Smithsonian Handbooks: Birds of Florida (Smithsonian Handbooks) (Paperback)

by Fred J. Alsop (Author)
Key Phrases: migrate weight, altricial young stay, feet abort ground, Plumage Sexes, Similar Birds, Migration Migratory Weight (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The most comprehensive series of field guides to North American birds ever. This impressive collection highlights birds from all regions of the United States including localized areas such as the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest and New England.

Whether birding in the foothills of New England, the prairies of the Midwest, or the beaches of Florida, Smithsonian Handbooks are the most comprehensive field guides to North American birds on the market. Looking for the Great Blue Heron or the Piping Plover while visiting the Great Lakes? Desperate to find the rare Long Billed Curlew or the Marbled Godwit during a hike in the Cascade Mountains? There's no need to look any further! Created in association with the Smithsonian Institution, these amazing guides are an absolute staple for any birder or amateur ornithologist. Each local species receives its own profile, along with descriptions of habitats and annotated photographs that highlight specific characteristics and other points of interest. Take bird watching to new heights!

About the Author
The Smithsonian Institution is a center for research dedicated to public education, national service, and scholarship in the arts, sciences, and history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789483874
• ISBN-13: 978-0789483874
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #100,377 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great guide to Florida birds, July 5, 2004

By	Eileen Rieback (Coral Springs, FL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Whether you want to take up the hobby of birdwatching, identify the water birds you see while touring the Everglades, or simply recognize the birds at your backyard bird feeder, this is a great guide to the birds of Florida. As with every DK guidebook I have ever used, this one is high quality. Within its heavy paper covers are lots of brilliantly colored illustrations and a wealth of information about each of the 331 species of birds known to occur regularly in Florida. It is published in association with the Smithsonian Institution.

Information in the full page profile of each species includes clear drawings and photographs with distinguishing features labelled, song, behavior, breeding, nesting and nest identification, flight patterns, location, habitat, and migratory habits. There is also general information on the anatomy and topography of birds, species and gender variations, birdwatching techniques, and tips on ways to identify birds, including physical and flight characteristics.

Since the bird profiles are arranged in taxonomic order, you have to page through the book, matching illustrations, in order to locate the profile of the bird you wish to identify. To help speed up identification, use the handy "similar birds" feature. When you find a bird close in appearance to the one you are seeking, this feature lists other species that are similar in order to help you hone in on the one you are looking for. This guidebook is a great resource for everyone from the casual observer to the serious birdwatcher. Happy birding!

Eileen Rieback

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good index would help, March 1, 2006

By	J. Atkinson (West Chester, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As the other reviewers have pointed out, this book covers every bird that has ever been seen in FL (well, not counting the dusky-headed parakeet we saw south of Tampa), but the index is terrible. On arrival in Florida we saw two egrets, one of which I knew was a great egret and other of which I knew was a snowy egret - but which was which? Unfortunately, when I went to the index for page numbers, all that was listed under "egrets" was cattle egret and rusty egret. The others were listed by their latin names only in another listing. The information was in the book, but not to be found through the index. The same with herons - the index lists only great blue, green, little blue and tricolored, although the book also includes info on the black crowned night-heron, and yellow crowned night-heron, both permanent Florida residents. I turned back to my Sibley's almost immediately because I had lost confidence in this book. Better books are available in Florida.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend, June 26, 2002

By	KAREN SAUNDERS (Naples, FL United States) - See all my reviews

Great book for novice up to advanced bird watchers! So good I'm even buying one for my friend. Easy to understand, with great pictures. I'm hooked!