Book News

How to be a Better Birder
by Derek Lovitch

From the publisher (Princeton University Press):

This unique illustrated handbook provides all the essential tools you need to become a better birder. Here Derek Lovitch offers a more effective way to go about identification–he calls it the “Whole Bird and More” approach–that will enable you to identify more birds, more quickly, more of the time. He demonstrates how to use geography and an understanding of habitats, ecology, and even the weather to enrich your birding experience and help you find something out of the ordinary. Lovitch shows how to track nocturnal migrants using radar, collect data for bird conservation, discover exciting rarities, develop patch lists–and much more.

This is the ideal resource for intermediate and advanced birders. Whether you want to build a bigger list or simply learn more about birds, How to Be a Better Birder will take your birding skills to the next level.

• Explains the “Whole Bird and More” approach to bird identification
• Demonstrates how to use geography, habitats, ecology, and the weather to be a better birder
• Shows how to bird at night using radar, collect conservation data, develop patch lists–and more
• Offers essential tools for intermediate and advanced birders

I like what I’ve read so far; it covers some subjects in detail that other birding books barely mention, if at all.

How to be a Better Birder
by Derek Lovitch
Paperback; 204 pages
Princeton University Press; March 25, 2012
ISBN: 9780691144481
$19.95

Birding Trails Texas: Prairies, Pineywoods, and Panhandle
by Jim Foster

From the publisher (Wilderness Adventures Press):

Texas is one of the outstanding birding states, with over 400 species of birds. Texas Birding Trails features 220 birding trails and locations. Jim Foster, a noted birder, describes each trail with a list of key birds, the best time of year to visit the site, directions, terrain and size of the area, and complete directions to each trail. There are over 200 full-color photos of the key species of birds and over 30 trail maps and a birder’s check list.

The Panhandle has 51 birding sites with a number of key birds: Golden-fronted Woodpecker, Bald Eagle, Sandhill Crane, Scissor-tail Flycatcher, Pyrrhuloxia, Burrowing Owl as well as 20 species of ducks and many more birds.

The Prairies and Pineywoods – West has 90 trails or sites with many key birds such as the Spotted Towhee, Yellow-throated Vireo, Tundra Swan, Bewick’s Wren, Orchard Oriole, the Western Kingbird and many more.

The Prairies and Pineywoods -East has 79 birding trails and an opportunity to see the Pileated Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Greater Roadrunner, Red-eyed Vireo, Greater-crested Flycatcher and many more.

Texas Birding Trails is a “must” book for both Texas and non-resident birders who want to see and record the many unusual birds.

This is an attractive and informative guide to some great birding spots.

Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico
by Judy Liddell and Barbara Hussey

From the publisher (Texas A&M University Press):

From pine forest to desert scrub, from alpine meadow to riparian wetland, Albuquerque and its surrounding area in New Mexico offer an appealing variety of wildlife habitat. Birders are likely to see more than two hundred species during a typical year of bird-watching. Now, two experienced birders, Judith Liddell and Barbara Hussey, share their intimate knowledge of the best places to find birds in and around this important region.

Covering the Rio Grande corridor, the Sandia and Manzano Mountains, Petroglyph National Monument, and the preserved areas and wetlands south of Albuquerque (including crane and waterfowl haven Bosque del Apache), Birding Hotspots of Central New Mexico offers twenty-nine geographically organized site descriptions, including maps and photographs, trail diagrams, and images of some of the birds and scenery birders will enjoy. Along with a general description of each area, the authors list target birds; explain where and when to look for them; give driving directions; provide information about public transportation, parking, fees, restrooms, food, and lodging; and give tips on availability of water and picnic facilities and on the presence of hazards such as rattlesnakes, bears, and poison ivy.

The book includes a “helpful information” section that discusses weather, altitude, safety, transportation, and other local birding resources. The American Birding Association’s code of birding ethics appears in the back of the book, along with an annotated checklist of 222 bird species seen with some regularity in and around Albuquerque.

For more information, please visit http://birdinghotspotscentralnm.com

A very detailed guide that I can’t wait to use someday!

Birding Trails Texas: Prairies, Pineywoods, and Panhandle
by Jim Foster
Paperback; 392 pages
Wilderness Adventures Press; December 1, 2011
ISBN: 9781932098907
$28.95

Birding Hot Spots of Central New Mexico
by Judy Liddell and Barbara Hussey
Flexicover; 221 pages
Texas A&M University Press; October 12, 2011
ISBN: 9781603444262
$24.95

…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

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.

Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird
by Katie Fallon

From the publisher (Ruka Press):

In her new book Cerulean Blues, author Katie Fallon describes the plight of the cerulean warbler, a tiny migratory songbird, and its struggle to survive in ever-shrinking bands of suitable habitat. This elusive creature, a favorite among bird watchers (recently seen on the cover of Jonathan Franzen’s novel Freedom) and the fastest-declining warbler species in the United States, has lost 3% of its total population each year since 1966. This precipitous decline means that today there are 80% fewer ceruleans than forty years ago, and their numbers continue to drop because of threats including deforestation, global warming, and mountaintop removal coal mining.

With scientific rigor and a sense of wonder, Fallon leads readers on a journey of more than two thousand miles—from the top of the forest canopy in the ancient mountains of Appalachia to a coffee plantation near troubled Bogotá, Colombia—and shows how the fate of a creature weighing less than an ounce is vitally linked to our own.

