"...intended to teach beginners the basic techniques of field identification and how to apply them to the birds that regularly occur in the United States...and southern Canada." - Library Journal.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
Most recent field guides to North American birds have been directed toward experienced birders; they assume a knowledge of techniques and terminology, and include many seldom-found species. In contrast, this set is intended to teach beginners the basic techniques of field identification and how to apply them to the birds that regularly occur in the United States (excluding Hawaii and most of Alaska) and southern Canada. How To Identify Birds presents the six essential features: habitat, size, behavior, shape/posture, color/pattern, and voice. The major North American habitats are described, mapped, and illustrated. A size scale based on well-known species is provided. Common behaviors, and typical shapes, postures, colors, and patterns, are defined and depicted. Birds' voices are not easily described in writing, and this section is inevitably less successful, but overall, concepts are presented effectively. Geographic coverage in the eastern and western field guides divides along the western edge of the Great Plains. In each, birds with similar characteristics are grouped in approximate taxonomic sequence. The species accounts include English and scientific names, habitat, field marks, notes on similar species, range, and color photos. In sexually dimorphic species, both sexes are normally depicted, usually in breeding plumage; other variant plumages (e.g., immature birds, winter plumages) are usually noted in the text. A few minor typographical errors and one case of interchanged picture captions are unimportant blemishes in a well-conceived and executed set. How To Identify Birds and the geographically relevant companion field guide are recommended for public and secondary school libraries.Paul B. Cors, Univ. of Wyoming Lib., Laramie
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Back Cover
Western Birds covers every breeding species west of the Rockies, with 1,314 color photographs and 168 drawings. The easy-to-remember field marks use the unique How to Identify Birds method created by John Farrand, Jr.
Picture-and-text accounts of over 460 species, with easy-to-remember field marks. Photographic flight comparisons. Keyed to How to Identify Birds. Companion volume: Eastern Birds.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
identifying western birds,
By Deb K (Bremerton, Washington United States) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Western Birds (An Audubon Handbook) (Paperback)
This book has very good photographs of Western birds and has a very pleasing format. The book itself is well made and has a very sturdy binding. The notations in the field marks almost always include a behavior easily noticed in the birds, making them easier to identify. EVERY one of my friends interested in birds has loved this book and has wanted one. I have given 6 or 7 of them as gifts.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
What iI wanted at affordable price,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Western Birds (An Audubon Handbook) (Paperback)
Looked a long time for this bird book. Was used but in good condition. The side by side overview comparisons and info on winter habits and change in plumage makes it useful year round.
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
26". A large, stout-billed, pale-winged gull found almost exclusively along the cost. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dry western woodlands, brushy open country, dark central breast spot, buff wing bars, mustache streak, two white wing bars, birds move south, shallowly forked tail, soft quack, field marks, undertail coverts, streamside forest, finer streaks, buff fringes, downcurved bill, winter adults, white wing stripe, wing linings, bold white stripe, red crown patch, gray upperparts, white outer tail feathers, stouter bill, thicker bill, white face patch Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Range Breeds, British Columbia, United States, New Mexico, Pacific Coast, Range Resident, Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, New England, South America, Atlantic Coast, Central America, Western Coniferous Forest, Great Plains, Similar Species Male, North America, North Carolina, Similar Species Female, New Jersey, Nova Scotia, Baja California, Similar Species Other, Mountain Cliffs, Similar Species Adult, Urban Areas New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
26". A large, stout-billed, pale-winged gull found almost exclusively along the cost. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
dry western woodlands, brushy open country, dark central breast spot, buff wing bars, mustache streak, two white wing bars, birds move south, shallowly forked tail, soft quack, field marks, undertail coverts, streamside forest, finer streaks, buff fringes, downcurved bill, winter adults, white wing stripe, wing linings, bold white stripe, red crown patch, gray upperparts, white outer tail feathers, stouter bill, thicker bill, white face patch Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Range Breeds, British Columbia, United States, New Mexico, Pacific Coast, Range Resident, Great Lakes, Gulf Coast, New England, South America, Atlantic Coast, Central America, Western Coniferous Forest, Great Plains, Similar Species Male, North America, North Carolina, Similar Species Female, New Jersey, Nova Scotia, Baja California, Similar Species Other, Mountain Cliffs, Similar Species Adult, Urban Areas New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 8
books:
See all 8 books this book cites
- British Columbia (Discover Canada) by Isabel Nanton on 15 pages
- North America (Visual Geography) by G.H.C. Waters on 6 pages
- The Snow Goose (NMSR) in Front Matter, and page 112
- The Snow Goose and Other Stories (Penguin Readers, Level 3) by SWAN in Front Matter, and page 112
- British Columbia by Bill Brooks on page 388
See all 8 books this book cites
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