Now that I am getting the birds to come to my feeders, I need a good reference book for IDing purposes. Being new to Bird Watching, I need a book with good photos and descriptions of unique markings, habits, sighting ranges, etc.
Also, I'd love some good websites, too. I need all the help I can get since I am a total newbie to Bird Watching.
I would recommend my preference, one from the Peterson field guide collection.
"A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS, EAST OF THE ROCKIES" by Roger Tory Peterson, or
"A FIELD GUIDE TO WESTERN BIRDS"
Thanks, Grasmussen! I usually try to check books out at the library first before purchasing them. So I will definitely be borrowing "A FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS, EAST OF THE ROCKIES" by Roger Tory Peterson. Thanks for the recommendation! :-)
The best for North America are David Sibley The North American Bird Guide, and the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America. If you ever travel to Europe, the Collins Bird Guide (Mullarney et al.) is the one to get.
Resin
Becky heres a site for Fla.
http://www.fosbirds.org/
I'm sure there must be some great books on Forida birds you can check out of the library too but make sure to get an Eastern Region Guide also. Just speaking for myself, I don't find having just 1 guide for my area to be enough. Theres also the Quick Guides or Pocket Guides too. Right now I have National Audubon Society for the Eastern Region but I would like a Sibleys or Petersons too.
Of course the Internet is invaluable.
When you get used to what you end up buying then maybe you would want to branch out to other areas from there. :-)
Oh THANKS, Resin and Pell! I will definitely be checking those books out too. Good idea about getting one or two good regional book/guides and then adding to the collection as I find other books, Pell.
GREAT website, Pell! THANK YOU!!!! I knew there were sites out there, just didn't know how to find any good ones. Thanks!
`I have the Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Birds (Western Regtion), which I have always found invaluable but a bit cumbersome to use with all the photos in the front and having to go to the back to read the information. The photos are great, though. I also have a couple local books which have been okay, but not great. From what I'm reading above, I want to check on some of those recommendations and maybe treat myself to a new book. Since getting so excited about photographing birds, I want the best!
A favorite reference book for your area would be Stokes Field Guide to Birds ~ Eastern Region. It is the one that has ID'd most for me. The photos are excellent and the descriptions are thorough. I use the eastern, a friend was moving to west Texas and we gave him the Western region as a going away present. He uses it alot in his area. Worth checking out. I also have Petersons Field Guide and a Golden but use the Stokes most.
Becky my favorite book for fast easy ID is Stokes Field Guide to Birds Eastern Region by Donald & Lillian Stokes for the everyday common birds, for more difficult ID's then you would want a Sibleys or Kauffman ID book. Check Amazon and look on the used link for the book. I have gotten new books for half price or less. Read the descriptions. Many are new and some used in mint condition. Link for you
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0316818097/ref=dp_olp_2/102-5517432-9812121
This message was edited Feb 4, 2007 12:30 PM
THANKS everyone for all the great book suggestions! I will be checking my local library to see if they have all of them to borrow. From there I will decide which one(s) I like the best and see if I can purchase used books on Amazon.com. I really appreciate the book lists! Thank you. :-)
The recommendations posted after mine, made me realise, I hadn't bought a new field guide, of any kind in over 20 years. I checked out Stokes and added it to my collection.
Good for you Gras! I'll have to check out Stokes.
