Bird Guide

[Axeman]

I received a copy of the Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds for Xmas and I love the pix and the write up on the birds....and I love that it came with a dvd of birdsongs...just wished it were more birds, and more of what I encounter...what I don't like about it is that b/c it's birds of North America, it includes a lot of birds that I never encounter...so it's a little cumbersome to flip through....and I miss that it doesn't have a little arrow pointing out distinctive markings on the pictures like Peterson has on its plates.

I was wondering what were the preferred guides...what's your preference?

[Reuven_M]

I very rarely use anything other than sibley.

[Bluffs Birder]

I too use the Sibley Guide far more than any of the other guide books that I have.  The Peterson Guide is also an excellent choice.

Walter

[thouc]

I like the National Geographic field guide. The one I use mostly, but I don't have Sibley.

[Sahria]

I use Peterson and Sibley.

[Brian Bailey]

There are lots of bird guides out there now, and to be honest, I haven't looked at most of them. From what I've seen, Sibley's is still the best.  I bought the full North America guide shortly after it came out.  It has more thorough coverage of the eastern birds than the Eastern Birds guide that came out a few years later.  If you want a field guide, the smaller version is the way to go.  If you want a reference for when you get home, go for the full version.

I still really like Peterson as well.  It`s great for highlighting the differences between similar looking species.  I find his illustrations more accurate and representative of typical plumages and postures than many others that look more detailed.  His `confusing fall warblers` plates are a great feature that I don`t think I`ve seen anywhere else.

BB

[JW Mills]

If we're talking about field guides then my choice is the old Golden Guide by Robbins (1966 edition).
If we're talking about at home reference, then National Geographic and Sibley Guide to Birds.
 
Brian, the Golden Guide also has a two page spread on Fall Warblers

[BIGFRANK]

For the field I have Petersons Eastern North America. It doesnt have a whole bunch of birds you are very unlikely to ever see. That helps if you are quite new. Also it fits into a big pocket easily to keep handy. At home I have National Geographic. Personally I find Sibleys waaaaay to confusing especially with gulls or shorebirds. A 2nd year of one looks like a 3rd year of another looks like a first year of another. Forget it I just dont need to ID gulls  :shock:  Wait till Jean is around and let her figure them out!

[JimmyM]

I've been using a National Geographic guide for a while now and find it pretty good . I carry it around in a back pack since its a little bulky for pocket use. I use a Sibley at home .
Zed - I too have a well worn / well scribbled, Golden ( 60's vintage) which I carried in my pocket for a few decades . I hardly ever failed me ! and I still use it on occasion .
I rec'd an Audubon guide as a gift and find the actual photos, of interest, but mostly useless as an ID'ing tool.  

Jim

[Reuven_M]

I've been using a National Geographic guide for a while now and find it pretty good . I carry it around in a back pack since its a little bulky for pocket use. I use a Sibley at home .
Zed - I too have a well worn / well scribbled, Golden ( 60's vintage) which I carried in my pocket for a few decades . I hardly ever failed me ! and I still use it on occasion .
I rec'd an Audubon guide as a gift and find the actual photos, of interest, but mostly useless as an ID'ing tool.  

Jim

The Audubon guide was my first field guide, and I'm amazed I managed to id anything at all with it!

[Bluffs Birder]

Personally I find Sibleys waaaaay to confusing especially with gulls or shorebirds. A 2nd year of one looks like a 3rd year of another looks like a first year of another.

I don't know if any books really help much at all with these 2 families of birds, as you and I both know - LOL LOL!!!!!

Walter

[Axeman]

lol thanks for the feedback...I'm stuck with the audobon though lol...it was a gift...I did think to myself that it would be tough to use to id...I don't like the way it's organized either..that's another thing with Peterson...I know where to flick through to find help me ID...

[Kin Lau]

We use the Sibley's and the Kauffman. The Sibley's is way too big to carry on trails and such, so we usually leave that in the car, but the Kauffman has been a very good for us.

[Andreas Jonsson]

Some earlier discussion on the same topic:

http://outdoorontario.net/birds/phpBB/v ... .php?t=378