- Library Binding: 544 pages
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1439503281
- ISBN-13: 978-1439503287
- Product Dimensions: 23.9 x 15 x 4.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 423,589 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Vinyl Bound
David Sibley's new field guide to the birds of North America renders all the existing guides obsolete at one stroke. The book itself is beautifully produced and crafted - the sort of book that gives pleasure just in the handling of it. In this single volume, he not only covers all the species likely to be seen in the whole of North America, but more importantly, he illustrates all the plumage variations for each species resulting from differences in age and sex and time of year. He also neatly incorporates pointers to the particular features of each bird that distinguish it, and introduces each family of birds with an illustrated page of its members, a summary of their habits, and what makes them different. The quality of the paintings is astonishing, and his achievement in producing all this artwork single-handed is amazing. This is very much a field and therefore an identification guide, and if you seek detailed factual information on brood sizes, moult sequences,food items, etc, then you will need to look elsewhere. As a field guide it has everything you need on the same page for each bird, including distribution maps, notes on calls and song, in addition to the most comprehensive set of pictures of plumage. He puts into one volume what Peterson divides between two, and the number and quality of his illustrations far surpass those in the National Geographic guide. It sets a new standard for birding field guides, which none of the guides to European birds can yet approach either - this is an absolute must for any birdwatcher who has the slightest interest in North American birds.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Vinyl Bound
Universally acknowledged as the best field guide to the region.
In many ways this is the ideal guide:-
- the entire continent in a single volume
- everything pertaining to one species on one page
- lots of illustrations per species
- high quality illustrations, uniform in style
- brief, succinct text
- handy maps
- expert author / illustrator
- good sturdy, but flexible binding
However, some things could be improved. First, it cannot really be taken into the field except in a bag, which deters many users from actually employing it as a FIELD guide. Some will say that the large number of species justify the bulk, but this is not so: look at the Collins Bird Guide (Mullarney, et al.) which has used smart layout and cut out the blank areas to cram as much information in as possible. If portability is a problem, then the separate Western and Eastern guides are a solution, or Kaufman for those who require less detail. Secondly, Sibley is often lacking in comparative identification notes for similar species. Both quibbles can surely be corrected in the next edition.
So, which field guide to buy? For a light alternative for those wanting to avoid the thorny details, Kaufman is ideal. If you have more than a passing interest in birds, then definitely Sibley. In that case, though, you probably want several guides including National Geographic and Peterson as (the former in particular) offer additional insight. Don't forget this is the best birding aid for identifying migrants in Central and South America too.
In many ways this is the ideal guide:-
- the entire continent in a single volume
- everything pertaining to one species on one page
- lots of illustrations per species
- high quality illustrations, uniform in style
- brief, succinct text
- handy maps
- expert author / illustrator
- good sturdy, but flexible binding
However, some things could be improved. First, it cannot really be taken into the field except in a bag, which deters many users from actually employing it as a FIELD guide. Some will say that the large number of species justify the bulk, but this is not so: look at the Collins Bird Guide (Mullarney, et al.) which has used smart layout and cut out the blank areas to cram as much information in as possible. If portability is a problem, then the separate Western and Eastern guides are a solution, or Kaufman for those who require less detail. Secondly, Sibley is often lacking in comparative identification notes for similar species. Both quibbles can surely be corrected in the next edition.
So, which field guide to buy? For a light alternative for those wanting to avoid the thorny details, Kaufman is ideal. If you have more than a passing interest in birds, then definitely Sibley. In that case, though, you probably want several guides including National Geographic and Peterson as (the former in particular) offer additional insight. Don't forget this is the best birding aid for identifying migrants in Central and South America too.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
167 reviews
167 of 169 people found the following review helpful
The best field guide for identifying birds.
3 Oct 2000
Format:Vinyl Bound|Amazon Verified Purchase
The latest attempt to publish the perfect bird guide book comes very close. The Sibley guide is more comprehensive than the National Geographic guide (NG) in its inclusion of views. In examining each page of the book I was bewildered at the number of views. The first published drawings I have seen of some species in flight are in this thorough book.
The group accounts to begin each section are excellent. These accounts show all species in a family on one page; often examining hard to identify plumages like first-winter female wood-warblers. The range maps and voice details are much better than any previous attempt. Identification skills are sprinkled throughout the book in areas where they are most needed. In this regard, the Sibley guide gives the user some of what Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding, Jack Connor's The Complete Birder and the American Birding Association's Birding magazine provide.
It falls short of perfection in four areas that will be considered minor by most readers:
The drawings are not as sharp as in the NG. The feather detail is often absent and edges are blurred leaving less of the feather texture affect found in the NG. This may be a purposeful attempt to get users to focus on the feel of the bird rather than searching for details that can sometimes only be seen with a bird in hand.
The habitat information is not as complete as in the NG. Unlike the NG where habitat and historical details are provided with individual species, the Sibley guide gives their habitat info in group descriptions at the tops of most pages.
There are still some omissions. While I have not had time to search for every vagrant species, two birds I have personally seen in North America are not included - the whiskered tern and the brown shrike.
It is not field worthy. In this I expect some will disagree. It will surely fit in a shoulder bag or backpack. Perhaps more important, it may be good for birding if birders don't take it with them. Birding skills are developed by viewing birds and trying to remember and record details. This guide's utility will be as the definitive guide for pre and post observation.
I am still giving this book five stars and advise every serious birder to purchase it, study it, and learn from it. It will be the first guide I turn to when I'm back at my car after a cool morning in the field.
107 of 109 people found the following review helpful
New Standard for Bird Field Guides
3 Oct 2000
Format:Vinyl Bound
David Sibley has written an excellent field guide. This book surpasses National Geographic's "Field Guide to Birds of North America" and the Peterson's Series of Bird Guides. It includes a greater number of illustrations and portrays more of the various ages of the birds. One has to appreciate the flight views of the many birds.
The colors of the illustrations are excellent. This corrects one compliant of the 3rd edition of National Geographic Field Guide. Advanced and beginning birders will benefit from the examples. The range maps have been adjusted in several cases. Sibley has taken great care in producing the most up-to-date field guide.
The accompanying text is very informative. It is packed with information about each species. Sibley "Guide to Birds" definitely shows that years were taken to produce this comprehensive reference.
If there is a downside, this book is heavy. Many pages were required to incorporate all the interesting and informative information contained in this fabulous book!
Sibley has set a new standard in Bird Field Guides. It will be years before this book is surpassed. Sibley's "Guide to Birds" is a must book for any birders library.
66 of 66 people found the following review helpful
A wonderful, practical guide!!
24 Oct 2000
Format:Vinyl Bound
After spending a weekend in the field with the new Sibley's, I can attest to the value of this book. Initially I was impressed by the many illustrations and detail that obviously go into every species description. Sibley spends needed time and space on difficult-to-identify species instead of just a couple of head profiles. On a weekend when I saw both Harlan's and Krider's Red-tailed Hawks (as well as the usual birds), this was quite welcome. The only item that could be a possible drawback with this book is that I don't feel enough attention was given to identifying habitat for many birds. When one is trying to Empidonax flycatchers, habitat is vital when making identification. While habitat is mentioned, I just don't think that it is given the importance it should have. That said, this book is a winner!! I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this book (or give it as a gift). It may replace your field guide of choice, but even if it doesn't it is an excellent supplement. As an aside - with all the splitting going on, this is the first book I've seen (I haven't looked at Kaufman's) that places Vireos with the Jays they have now been classified with. Also, all the most recent name changes have been included. Quite a benefit!
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