- Paperback: 384 pages
- Publisher: Princeton University Press (1 Mar 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0691121079
- ISBN-13: 978-0691121079
- Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 14.7 x 2.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,778,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Review
This is clearly a book intended to be used in the field. Do not leave it on the shelf. -- Al Grass Discovery A mouth-watering browse, but also a great reference resource... There have been several photographic guides to waders over the years, but this is not 'just another one'--and do not let the title restrict your thinking; this book is just as useful in Europe and Asia as it is in North America. It works as a field guide (almost pocketable, with a wipe-clean cover), but really it is an expert identification handbook... [I]t should be on every birder's shelf. -- Richard Millington Birding World This fine guide covers all of the 94 species of shorebirds that have been documented in North America. The coverage includes familiar species and rarities. For every species, information is provided on size, plumages, identification, voice, behavior, habitat and range. Each species has multiple photographs, all of exceptional quality. This book will be a valuable addition to any birder's library. -- Herb Wilson Kennebec Journal With over 530 superb photograths, this book is a great aid for shorebird identification. It rates a prominent place in your bird library and probably should be brought into the filed whenever you have a chance of seeing shorebirds. -- Dan Tallman South Dakota Bird Notes The present work is an excellent guide to some 94 shorebirds that occur in North America... The book is definitely a good one and one that should be in every field devotee's backpack. -- Charles E. Keller Indiana Audubon QuarterlyM I recommend it for all your shorebird endeavors. -- Charles E. Keller Indiana Audubon Quarterly This is an excellent, well executed publication and easily meets the high standards set by Dr. Paulson's previous books. For those of you that are up to the challenges of mastering shorebird identification, this is a definite, must-have addition to your library. -- Andy Stewart British Columbia Birds
Product Description
Identifying shorebirds can be a challenge - and having a field guide specifically devoted to the species gives any birder an edge. Yet until now, no guide has illustrated or described the complete range of North and Central American shorebirds. Dennis Paulson's book more than corrects that deficiency. This beautifully illustrated volume represents the first complete guide to North and Central American shorebirds ever published. Unlike other guide books, which have traditionally relied on paintings to represent shorebirds, this one contains an extensive series of striking photographs - most never published before. More than 530 photos illustrate all shorebird species in their varied plumage, and are accompanied by text that points out the variation within common species. The book also includes identification tips and ways for distinguishing shorebirds from all similar species, at rest and in flight. Brief descriptions of voice, behavior, habitat, and range are given for each species.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book manages to show all of the European wader rarities, in a North American shorebirds book. Photographs are used throughout and are of really good quality. They rival the more popular (and often more accurate, paintings in other 'field guides'. This book does not claim to be a 'field guide' but it does a wonderful job of showing key identification features, as they appear on birds in the field.
The flight pictures are particularly good and are not the usual 'record' shots of the south end of a bird heading north.
This book will settle many identification arguments
The flight pictures are particularly good and are not the usual 'record' shots of the south end of a bird heading north.
This book will settle many identification arguments
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
10 reviews
67 of 67 people found the following review helpful
Succeeds in its goal
12 Feb 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first sentence of the introduction to this book says "This is a book about shorebird identification", and I believe it succeeds admirably in that goal. The two strongest points about the book are that it contains every species that has ever been recorded in North America (94 of them), and the 534 pictures are of very high quality. Distinctive species may have only a few pictures, while difficult or variable species have many more (up to a dozen or so). Although sometimes on the brief side, I did not find the sections on behavior and habitat to be lacking to the point of being drawbacks. And at a price of just over $20, this is a good value for a photographic guide.
A few points about range maps, which are not included in this guide:
1) The author points out that they are not included "in part so all the space can be used for photos and text but also because all current field guides have largely accurate range maps that can be used in conjunction with this book." I believe this is a fair trade-off. The book, at 350+ pages, is already a bit hefty for a field guide and range maps, although they would have been nice, would have made it larger and more expensive.
2) Nearly one-third of the birds covered by this book are so uncommon in North America that range maps don't really apply. Of the remaining two-thirds, many have North American range maps which in Sibley's are largely white except for the far north, and have varying numbers of little green dots elsewhere. Thus, many of the range maps, had they been included, would have conveyed minimal information.
3) Many shorebirds migrate very long distances and have a tendency to wander widely, thus making range maps less useful than they are for other species, like sparrows. When you think you may have a Little Stint in with that flock of Western Sandpipers you are observing, what you need are more pictures and identification pointers, not range maps.
So if you already have a general field guide like Sibley's and are looking for something extra to help you identify North American shorebirds, this book fills that bill nicely at a modest price.
A few points about range maps, which are not included in this guide:
1) The author points out that they are not included "in part so all the space can be used for photos and text but also because all current field guides have largely accurate range maps that can be used in conjunction with this book." I believe this is a fair trade-off. The book, at 350+ pages, is already a bit hefty for a field guide and range maps, although they would have been nice, would have made it larger and more expensive.
2) Nearly one-third of the birds covered by this book are so uncommon in North America that range maps don't really apply. Of the remaining two-thirds, many have North American range maps which in Sibley's are largely white except for the far north, and have varying numbers of little green dots elsewhere. Thus, many of the range maps, had they been included, would have conveyed minimal information.
3) Many shorebirds migrate very long distances and have a tendency to wander widely, thus making range maps less useful than they are for other species, like sparrows. When you think you may have a Little Stint in with that flock of Western Sandpipers you are observing, what you need are more pictures and identification pointers, not range maps.