It’s hard to pick a favorite warbler, but if I had to, Ceruleans would be a strong contender. I’m looking forward to reading this!

Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird
by Katie Fallon
Paperback; 224 pages
Ruka Press; November 1, 2011
ISBN: 0983011117

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition
by Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer

From the publisher:

For beginning and experienced birders alike, this is the most comprehensive bird guide available anywhere—now lavishly redone with a refreshed design; 300 new illustrations; 23 new-to-North America species; major updates in text with the latest taxonomy and science; range maps with all-new migration overlays; 40 subspecies maps (unique to this guide); fully annotated illustrations with field marks; and an ultra-convenient visual index on the inside flaps.

National Geographic’s flagship bird guide is essential for bird identification—authoritative, portable, sturdy and easier than ever to use—a birding bible for all bird lovers.

This new edition adds some undeniably cool features to the venerable NatGeo field guide, such as subspecies range maps, and separate colors on maps to indicate spring, autumn, and ‘both’ migration routes (first time I’ve seen that). But is it worth upgrading? Be on the lookout for a detailed list of changes and additions that will hopefully help answer that question. [Update: here is that list – National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition – Initial Review]

It’s always a great day when Princeton University Press releases its catalog of upcoming natural history books. Or even just offers a preview, like today. Here are some books to look forward to in the first half of next year:

• How to Be a Better Birder
  Derek Lovitch
  May, 2012

  This unique illustrated handbook provides all the essential tools you need to become a better birder. Here Derek Lovitch offers a more effective way to go about identification—he calls it the “Whole Bird and More” approach—that will enable you to identify more birds, more quickly, more of the time. He demonstrates how to use geography, an understanding of habitats, ecology, and even the weather to enrich your birding experience and find something out of the ordinary. Lovitch shows how to track nocturnal migrants using radar, collect data for bird conservation, discover exciting rarities, develop patch lists—and much more. This is the ideal resource for intermediate and advanced birders. Whether you want to build a bigger list or simply learn more about birds, How to Be a Better Birder will take your birding skills to the next level.

• Cotingas and Manakins
  Guy M. Kirwan and Graeme Green
  March, 2012

  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.

• A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand
  Julian Fitter and Don Merton
  January, 2012

  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.

• Birds of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives: second edition
  Richard Grimmett, Carol Inskipp, and Tim Inskipp
  March, 2012

  The best field guide to the birds of the Indian subcontinent is now even better. Thoroughly revised, with 73 new plates and many others updated or repainted, the second edition of Birds of India now features all maps and text opposite the plates for quicker and easier reference. Newly identified species have been added, the text has been extensively revised, and all the maps are new. Comprehensive and definitive, this is the indispensable guide for anyone birding in this part of the world.

• Birds of Central Asia: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan
  Raffael Ayé, Manuel Schweizer, and Tobias Roth
  March, 2012

  Central Asia—a vast and remote area of steppe, semi-desert, and mountains separating Europe from eastern Asia—is home to a diversity of birds. Birds of Central Asia is the first-ever field guide to the avian population for this fascinating part of the world. From ground jays, larks, and raptors, to warblers, nuthatches, and snowfinches, this comprehensive guide covers 627 species—including all residents, migrants, and vagrants—and 141 superb plates depict every species and many distinct plumages and races. The portable book contains important introductory sections on the land and its birds, and up-to-date color maps. The concise, authoritative text on facing pages highlights key identification features, such as status, voice, and habitat. Birds of Central Asia is indispensable for anyone interested in the birds of this remarkable and little-known region.

• Birds of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire
  Bart de Boer, Eric Newton, and Robin Restall
  March, 2012

  Located in the southern Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, the islands of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire are home to a colorful diversity of bird species. Birds of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire is the first comprehensive field guide to the birds of the region and the ideal companion for identifying the islands’ remarkable avian population. The compact and portable book contains close to 1,000 superb color illustrations on 71 color plates and detailed descriptions of every species. Concise text on facing pages highlights key identification features, including voice, habitat, behavior, and status. This field guide is essential for all birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts interested in this part of the world.

• Birds of Melanesia: Bismarcks, Solomons, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia
  Guy Dutson
  March, 2012

  Melanesia harbors an amazing range of endemic bird species and subspecies, many of which are poorly known. Birds of Melanesia is the first comprehensive field guide to all 501 species found in the Bismarck Archipelago, Bougainville, the Solomons, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. This beautifully illustrated guide features 86 color plates that depict almost every species—including many endemic subspecies—and many of the plates are arranged by island group for easy reference. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features and distribution, as well as key features for all subspecies. Distribution bars are also given for all species except extreme vagrants.

The Art of Bird Finding: Before You ID Them, You Have to See Them
by Pete Dunne
Stackpole Books; Paperback; $14.95

From the publisher:

Filling a gap in the vast literature on birding, Pete Dunne explains in his distinctive style how to find birds – the often-ignored first step in identifying, observing, and listing bird species.

• The best strategies for locating birds in any season and in every kind of weather
• Techniques and expert advice applicable to species in habitats and environments throughout North America
• For beginning bird-watchers or experienced birders who want to improve their chances for success

I tried to resist, but had to jump right into this book. It’s Pete Dunne, after all! I’m not quite half-way through this short (96 pages) book, but have to say that it should prove a godsend for newer birders. I haven’t reached the more advanced stuff, but I bet there will be something here for any birder (besides Dunne’s fantastic writing).