or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering
Sell Us Your Item
For a $6.36 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.
Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Stokes Field Guides) [Paperback]

Donald Stokes , Lillian Stokes
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)

List Price: $24.99
Price: $18.73 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $6.26 (25%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it Friday, June 21? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Image
Save on Popular Books This Summer
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more.

Book Description

October 25, 2010 Stokes Field Guides
The culmination of many years of research, observation, and study, the new STOKES FIELD GUIDE includes more species, more photographs, and more useful identification information than any other photographic field guide.

The guide features 853 North American bird species and more than 3,400 stunning color photographs. And yet it's portable enough to fit in your pocket!

The photographs cover all significant plumages, including male, female, summer, winter, immature, morphs, important subspecies, and birds in flight. Also included
* the newest scientific and common names and phylogenetic order;
* special help for identifying birds in flight through important clues of behavior, plumage, and shape;
* detailed descriptions of songs and calls;
* important behavioral information;
* key habitat preferences of each species; and
* the newest range maps, detailing species' winter, summer, year-round ranges, and migration routes.
* a special downloadable CD with more than 600 bird sounds (from Lang Elliott and Kevin Colver) and 150 photographs: the calls and songs of 150 common North American species.

Frequently Bought Together

The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America (Stokes Field Guides) + National Geographic Backyard Guide to the Birds of North America (National Geographic Backyard Guides) + National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition
Price for all three: $53.40

Buy the selected items together


Editorial Reviews

Review

"Birders worldwide will eagerly welcome this comprehensive and all-inclusive new field guide from Donald and Lillian Stokes. Brimming with 3400 stunning photographs illustrating 854 species, this is unequivocally the most spectacular compendium of North American bird identification photographs ever assembled between two covers. ...this monumental volume offers birders the most up-to-date information on field identification of North American birds currently available. ...[it] significantly resets the bar for North America field guides."

(Wayne Petersen, Massachusetts Audubon Society)

"This is by far the most comprehensive North American field guide I have in my possession. [It] is so chock-full of quality photos, complete descriptions, maps and so forth...There are so many nice modern features that make this field guide extremely useful and user-friendly. I could go on and on...Yet another quality product from the Stokes, the endearing Ma & Pa of the birding world." (Robert Mortensen, Idaho Birding Blog)

"[I]f one is going to own a photographic field guide for the birds of North America, the Stokes now have the most complete book on the market...The list of each species subspecies and hybrids is a wonderful touch; I can't think of any other field guide that ever included such information...you can't go wrong with this guide." (Cory Finger, 10,000 Birds Blog)

"This is a glorious book put together with loving attention to detail...a superb, good-value field guide." (Mark Cocker, BBC Wildlife)

"The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America is an easy-to-use, superbly designed field guide that is detailed enough to be useful for birders of all experience levels. Highly recommended, this field guide is sure to be a delightful addition to any birder's library." (About.com Birding Guide)

About the Author

Don and Lillian Stokes are widely recognized as America's foremost authorities on birds and nature. Their books include the bestselling Stokes Field Guide to Birds, the Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds, the Stokes Nature Guides, and the Stokes Backyard Nature Books. They live in New Hampshire and Georgia.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 816 pages
  • Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; Pap/Com Or edition (October 25, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0316010502
  • ISBN-13: 978-0316010504
  • Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 1.4 x 8.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (87 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,654 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Don and Lillian Stokes are widely recognized as America's foremost authorities on birds and nature. Their books include the bestselling Stokes Field Guide to Birds, the Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds, the Stokes Nature Guides, and the Stokes Backyard Nature Books. They live in New Hampshire and Georgia.

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
(87)
4.8 out of 5 stars
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
85 of 85 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece October 12, 2010
By YoungTJ
Format:Paperback
As one who has nearly two entire bookcases full of bird books, I believe it's fair to say that I'm not easily impressed; however, the Stokeses have done what I did not think was possible: blow me away with a field guide to birds. What I love best about the new Stokes Field Guide is the photography, of which there is an exceptional amount (more than in any other field guide) that is, furthermore, of eye-poppingly outstanding quality. I'd call it a visual smorgasbord--particularly the section on warblers!
And, as usual, the Stokeses provide a wealth of information in a sensible, uncluttered layout. The guide is comprehensive and fully up-to-date with newly split species (e.g. Pacific Wren, formerly a subspecies of Winter Wren); subspecies (if any) for each species; and current range maps that reflect breeding/winter range extensions and retractions.
As if all that weren't enough, a CD with the sounds of 150 species is enclosed to get the reader started learning to identify birds by ear. Bravo, Don and Lillian!
Was this review helpful to you?
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book with 1 concern October 14, 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Received this book and was mesmerized. Wonderful photos and descriptions. Being a bird nerd, I found that the book is too large and heavy (almost 3 pounds)for carrying in the field. I will keep it in my vehicle for an excellent reference source.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars They did it again! October 11, 2010
Format:Paperback
I don't know how the Stokes' do all that they do but this newest guide from them is the most comprehensive of all. The pictures are excellent showing plumage variation from different regions, seasonal differences, and the juveniles. A bonus CD comes with the book of the calls and songs of 150 common birds. This is a big field guide at almost 800 pages but it is an important addition to any birder's library.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars New Stokes Guide a Jewel October 27, 2010
Format:Paperback
The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America is a jewel. Most birders will want this reasonably priced book for the 3400 photos alone; more and better photos than any other general birding field guide. The photos are also larger and generally in habitat or in flight and appear to include all the subspecies. The text is as good as the photos. Stokes' offers substantially more text on identification of each species (and subspecies) than any other general guide. They also focus increased attention on identification by shape, since that is often what birders see best. Whatever level of birding experience one has, you can use this book as a key reference for the variety of plumages found in the field.

