Combining informative and accessible text, up-to-date maps, and–above all–stunning color photographs, this is the best and most lavishly illustrated photographic guide to the birds of western North America. All of the images have been carefully selected to convey both the sheer beauty and the key identification features of each bird, and many of the photos are larger than those found in other guides. Wherever possible, a variety of plumages are pictured, providing visual coverage and usefulness matching any artwork-illustrated field guide. And many of the images are state-of-the-art digital photographs by Brian Small, one of North America’s finest bird photographers. These pictures, many seen here for the first time, reproduce a previously unimaginable level of detail. Finally, the ranges of nearly all species are shown on maps from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, the authority on North American birding. New and experienced birders alike will find this guide indispensable: the clear layout will help novices easily identify the birds they see, while the superb photographs will help seasoned birders confirm identifications.
The best, most lavishly illustrated photographic guide to the region’s birds Larger color photos than most other field guides Fresh contemporary design–clear, easy-to-use, and attractive Informative, accessible, and authoritative text Range maps from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Covers entire western half of mainland North America (excluding Mexico) and the arctic and subarctic territorial islands of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Hawaii)
Product Features
- Birds of Western North America A Photographic Guide
Amazing photos! A beautiful book! What a beautiful book! The photos are amazing! Big crisp photos, NOT drawings! Photos cover males, females and juveniles, and also seasonal changes in plumage. Don’t skip the introduction. Not only does it cover the “How to Use This Book” info, but there is a lot more information regarding habitat, identification, and migration that I found very educational.
Best Birding Book I’m not a ‘professional’ bird watcher; I enjoy recognizing and following birds that I encounter at home and in my travels. This book is very helpful in naming birds unfamiliar to me. The photographs are so much better than artists’ renditions in most other bird books because they are, well, photos. The characteristics of a specific bird are immediately recognizable and that’s what I’m looking for in a birding guide.
It’s Western, but perhaps also covers the Great plains! It’s Western, but perhaps also covers (most of) the Great plains. Most books divide the country into East and West using the Rockies. This book does not define East and West. You can only guess by the species included and the range maps.