Publishers seem determined to test the maxim that you can’t have too many field guides. But who am I kidding? If these have new content, then I’ll be getting them!
-
Smithsonian Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Ted Floyd
May 27, 2008Details are available from ABA Sales. This sounds very intriguing, especially the CD with 576 MP3s (from 136 species). And all for less than $20!
-
Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America
Roger Tory Peterson
August 28, 2008This will probably combine the previously separate eastern and western editions. Also, it appears that with purchase of the book you get access to a website where you can view video podcasts.
-
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America
Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer
October 21, 2008I assume these will just be regional versions of the current 5th edition of the full North American guide. That guide isn’t nearly as large as the full Sibley Guide, so I’m not sure these new versions are justified unless they will have further updates or some new content.
Posted by Grant McCreary on March 4th, 2008.
I am still looking for a North American guide that is as good as the guide by y Lars Svensson, Peter J. Grant, Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterstrom for the birds of Europe.
Sibley and the NG guide are great, but none is as good as the Europe guide (neither the text nor the drawings).
Yeah, it may well be the best field guide, period. Unfortunately I haven’t had a chance to use it in the field yet, but the artwork is phenomenal. The hardcover could be considered a coffee-table book – it’s just that gorgeous.
I’m a bit biased toward the Sibley Guide, and consider it by far the best NA guide available. It may not be quite as good as the Collins European guide, but if it’s not, it is very close. To me, anyways.
The Sibley guide is great. I used it one my (so far only) trip to North America in 2005 (Yellowstone) and it was a great help. I will be in the US again in 2009 and will definitely take the Sibley guide with me (together with the NG guide and Wheelers raptor guide).
There is a lot of rumour on the web that the Svensson Guide for Europe will get a second edition in 2008 or 2009, hopefully again with a large format version.
I’m really impressed by a new field guide, The Young Birder’s Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America, by Bill Thompson III. It’s intended for kids 8-12, and fills the gap between the comprehensive guides like Sibley’s and the introductory ones such as Peterson’s First Guide to birds. It has all the birds that kids are likely to see and is laid out beautifully with 1 bird per page and includes full features – photos, drawings, range maps, descriptions, and song. Very kid friendly. Shows a great respect for the beginning young birder.
Thanks Mary! I’ll add that one to the next list.