I have not had time to read and use all the book yet; primarily the raptor, shorebird and gull sections, which amaze me for their extensiveness and substance. For example, there are four pages devoted to Red-tailed Hawk, with 23 photos, 12 in flight and 11 perched, covering the subspecies. There are two pages with 9 photos of Swainson's Hawk, and a full page on Roadside Hawk. I haven't even mentioned the downloadable CD of 600 bird songs of 150 common birds, which could be worth the price of the book alone. (Have not used this yet.)

My criticisms so far are few. For raptors and shorebirds in particular, I would like to see a range for length where there are dramatic differences within a species (e.g. accipiters and Dunlin) that can cause confusion with other species. I'd also like to see wingspread ranges for birds often seen best in flight, such as hawks, cranes, etc.

This is not a Stokes' pocket guide. You can't have 3400+ quality photographs produced at an adequate size and substantial text in a book with the same dimensions as the original Peterson.
... Read more ›
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By Pete
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am a beginner but grew up with an uncle who was an avid, lifelong birder. He always had a Peterson field guide and I never had trouble identifying unknown birds with it. I think it's because it was grouped by the "looks" of birds, and also it was an Eastern guide which narrows down (dramatically) the choices.

I bought the Stokes guide after reading the reviews here and I have NOT found it easy AT ALL for identifying birds of which I am not familiar. It is grouped by "families" of birds (not by "looks") so I feel I need to know what family an unknown bird is in in order to find it (Catch-22).

I am writing this review because I just came back on Amazon to check out the latest offerings by Peterson and Sibley (the latter recommended by my birder uncle). He also recommended an "Eastern" edition to cut down on the info noise.

Now, I don't want this review to sound too negative (I gave it 4 stars) because I think this Stokes book will be a wonderful addition to the Peterson or Sibley that I anticipate purchasing. Once I identify the bird I can look it up in the Stokes and see the beautiful "real" photographs of the bird.

For me:

(1) Peterson or Sibley first (the latter I have never used; again, just my birder uncle's recommendation);

(2) then the Stokes.

I hope this helps someone.

Happy birding!
Was this review helpful to you?
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome --- both photos and text October 21, 2010
By Bev
Format:Paperback
This new guide shows years of meticulous research and great care in selecting and enhancing photographs. It will meet the needs of birders regardless of their level of expertise. The organization of the text is consistent throughout. I appreciate that each entry begins with shape. The many great photos are not cluttered with arrows or text and in many cases show both adult and immature plumages. The flight pictures are a great help as so often that is where you see a bird. While it is true that the book is too heavy to carry in the field, I find that in the field it is best to jot down observations and then check the guide afterward, so keeping it available in the car is not a problem. The Stokes have done the birding world a great service in producing a wonderful guide.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Stokes Field Guide
Love the book, lots of information, very colorful, love the pictures. I would recommend it to EVERYONE. Also, shipping was very fast, I am very satisfied.
Published 9 hours ago by Kathy Michalski
5.0 out of 5 stars VERY INFORMATIVE AND COLORFUL
I FIND IT EASY TO FIND WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR. THE PICTURES ARE VERY BRIGHT I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW.
Published 4 days ago by GINGER SAWYER
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best General Bird Books on the Market
The Stokes do a great job of identifying birds and make it easy for us to locate and identify them, too. Read more
Published 12 days ago by mizbehaves
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book
I love birds and this book has such beautiful color and detail.. I can look up any bird and find a picture as well as details about it..
Published 12 days ago by michelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
I purchased this book for my first birding field trip with professional birders in my state. I love the various descriptions of the birds and the identifying details. Read more
Published 12 days ago by Jennifer B.
3.0 out of 5 stars Not a good bird identifier.
The book has a lot of pictures, but very poor reference as to how to identify a bird seen to where it might be found in the book. The sound CD is very good.
Published 19 days ago by glenn bjoraker
5.0 out of 5 stars Great
Great reference book, love all the pictures. The book shows pictures of young and adult, both male and females, and some flying.
Published 20 days ago by D. Kautz
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Pictures made identifiying birds easy
We have been using the Audubon Field Guide for years to identify our "back yard" birds. It's well worn and soon to be replaced. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Upperfish
5.0 out of 5 stars good
if you care for the birds around youk, them this is the book to keep you informed about the flanta in your area thanks
Published 1 month ago by James Sparlin
4.0 out of 5 stars Stokes Field Guide to Birds of North America
Very good photographs of all the birds along with good write-ups describing their habits and habitats. Beautifully compiled and organized, I really like it.
Published 1 month ago by Thomas R. Rockett
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews


Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Forums

Topic From this Discussion
Stokes Field Guide Be the first to reply
Have something you'd like to share about this product?
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions


So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Want to discover more products? You may find many from birds of north america shopping list.