Bird Books and Media
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© 2008 Stu Nicholls - stunicholls.com
National Geographic
Complete Birds of North America
Companion to the National Geographic Field Guide
to the Birds of North America
Jonathan Alderfer, Editor
Covering every bird species in North America and featuring more than one thousand illustrations and 800 maps, this comprehensive and easy-to-use bird reference is designed for use by both novices and experts who want a complete guide to the identification, ranges, and behaviors of North American birds.
Special features include clear, accessible text; taxonomic descriptions of thousands of species; a quick-find index for the most common bird groups; hundreds of range and migration maps; key field markings for easy identification; and state-of-the-art bird illustration and photography. An introductory chapter, The Art and Science of Birding, offers birders from novice to accomplished the basic topography, morphology, and taxonomy of birds, and includes colorful anatomical illustrations. Tips for making accurate field identification, and detailed information on bird species and family distinctions are also detailed in this chapter. Birds are featured by family and follow the American Ornithological Association guidelines; this organization helps acclimate birders to related birds within a family and aids quick identification in the field. The guide also features an alphabetical bird species index. An easy-to-access layout depicts thousands of members of the 81 bird families profiled. For each family, there is an opening image and an 800-word essay revealing the basic look and behavior, followed by additional illustrations showing plumage variations by age and sex, and range maps showing migration routes. Large, easy-to-read type gives basic identification marks, calls, and facts on flight or feeding behavior, and a range map shows the species distribution. Adding to the reference value of this book are 2-page essays (for each of the 81 sections) focusing in on a behavior unique to that family, or on evolution of the family, or other historic or scientific points. Migration maps of family groupings are featured at set intervals. Cross-referencing with each entry links related families or related behaviors, etc. This guide includes 150 photographs to introduce each family and to illustrate the special essay. In addition there are more than 2,000 images and 800 range maps.