Book Description
When many birders go out looking at shorebirds, they see a distant mud flat full of grayish brown birds in various shapes and sizes and have no idea where to begin the identification process.
When advanced birders look at that same flock of shorebirds, they can identify the vast majority of birds with a quick binocular scan. Experts use the simplest, most easily observed characteristics—size, structure, behavior, and general color patterns—almost subconsciously, and can identify most birds even before looking carefully at plumage details.
Now birders of all levels can learn how to identify these wildly popular birds quickly and with much less effort. This guide provides more than 870 stunning color photographs, sequenced to give a general impression of a species first and progressing to a more detailed image of the bird throughout its life cycle. Captions list characteristics in order of importance, reflecting the thought process that experts use to identify birds.
Customer Reviews:
The Definitive Guide to ShoreBirds.......2007-07-29
Of all of the information available that involves Shorebirds, this book is equal to none. It provides the most organized and complete understanding of the complicated life cycles of these birds. The photograpy is excellent not only in its quality but also in its visualizations of the different life cycles. The book advances how we look upon these types of birds by drawing refined attention to their life cycles and their ecosystems. This is a must have for all birders libraries.
Shorebird Guide .......2007-05-14
An excellent shorebird guide. The best I have ever owned. Extremely helpful in teaching you HOW to identify shorebirds.
The Shorebirds of North America.......2007-03-12
Haven't seen The Shorebird Guide, sounds wonderful, but I found no reference, in the 17 or 18 reviews, to Bob Clem's Shorebirds of North America(1967). I find paintings, from Peterson to Sibley, much more satisfing than photographs: there is something in a painting that captures the soul of the bird that the photo just can't do. And then Pete Matthiessen wrote the text for Bob's paintings. A dynamic duo! Just went to a "Wine and Woodcocks" event at JEDSAS, an Audubon sanctuary across the creek from our village of Neavitt, in Maryland. I look forward to seeing their copy of The Shorebird Guide. But why do we forget such a classic shorebird book that was only 40 years ago?
This is indeed THE guide to shorebirds.......2007-02-23
This is perhaps the best bird family guide that I've seen. It is definitely the best identification guide to this difficult group of birds.
The book focuses more on size and shape rather than plumage. Therefore, the photos aren't like other guides. They are not all uniformly sized super close-up shots of a single bird. Instead they are sized to better emphasize certain characteristics. They often show multiple birds of different species so as to give a better comparison of size, shape, and plumage.
One of the best features of the guide is the questions in some captions. Most species have at least one question in one of their photo captions. The questions ask the reader to do such things as identify some of the species in the photo, or to pick out one particular species among all the birds present. The answers are contained in an appendix in the back. These questions force the reader to apply the knowledge and techniques imparted by the authors and look more critically and actively at the photograph.
I can't recommend this book enough.
the shorebird guide.......2007-01-11
Excellent coverage on shorebirds....good fotos with comparative fotos really outstanding....any serious birder in the tropics can get great value out of this book
Book 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.
- First complete guide to North American and Central American shorebirds
- More than 530 striking photos
- Identification tips
- Descriptions of voice, behavior, habitat, and range
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic Shorebird Guide.......2006-11-10
The best field guide for shorebirds that I have seen. Great photos, well organized. I refer to it often!
Shorebirds of North America by Dennis Paulson.......2006-03-17
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'.
Great Reference for Birders.......2006-01-31
The book covers 94 species of shorebirds for North America including familiar species and rarities.
The wide selection of photos show birds in flight as well as average plumage differences between breeding adults, non-breeding adults and juveniles. For each species, you get information on size, plumage, identification, behavior, voice, habitat and range.
This is a great addition to any birders' library or useful for anyone living near the shore.
No Herons, ducks or anything other than Sandpiper-like birds..........2005-12-09
I was thinking this book would cover everything that you would typically find near salt water and marshes, like Herons, Ducks, Widgeons, Loons, Geese, Gulls, etc. It only covers a very narrow range of sandpiper, plover and stints.
However, if that is what you want, this appears to be a very nice book with a heavy-duty cover.
Wonderful guide.......2005-08-01
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.
Book Description
The Stokes Beginner's Guides, intended for beginning nature lovers of all ages, offer a wealth of identification and behavior information in a portable pocket-sized format. Illustrated throughout with full-color photographs and range maps, each Beginner's Guide is organized according to the Stokes' easy-to-use and popular color-tab system.
Customer Reviews:
Shorebirds are NOT all alike1.......2007-05-23
Prior to reading this book, I gave up on shorebird identification. This book makes it very easy for a beginner like me to ID shorebirds. I love the easy way you identify birds by size and then picture. I'm finding it is now fun to try to ID the shorbs!
Outstanding field guide but not just for beginners.......2007-03-19
This is an outstanding field guide for shorebirds and it is not just for beginners. I have been birding for more than 20 years but I have had limited experiences with shorebirds and I found this small book comprehensive and organized in such a way that it has now become the only book I carry when I'm watching shorebirds.
Very Helpful.......2007-02-06
This book is very helpful for a quide in identifiying shorebirds but still can't figure out what the shorebird with a dark head, light underneath, and a straight bill is.
