A Field Guide to the Birds of Texas: and Adjacent States (Peterson Field Guide Series) (Paperback)

~ Roger Tory Peterson (Author, Editor, Illustrator) "OPEN-WATER swimming birds with pointed, daggerlike bills..." (more)
Key Phrases: Rio Grande, Edwards Plateau, Gulf States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

All the birds of Texas and most of those found in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana are illustrated here in 60 plates that show key features. Descriptions of 542 species, silhouttes, and comparisons of similar species help with accurate identification.

About the Author

Roger Tory Peterson, one of the world"s greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars, and the Peterson Field Guides® are credited with helping to set the stage for the environmental movement.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; Exp Sub edition (June 12, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395921384
• ISBN-13: 978-0395921388
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #529,870 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Limited colour plates; good organization, January 13, 2001

By	Mike Christie (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For each bird, Peterson gives field marks, similar species, and where found (overall and within Texas) as the main information; the latter is useful for elimination. Where appropriate he also has sections for voice and nest. The emphasis on field identification is good, with additional sections showing, for example, silhouettes of accipiters, falcons, kites and harriers to show the differences.

However, many of the plates are black and white, or line drawings, and this is a significant drawback. For that reason I'd recommend John Tveten's The Birds of Texas instead, although it's not as handy out in the field, and has less coverage of casuals and accidentals. The organization of the Peterson is good enough that you might want to get both.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not Great, June 16, 1999

By A Customer

This guide is good for identifying birds of Texas, the ranges are listed by their proximity to cities. There are no color plates, but the descriptions are pretty good. Would like to see information on feeding. I would recommend a supplemental guide (National Geographic 3rd Ed.) for additional information.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A starter but not a stand alone, July 27, 2000

By	P. Gibson Ralph (Rochester, NY USA) - See all my reviews

Range identification excellent but, although there is a 1998 date on the book, the names do not agree with current ABA nomenclature. Illustrations and descriptions are separated and minimal use of color limits the usefullness. When used for identification, range information is the most usefull. Not up to the standard expected in connection with the Peterson name.