinct differences:
House Wren: longish tail, white spotted underbody
Winter Wren: very short tail, completely colored and striped underbody
Bewick's Wren: white line over his eye and spotted lines underneath; solid white underbody
Carolina Wren: white line over eye but almost solid brown underneath, with faintly striped underbody
Sedge Wren: Stripes down top of head and eye and back
Marsh Wren: Solid brown on top of head with white stripe above eye and the most clear white stripes down his back

Even though the life history of each bird shows its range, there is a section in the back half of the book that provides more detail. The book closes with a Life list of all families under each of the 19 orders with blanks next to each one so that the birder and owner of the book can check off all birds spotted.

Silhouettes of birds of the water, flight, and roadside conclude this guide; however, a photograph and short biographical sketch of Roger Tory Peterson looks over those silhouettes.

I love this Peterson Field Guide. It has great drawings with helpful arrows, good maps and much useful ID info, including behavioral, in the descriptions. I LOVE the strong, secure, flexible, easy-to-lay flat binding (and the somewhat sturdier cover). I wish ALL bird field guides were bound like this, many used to be. My favorite field guide used to be my Golden-Guide to Field ID-Birds of North America (often ridiculed, very outdated). This Peterson's, which is somewhat similar and easy to use, is one of my two new favorites (I have many guides), maybe just a tad second best to Nat Geo's Field Guide. But, generally, I use both together. The only negative is that this guide is larger than the norm and somewhat more heavy. But, still worth carrying in the field. A very useful guide for most birders!

On the 2008 edition:

Coming from a family of avid amateur naturalists we have always had the RTP Field Guide to Eastern Birds in our homes and this, the latest edition, which is for the entire continent, is the fitting successor in a series whose originator literally "wrote the book" on birdwatching.

With excellent field guides also now available from National Geographic, Sibley, Audubon, Smithsonian & Kaufmann; perhaps Peterson's greatest legacy is the popularization of this foundational natural history avocation to the point that it's devotees can and do support such diversity and quality.

TIP: The one page index inside the front cover really makes for that crucial speed that we all need for successful bird identification.