So if you already have a general field guide like Sibley's and are looking for something extra to help you identify North American shorebirds, this book fills that bill nicely at a modest price.
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Wonderful guide
1 Aug 2005
Format:Paperback
This is a beautiful book on shorebird identification. I've found this guide to be an essential addition to my bookshelf, primarily due to the quality and variety of photographs. For many of the included species, the wide selection of photographs show birds in flight as well as average plumage differences between breeding adults, non-breeding adults, and juveniles, allowing for the careful study of differences within species as well as between species. I also found the identification tips to be very valuable, as the discussion includes useful comparisons between similar species for birds both on the ground and in flight. The discussions of habitat and behavior are not extensive but provide sufficient detail, and the voice descriptions are very helpful.
The lack of range maps is well-balanced by a short discussion on range for each species, and may even be a blessing. A single glance at range maps can be misleading, as there can be wide variations in the timing of when individual shorebirds of some species may depart from or arrive on their wintering grounds. For example, the range maps in both the Sibley's guides and the National Audubon Society field guides show that Ruddy Turnstones should only be found in the Carolinas during the "winter" season - I've watched Ruddy Turnstones in full breeding plumage foraging on South Carolina beaches in early August, presumably early migrants who have already completed their nesting season and haven't yet begun molting into their non-breeding plumage. Another perfect example is the normal range of Northern Lapwing, an occasional Eurasian visitor to North America, whose rare visits have included Maine, New York, Maryland, and Florida.
This photographic guide to shorebirds is a lovely reference to accompany basic field guides, provides an excellent overview of what you might see in the field, and is a valuable resource for those who are passionate about shorebirds.
The lack of range maps is well-balanced by a short discussion on range for each species, and may even be a blessing. A single glance at range maps can be misleading, as there can be wide variations in the timing of when individual shorebirds of some species may depart from or arrive on their wintering grounds. For example, the range maps in both the Sibley's guides and the National Audubon Society field guides show that Ruddy Turnstones should only be found in the Carolinas during the "winter" season - I've watched Ruddy Turnstones in full breeding plumage foraging on South Carolina beaches in early August, presumably early migrants who have already completed their nesting season and haven't yet begun molting into their non-breeding plumage. Another perfect example is the normal range of Northern Lapwing, an occasional Eurasian visitor to North America, whose rare visits have included Maine, New York, Maryland, and Florida.
This photographic guide to shorebirds is a lovely reference to accompany basic field guides, provides an excellent overview of what you might see in the field, and is a valuable resource for those who are passionate about shorebirds.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Shorebirds of North America by Dennis Paulson
16 Mar 2006
Format:Paperback
Shorebirds of North America is a keeper! Absolutely stunning pictures showing virtually every bird in flight as well as on the ground in a multitude of plumages. The interesting, informative, well written descriptions make this a better arm-chair book, than field book.
That said, however, it's certainly small enough to be carried afield; it's smaller than Sibley's Guide and ruggedly constructed. The bird pictures are exceptional and elaborate showing many molt stages and picularities. As a visual person, I find this not simply helpful for me, but absolutely necessary for shorebirds. The descriptions Paulson uses for identification are practical, comparative, clear and easy to understand. There is much discussion of plumages, voice and distinctive characteristics both in flight and on the ground.
I loved the table of estimated populations of these birds. It answered my question about the Snowy Plover in Washington state and why eveyone seemed so concerned. Paulson estimates their population at 15, 700.
He has a well illustrated section on anatomy that provides a guide for terms used in the book such as mantle line, upper and lower scapular line, primary projection and more. There's sound information on individual variation from feather wear and fade, unusual plumages, hybridization, and molts.
The only disappointment for me was the quick list of species on the inside cover. It's done numerically and I would have liked the listing alphabetical for speedy look-up. I think it's faster to go to the table of contents where the species are broken down by type - plovers, sandpipers, curlews, etc.
As I said of another book recently reviewed, this one should have a higher rating than shown, like 43/4 stars, but that choice is not available.
I bought it as a companion book to Stokes Beginner's Guide to Shorebirds and I am not disappointed with the pair, they compliment (and supplement) each other. In short, this book with the information it contains is 'worth the money'.
That said, however, it's certainly small enough to be carried afield; it's smaller than Sibley's Guide and ruggedly constructed. The bird pictures are exceptional and elaborate showing many molt stages and picularities. As a visual person, I find this not simply helpful for me, but absolutely necessary for shorebirds. The descriptions Paulson uses for identification are practical, comparative, clear and easy to understand. There is much discussion of plumages, voice and distinctive characteristics both in flight and on the ground.
I loved the table of estimated populations of these birds. It answered my question about the Snowy Plover in Washington state and why eveyone seemed so concerned. Paulson estimates their population at 15, 700.
He has a well illustrated section on anatomy that provides a guide for terms used in the book such as mantle line, upper and lower scapular line, primary projection and more. There's sound information on individual variation from feather wear and fade, unusual plumages, hybridization, and molts.
The only disappointment for me was the quick list of species on the inside cover. It's done numerically and I would have liked the listing alphabetical for speedy look-up. I think it's faster to go to the table of contents where the species are broken down by type - plovers, sandpipers, curlews, etc.
As I said of another book recently reviewed, this one should have a higher rating than shown, like 43/4 stars, but that choice is not available.
I bought it as a companion book to Stokes Beginner's Guide to Shorebirds and I am not disappointed with the pair, they compliment (and supplement) each other. In short, this book with the information it contains is 'worth the money'.
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