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Forgot to do this last month, so the list will be a little longer than usual.

…in 2013! Yep, David Sibley is working on a revision to his Sibley Guide to Birds. I can’t wait! In the meantime, you can check out a plate for the new guide at Sibley’s Facebook page (you don’t have to have a Facebook account to view it).

This seems like a good time to remind you that there is also a Birder’s Library Facebook page, where you’ll find updates and news (like this about the Sibley guide).

Cotingas and Manakins
by Guy M. Kirwan and Graeme Green

From the publisher (Princeton University Press):

The New World tropics are home to the richest avifauna on the planet, with more than 4,000 species, many of them endemic. Two groups found exclusively in this region are the cotingas and the manakins. Few other families of birds have such widespread appeal. They are much sought after by birders for their colorful displays, unusual plumages, and, in some cases, great rarity. Their natural history and behavior offer fascinating case studies for evolutionary biologists, while the intriguingly elusive relationships of these birds are of profound interest to taxonomists.

Cotingas and Manakins is the definitive work on these jewels of the Neotropics, covering more than 130 species. These range from some of the rarest and most enigmatic birds in the world to some of the best studied of all tropical species. Many are breathtakingly colorful and ornate while some are plain and difficult to see. This stunning volume features 34 color plates by Eustace Barnes, who has observed many of these species in the field, as well as distribution maps and approximately 400 color photographs that cover all but a tiny handful of species. Complete with detailed species accounts describing key identification features, Cotingas and Manakins is the authoritative illustrated guide to these magnificent Neotropical birds.

• Covers more than 130 species of cotingas and manakins
• Features 34 color plates and about 400 color photos
• Includes detailed species accounts and distribution maps
• The must-have illustrated guide to these colorful and exotic birds

This is a gorgeous book, with both painted plates and photographs. This is easily one of the most attractive family monographs that I’ve seen.

Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide
by Steve N. G. Howell

From the publisher (Princeton University Press):

Petrels, albatrosses, and storm-petrels are among the most beautiful yet least known of all the world’s birds, living their lives at sea far from the sight of most people. Largely colored in shades of gray, black, and white, these enigmatic and fast-flying seabirds can be hard to differentiate, particularly from a moving boat. Useful worldwide, not just in North America, this photographic guide is based on unrivaled field experience and combines insightful text and hundreds of full-color images to help you identify these remarkable birds.

The first book of its kind, this guide features an introduction that explains ocean habitats and the latest developments in taxonomy. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features such as flight manner, plumage variation related to age and molt, seasonal occurrence patterns, and migration routes. Species accounts are arranged into groups helpful for field identification, and an overview of unique identification challenges is provided for each group. The guide also includes distribution maps for regularly occurring species as well as a bibliography, glossary, and appendixes.

• The first state-of-the-art photographic guide to these enigmatic seabirds
• Includes hundreds of full-color photos throughout
• Features detailed species accounts that describe flight, plumage, distribution, and more
• Provides overviews of ocean habitats, taxonomy, and conservation
• Offers tips on how to observe and identify birds at sea

A long-awaited guide to these fascinating, but confusing, seabirds. I can’t wait to use this on a pelagic trip in two weeks!

Cotingas and Manakins
by Guy M. Kirwan and Graeme Green
Hardcover; 624 pages
Princeton University Press; February 5, 2012
ISBN: 9780691153520

Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide
by Steve N. G. Howell
Hardcover; 506 pages
Princeton University Press; January 24, 2012
ISBN: 9781400839629

Peterson Birds of North America field guide app for the iPhone has been nominated for Best Outdoor App 2011 in the 148Apps.com Best Apps Ever award. Congratulations to Appweavers, Inc., as this is quite an honor. You can vote in the awards through January 25, 2012. I happen to be working on a review of the app, which will be up sometime before then.

A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand
by Julian Fitter and Don Merton

From the publisher (Princeton University Press):

New Zealand is commonly described as “the land of birds.” Now, there is an easy-to-use guide for all those interested in this country’s remarkable bird population. A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand contains over 600 stunning photographs of the more than 350 bird species likely to be seen in this area of the world. Comprehensive and compact, the book includes full descriptions of all native species and regular visitors, distribution maps and measurements, key information on national parks, and useful information on ongoing conservation efforts in the country. Filled with handy tips for nature enthusiasts wanting to make the most of their trip, this is the only bird guide that anyone exploring this region will need.

• 600+ color photographs feature more than 350 bird species with full descriptions
• Distribution maps and measurements
• Key information on national parks helps readers find the best spots for bird sightings
• Useful information on conservation efforts
• Guidelines on sensible behavior for encountering nature at its best

This compact “pocket guide” would be very useful to anyone birding in Middle Earth, er…New Zealand.

A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand
by Julian Fitter and Don Merton
Paperback; 288 pages
Princeton University Press; January 23, 2012
ISBN: 9780691153513

Happy New Year! May it be filled with birds and books about them. Here are a few to look forward to.

• Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America: A Photographic Guide
  Steve N. G. Howell
  January 3, 2012; Princeton University Press

  This isn’t the flashiest group of birds, but one I’m fond of. I’m looking forward to studying this before going on my first Florida pelagic trip later this month.

• Cotingas and Manakins
  Guy M. Kirwan and Graeme Green
  February 4, 2012; Princeton University Press

  This is an incredible group of birds that deserve a family monograph as good as this one is reported to be.

• The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds with Common Birds
  Julie Zickefoose
  March 20, 2012; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

  Julie Zickefoose is an absolutely amazing writer. When you add in her equally amazing paintings, well, it just isn’t fair.

• How to Be a Better Birder
  Derek Lovitch
  April 22, 2012; Princeton University Press

  There is no shortage of books like this, but I enjoy them, so I’m not complaining.

• The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America
  Bill Thompson III
  April 24, 2012; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

  The long-awaited follow-up to The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, a field guide I wish I had as a child.

• Bird Sense: What It’s Like to Be a Bird
  Tim Birkhead
  April 24, 2012; Walker & Company

  This book examines “how birds interpret the world [and] the way the behaviour of birds is shaped by all their senses”, a subject I’ve often wondered about. I’m especially excited that Birkhead is the author, as he managed to turn a book on the history of ornithology into one I didn’t want to put down!

• The Armchair Birder Goes Coastal: The Secret Lives of Birds of the Southeastern Shore
  John Yow
  May 1, 2012; The University of North Carolina Press

  I enjoyed the first Armchair Birder, and expect to enjoy this follow-up as well, especially since the southeastern shore is one of my favorite places to bird.

• Hawks in Flight: Second Edition
  Pete Dunne, Clay Sutton, and David Allen Sibley
  September 18, 2012; Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

  The first edition is a classic of bird-family guides. And with these three authors, I have no doubt this second one will live up to expectations.

More bird-book-review goodness. A big thanks to all who post reviews online. As always, if you have written one not included here, please post a link in the comments or otherwise let me know.