dentalBookshop.com - National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition by Jon L. Dunn, Jonathan Alderfer

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Features: Birding is the fastest growing wildlife-related activity in the U.S., and even conservative estimates put the current number of U.S. birders at 50 million. According to the New York Times, some authorities predict that by 2050 there will be more than 100 millionÂ-and the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America will be the essential reference for field identification and the cornerstone of any birder's library. This is the ultimate, indispensable bird field guideÂ-comprehensive, authoritative, portable, sturdy, and easier than ever to use.

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A VERY VALUABLE AND VALID GUIDE., September 4, 2010

I recently replaced my old edition of this work with this, the fifth edition and must say I am quite pleased. I am one of those individuals (like many birders) who rely on a number of field guides and reference books. The previous edition of this work has for a number of years been one of the pillars I rely on.

Now everyone has their own favorite field guide and of course I am no exception. How a guide becomes the favorite of any individual depends upon numerous factors, but I have found one of the leading reason is simply that each birder uses what he or she is most familiar with or the first guide they began using. With me, as many, many others, I have been a Peterson fan for well over 50 years. I still use the Peterson guides and they are the first book I reach for. But this is not to say that I am not oh so grateful for all of the other wonderful identification books we now have available, this work from National Geographic included. More about that later....

I find the pictures in this particular guide very helpful and for the most part extremely accurate. If you compare the illustrations in this work with Sibley or Kauffman, it stands up pretty well. I find that the Peterson work will bring identification points to my attention quicker and I find both Sibley and Peterson easier to use from a visual aspect, but I suspect that is personal preference and simply what I have become more use to over the years.

Now as to illustrations, in my case I find that if I use one illustrated guide (or two or three) combined with a guide that uses photographs, such as the Audubon or Smithsonian, my chances of identifying what ever it is I am trying to identify, increase greatly. I am a strong believer in using multiple books!

The range guides in this work are quite good as far as it goes, but as with all guides and filed books, you have to remember that ranges are not written in stone. We are going through a tremendous range change at present due to the climate changes we are experiencing and as each year passes, I am amazed at the number of species If spot that have no right to be where they are; according range maps. Birders need to be alert to this.

I like the quick find index found in this book and love the thumbtabs which are quite handy. This edition includes "every North American Species - 967 in all." Two things to note here: First, the species count is continually changing with new subspecies being added and older subspecies being grouped. I no of no field guide that can constantly keep up with this as quickly as changes take place. Secondly, beginning birders often make the mistake of including Mexico and parts of Central America as "North America." This is not the way they have divided up the "bird world." Anything south of the U.S. boarder is not considered North America as far as bird guides go.

Note: As has been pointed out by a number of reviewers here, the arrangement of this work may take some getting use to as the authors have used the new taxanomic order as approved of by the American Ornithologist Union. This will be no problem for new birders, but old birds like myself had to do some mental adjustments when first using this work.

I would never ever make the statement to the effect that "if you only have one bird book to your name...." as I am a strong believer in multiple books but that being said, if you do indeed want only one book, then I hardly feel you would go wrong with this one.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.

National geographic field guide birds, July 23, 2010

Thebook is so interesting that you can sit and read it for enjoyment or reach for it to make a positive identification. This is an excellent resource for someone like me who has a lot of interest in birds but not much knowledge. It was recommended by a friend who is much more knowledgeable than I am. The illustrations are really well-done and the information for each species is on the same page as the illustration.

0 of 0 people found the above review helpful.

Bird Book, July 23, 2010

I find this Bird Book very helpful in the names and changes of groups of birds and also the index of the book is very helpful.

0 of 0 people found the above review helpful.

Perfect Condition, June 25, 2010

The book arrived in perfect condition. I have had problems with the way other sellers ship their books and have had to return a couple of purchases in the past. Condition of book as described- new with small remainder mark on bottom. Other than that, it looks brand new. Will order from this seller again.

0 of 0 people found the above review helpful.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, June 8, 2010

For North America this is the very best of the best...each edition provides geographic as well as phylogenetic updates...

0 of 0 people found the above review helpful.