Best Book on Birding for Brginers

I would like to know what is the best book on the market for beginers?

This is my favorite one: http://www.amazon.com/Sibley-Guide-Birds-David-Allen/dp/0679451226/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2
The Sibley Guide to Birds.

But, there are lots of good ones.

Sibley also has one for just the Western US and another for just the Eastern US, but I prefer this one because it has entire continental US. However, it is larger than most field guides so not something you want to carry with you on longer walks. I do carry mine on short walks and always in my truck when I'm driving around on the wildlife reserves.

The nice thing about this one is that it has lots of views of the birds and it has the range maps, a description about calls, and a little bit about behavior all on one page. You don't have to flip back and forth.

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http://www.amazon.com/Sibley-Guide-Birds-David-Allen/dp/0679451226/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2
The National Geographic Field Guide is good.

http://www.amazon.com/Stokes-Field-Guide-America-Guides/dp/0316010502/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1306425541&sr=1-5
I'm thinking about getting this one since it is so new and has gotten good reviews. But I don't have it yet, so can't say.

I own several guides and Sibley is clearly the best for identifying birds. I like the feature that all birds in a family are presented together in scale. You can usually narrow your suspect down to a few and then go back in that section and look at detailed descriptions of the candidates.

Like said, size is the only drawback. I keep mine in the car, I've always got iBird Pro in my pocket.

There is a new one out there.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/default/article/Crossley-guide-takes-birding-to-a-new-level-1398904.php

Sounds good!

Patti

I've seen that in the book stores. What I thought interesting about it was all the different angles of the birds. If I bought it, I probably would enjoy it for the photography more than IDing birds with it.

For a beginner, I think an area or state guide would be better, just from personal experience. Our first guide was Sibleys-Eastern and we went away most often not getting an ID, because it was so overwhelming not knowing a sparrow from a flycatcher or whatever. Once we got an Iowa guide with about 110 of the state's birds, we were able to learn the basics and then go to the Sibley's. And there is a grand satisfaction in knowing we ID'ed a bird NOT found in the Iowa guide. Hehe. I will also admit, when we are stumped, we ask for help from a birding website.

Getting an area or state guide is an excellent idea! I jumped right to Sibley's and I do remember stumbling around quite a bit at first now that you mention it.

On a follow-up, I did get the new book and as you say, I have enjoyed the pictures. But it hasn't helped me to ID birds. What I couldn't ID with Sibley, I ended up having to ask for help on the DG bird ID forum and another one that I go to. So, I don't really think I will use it much.

Patti

[quote="P_Edens"]

Getting an area or state guide is an excellent idea! I jumped right to Sibley's and I do remember stumbling around quite a bit at first now that you mention it.

On a follow-up, I did get the new book and as you say, I have enjoyed the pictures. But it hasn't helped me to ID birds. What I couldn't ID with Sibley, I ended up having to ask for help on the DG bird ID forum and another one that I go to. So, I don't really think I will use it much.

Patti
Going local has worked the best for us in north Texas I found a great book at Barns & Noble for 6.00$ good luck

LEW

I wanted to bring this back up to say I finally got the Crossley guide. I will occasionally bring it with me on birding trips, but it stays in the car. In a way, it has helped a little with the distant views of birds. Those water birds will probably give me the fits for a long time.
Oh, I had been perusing the website for Crossley's guide and found a page that gives the corrections for some errors in the book, if it would help anyone here.
http://www.crossleybooks.com/2011/02/14/corrections/

Chillybean, Thanks for the link. Great info.