A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Princeton Field Guides) (Paperback)

by Paul J. Baicich (Author), J. O. Harrison (Author) "These birds breed on waters of the northern regions..." (more)
Key Phrases: short subelliptical, long subelliptical, gape flanges yellow, Spanish Moss, New Mexico, Old World (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Birds are good at hiding nests, and this book gives you a non-intrusive entry into the breeding world of birds". -- Jim Williams, Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Review
This is a fine guide and I certainly would not be without it if I lived in North America.
(Humphrey Q. P. Crick British Birds )

I was happy to see the best source on the subject reissued. . . . [It] gives you non-intrusive entry into the breeding world of birds, a most interesting place.
(Jim Williams Star Tribune )

An essential companion to students of breeding biology is Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, by Paul J. Baicich and Colin J.O. Harrison. The book covers 670 species that breed from the Arctic to the Mexico border.
(Birder's World )

If you are into studying or searching for bird nests and identifying the occupants, this guide provides a wealth of details. . . .This is a great reference text.
(Robert E. Hoopes Wildlife Activist )

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; 2 edition (May 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691122954
• ISBN-13: 978-0691122953
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,100 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb reference, May 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Ap Natural World) (Paperback)

"A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds" by Baicich and Harrison is a sorely needed reference to a subject familiar and interesting to both casual birdwatchers and serious ornithologists. Up to now, the standard reference was Hal Harrison's "Birds' Nests" (one for the eastern U.S., another for the west), Peterson Field Guides published in 1975. As the title indicates, these books feature photographs of nests (one picture per species), most with eggs. Many nests (and eggs) look alike, and these books are not especially helpful in identifying nests or their contents. While the Peterson Guide to eastern nests, for example, covered only 285 species, the Baicich and Harrison book covers 669 species nesting in North America.

Baicich and Harrison have created a book that is both practical and beautiful. The first 16 color plates portray dozens of nestling birds -- even the most un-anthropomorphic of us will find many of them cute! A number of the plates show the distinctive "gapes" or open mouths of the nestlings. The rest of the nearly 50 plates are eggs, carefully rendered to show subtle characteristics in color and pattern and displayed to show relative size. For some species, more than one egg is shown to demonstrate variety. These plates are so well done that the varying degrees of gloss are captured, an extremely useful detail. Opposite each plate is a short description of the eggs of the family, a key to the species, and the page number of the text.

The text section contains additional black-and-white sketches of nestlings and nests of many species. Text is concise but thorough, covering breeding habitat, a description of the nest including materials and placement, dates of the breeding season, a description of the eggs including measurements, details on the incubation and nestling periods, and a description of the nestling.

The introductory material is worthwhile as well. A short section on the legal and ethical considerations of studying nesting birds is wisely included. Discussions on each of the items included in the text are presented. These go beyond a simple definition and into some detail. For instance, the paragraphs on eggshell color tell us that newly laid eggs can briefly have a pinkish hue; the types of pigments that color eggshells; that while there might be variation within the species, each female usually lays consistently-colored eggs; and what causes abnormally colored eggs. The mechanics of hatching and the types of nestlings and their anatomy are also covered. Next, there is fine text on responsible nest-finding techniques and an overview of nest monitoring and recording schemes. Finally, there are three keys: Nests, Eggs, and Young nestlings and chicks.

As a professional ornithologist, I rarely cracked open my Peterson Guide to nests. However, I often browse "A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds," even when I am not in need of an immediate reference. This is a book with a place on any bird lover's shelf.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Reference Book, NOT a Field Guide., February 16, 2002

By	Tracy L. Powell (Bangkok, Thailand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Ap Natural World) (Paperback)

First of all, let me stress to potential buyers that this book is NOT a field guide. It is however a rather thourough reference book. The authors describe what kind of habitat the birds breed in, what the nests look like, the eggs, incubation, the nestlings, and nestling period. They also tell when the breeding season is. There are very, very few drawings of nests. There are sixteen pages of color plates showing paintings of nestlings. And another forty-seven pages of color plates showing photos of eggs. The smaller eggs are shown actual size, but the larger eggs are shown 3/4's or 9/10's of actual size. Why not go ahead and make them actual size even if it means adding a few more pages? I think this book is a good companion to the Peterson guides to bird nests (where you will see actual bird nests with eggs.) It would be great if David Allen Sibley would write or at least illustrate the ultimate guide to bird nests.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Caveat emptor- a fine book in a new cover, August 3, 2005

By	Virgil Urp (AZ, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Ap Natural World) (Paperback)

For anyone who owns the second edition with the tern and chick on the white cover, this is just a re-covering of that book. Same good, useful, unchanged reference content, different cover.