Customer Reviews

The Shorebird Guide

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

 

 

The Shorebird Guide is a different kind of bird guide. It tackles a traditionally difficult subject in a unique way that makes identifying Shorebirds seem (almost) easy. The book is split into two sections: the first is a color photographic guide to each species; the second is a text write-up of standard field-guide information as well as behavioral details and such for each species.

Each species gets several pages of beautiful color photographs. Each photograph shows the species under discussion in a real world setting and has a short but info packed caption. The photographs progress from juvenile birds through adults (breeding and non-breeding). Many of the photographs contain more than one bird and more than one species. Some of the captions pose questions to the reader (answers in the back). Working out the answers to these questions is a good test of your skills.

The philosophy behind this book is that of GISS (general impression of size and shape) or gestalt. This means that the identification of a bird is worked out, not by plumage details or colorations as with a typical field guide, but instead by the overall impression of the bird. This is an especially useful tool with Shorebirds.

In conclusion, this is an amazing bird book and one that every birder needs to have in their library. It will definitely make you a better birder.

If you are a real shorebird enthusiast, or simply enjoy looking at great bird photographs, this would be a great book for you. If you want a straightforward reference for field identification, this may not be the book for you.

The book has two main sections: Species Photos (with copious identification notes and range maps, and Species Accounts. The photo section is subdivided into "Domestic Species" and ""Rarities and Regional Specialties". The photos in the book are wonderful, so it is fun to look through even if you are not trying to learn anything. Many of the photos are excellent for learning how to identify particular species and many others help to illustrate particular behaviors. Other photos are beautiful, but not very useful for illustrating identification features or behavior.

The text is also excellent. Although the authors profess to use a holistic approach to identification, there is plenty of attention to specific details. For example, in the notes for the White-rumped Sandpiper: "all plumages may show unique reddish or brownish base to lower mandible". Many photos show multiple species and there are little quizzes mixed in with the identification notes.

I often carry this book in my car when I'm out birding, but the book would be rather large and heavy to carry in the field. I dislike the separate sections for "Domestic Species" and ""Rarities and Regional Specialties". It would be much easier to compart similar species (like Wilson's Snipe and Common Snipe) if the photos for the two species were adjacent to eachother. I find the quizzes are fun, but they may not be to everyone's taste. Taking quizzes would be fine for home, but the quizzes might just get in the way if you were trying to use this bood in the field. This is a great book, but if you want a straigtforward reference for shorebird identification better suited for carrying in the field, you might prefer "Shorebirds of North America: The Photographic Guide" by Dennis Paulson.

This is perhaps the best bird family guide that I've seen. It is definitely the best identification guide to this difficult group of birds.
The book focuses more on size and shape rather than plumage. Therefore, the photos aren't like other guides. They are not all uniformly sized super close-up shots of a single bird. Instead they are sized to better emphasize certain characteristics. They often show multiple birds of different species so as to give a better comparison of size, shape, and plumage.

One of the best features of the guide is the questions in some captions. Most species have at least one question in one of their photo captions. The questions ask the reader to do such things as identify some of the species in the photo, or to pick out one particular species among all the birds present. The answers are contained in an appendix in the back. These questions force the reader to apply the knowledge and techniques imparted by the authors and look more critically and actively at the photograph.

I can't recommend this book enough.

This is the best photographic guide to Shorebirds period. There are hundreds of photos, over 300 pages for just photos most of them with several photos per page. Not only that they have great captions. Example Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs each have 12 photos showing both in one shot, breeding, non-breeding, juvenile, juvenile molting, resting, flying, with other species and all the photos tell you where and when (what month) they were taken. Each species also has range maps and the text is first class. Each species is covered as to Status, Taxonomy, Behavior, Migration - both spring and fall and adult and juveniles, Molts - first year and adult, and lastly vocalizations. The authors stress the Structure of each species rather than detailed colorization. Shorebirds can vary greatly in color especially during migration but their structure stays the same. Also one often observes these birds against bright lighting making their structure stand out.

If you are confused by Shorebirds and who isn't, this should be your first reference guide after your field guide. If you love Shorebirds it will take you days to just study all the photos just once. This is a definite 5 star plus book.

As for the Haines review I'd say go back and read the text you completely missed the point. Detailed full page photos of shorebirds are not very useful but many photos allowing structure comparison are the ticket to identifying Shorebirds.

Generally an excellent guide and justified addition to any serious birder's library, but the authors missed some good opportunities to demonstrate and apply their highly effective holistic ID system. Silhouettes of each species, in context with similar sized and shaped species, would have been a welcome aid for comparing and contrasting subtle differences under typical field conditions. (The only comparative silhouettes are all on a single page at the very back of the book!) Some super-close images are superb but essentially glorified portraits that are of little use in a field guide that stresses subtle differences in shape, size, plumage, posture, etc. The text could also have used more similarly-posed images (subjects facing same direction, same posture, same lighting) of confusing species for direct comparison of important identification features.

Alas a good work, but one not without its flaws.

This is the ULTIMATE shorebird guide and the "best by the best". This book teaches instead of informs. For each bird there are series of photographs of not only different plumages, but diagnostic comparisions with other species as well as birds in "real life" lighting and viewing positions. The book also teaches many easy tips for identifying those confusable shorebirds based on differences in shape, behavior, and sometimes one or two diffences in plumage. After reading many shorebird guides, watching videos, and listening to experts, I finally was able to immediately identify Lesser vs Greater Yellowlegs by using the simple key points in this guide. In addition to teaching identification, the guide provides extensive and exhaustive additional (and well written) information including migration, behavior, distribution, breeding etc. An essential book for any birder or naturalist.

All serious birders will want a copy of this new book on Shorebirds. There are several of others around but this book takes a whole new approach to identifying these birds.It covers all the Domestic (51) as well as all the Rarities and Regional Specialities (44) that have ever been found in North America;and yes that includes Alaska.
The book includes 870 of the most beautiful,descriptive and informative photographs that I have ever seen assembled in one book.Along with the photographs, we have excellent range maps for all the Domestic Species and information on all the rarities. There is a full Species account given for each species and they are loaded with information to assist in identification of these birds in their various plumages.With the rarities we get photographs of the birds taken in countries around the world while they are in their various plumages. Many photos show mixed groups as an aid ifor comparisons. Then scattered through the book are questions to help you test your skills.
The book has 477 pages,excellent paper,a soft ,sturdy cover,
top of the line printing and color rendition,and binding that will ensure its ability to withstand all the rigors birders subject their guides to. Physically it just couldn't be a better product.
I must admit that I am not familiar with the authors ;but when you see the high praise given to this book by Kenn Kaufman,Pete Dunne and David Sibley;3 of the best,who have their own excellent and popular Bird Guides;'you can take it to the bank',that this is an excellent book and will be on every Birder's want list.
The photographs alone are easily worth the price of this book.
But don't be fooled, this book is packed with information that will go a long way in helping you improve your ID skills with these birds which can be very difficult with their various plumages.
One last thing.We are also given a section on Hybrids and Aberrants.What a thrill it would be to come across any of them.

Shorebirds are challenging and an enigma especially in non-breeding or transitioning into breeding plumage. This book, is by far, one of the best books for shorebird identification. The pictures are excellent and show birds as you find them on the mudflats - with their heads hidden or partially visible. The pictures of the dowitchers and the eastern and western races are particularly interesting. If a person is not into birds but likes photography, I would highly recommend it for them also.

Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley and Kevin Karlson's The Shorebird Guide offer a different approach to identifying shorebirds: one which pairs over eight hundred color photos with reviews of the species which progress to more detailed images throughout its life cycle. Since it's often quite a challenge identifying birds when they look so different at different stages, from immatures to adults, such a book has long been needed - especially since shorebirds have a reputation for being difficult to identify readily. The lovely photos make for an outstanding book: some are small while others are nearly full page - all well detailed.

I have both TSG and Shorebirds of North America (Dennis Paulson). I haven't read both thoroughly, but I'm more drawn to TSG because it has range maps and because the silhouette guides on the back cover are immensely helpful, particularly for beginners. It's nice to have both when faced with troublesome identifications, but just glancing through them, TSG seems much more comprehenisve. I recommend it as the "first purchase" for shorebird lovers and budding shorebird lovers.