A good guide for both beginners and more advanced birders........2006-11-10
This is an excellent shorebird guide -- and not just for beginners. I bought this guide for a specific purpose: I lead tours in a wetland refuge and wanted an easy-to-carry guide I could use to show pictures of birds to people on the tour. This book fits my needs perfectly, but many others should find it useful. It is small and easy to carry. The book uses photo illustrations: I believe photos are better than paintings for depicting shorebirds since silhouettes are so important for shorebird identification and it is hard to get the proportions exactly right in a painting. The photos in this book are excellent. Shorebirds can vary greatly in appearance because of plumage variations. This book has multiple photos of most species and does a good job of depicting the plumage variation. This book is less comprehensive than some larger guides, but since it is designed as a beginner's guide, it wouldn't make sense for it to be too long and complicated. An excellent little book.
Stokes Beginner's Guide to Shorebirds.......2006-03-16
I'd actually rate this 41/2 stars, but that choice wasn't available. It's organization is based on a neat color tabbed guide that breaks the birds down by body size and further refines this by bill size. This rapidly narrows choices and speeds comparitive evaluations. The migration maps, both spring and fall, though general in their timing, further help narrow selection. I love this little book! It's lightweight, thin design makes it easy to carry into the field, yet it is wonderfully illustrated with summer, winter and juvenile characterists depicted for nearly every bird. It's only shortcoming - and this would perhaps alter it's small, light, handy character - would be insufficient pictures of the birds in flight.
I purchased this book as a companion to Shorebirds of North America by Dennis Paulson and use the Paulson book as a reference when Stokes leaves me still wondering. The Paulson book, however, stays in the car, both because the Stokes book is that good and because I don't want the more extansive pictures and more elaborate descriptions in the Paulson book getting wet, dirty or ruined.
Book Description
Shorebirds of North America, Europe, and Asia is a quick-reference field guide to the sandpipers, plovers, stints, and other shorebirds found on these continents. The exhaustive and superbly detailed color plates show the birds at rest and in flight, and in every plumage variant likely to be encountered. Species are treated plumage by plumage alongside images of similar species they are otherwise likely to be confused with. Succinct text on pages facing the plates summarizes the key identification features of appearance, voice, and behavior. There is a color distribution map for each of the described species. This guide provides fast, easy, and reliable field identification of this challenging group of birds.
- 80 color plates show full range of plumage types of all species covered
- Concise facing text treats appearance, voice, and behavior
- Clear color distribution map for each species
- Definitive pictorial guide to the shorebirds of these continents
Customer Reviews:
Slightly disappointing compared to available guides.......2007-09-25
Being a shorebird enthusiast, I have had this title in my sights for a while and planned to purchase it as soon as I could find a copy to look through. I have owned the old Helm guide since it came out but, for portability, in the field I tend to use Sibley or the Collins Bird Guide as a shorebird identification supplement to whatever national guide I am using (that is here in the Western Hemisphere). I felt it was about time I got my library up-to-date with this new volume which promised to supersede all my guides. However, when I finally managed to look over a copy I have to say I found it a little disappointing. For me at least, the illustrations do not match those of Killian Mullarney, Peter Hayman or David Sibley and the text does not seem to add much to the older Helm guide - indeed, I prefer that pioneering guide. It just shows how much care went into the preparation of those older guides - Shorebirds is 21 years old now and still hard to beat! This may be a personal view - and admittedly based on a short perusal - but I could not justify adding the book to my library.
Chris Sharpe, 25 September 2007. ISBN: 0691126720
Shorebirds are intercontinental.......2007-07-29
Many shorebird species can occasionally be seen in other continents than where they normally occur, more so than any other bird group. Thus, for birders who like to see rarities (which is nearly all of them), these birds are very special. But they can also be difficult to identify to the species level. Hence, it's a good idea to bring out this field guide specifically for shorebirds for the whole northern hemisphere.
The drawings are very good, and larger than in most other field guides, thus showing more details of the plumage. Also, there are several plumages per species.
Cleverly, the species are grouped according to resemblance in plumage rather than in a strict systematical order. Very handy also is that all flight drawings are grouped separately. The distribution maps are large, thus showing exact occurrences (inasfar known).
This is a book to have at hand when visiting coastal areas in the migration season, or when making birding trips to one of the other continents.
Shorebirds--they all look alike..........2007-03-30
The book proved to be very useful, the drawings are very clear, the text are informative and detailed with special emphasis on the differences between similar bird species. Also it is small enough to use it in the field---very important!
Average customer rating:
- Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest, very informative.
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Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest
Dennis Paulson
Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Customer Reviews:
Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest, very informative........1998-08-19
This book is well written and wounderfully arranged for the shorebird buffs and beginners alike. The book gives a great over view on the identification of shorebirds and gives many interesting facts as to their range and occurrence in the Pacific Northwest area. Every thing from the most common Killdear to the rare Spoonbill Sandpiper is covered quite thoroughly with good photographs, descriptions of various plumages, and a habitat and behavioral description. Even though I do not live in the Pacific Northwest area, this book has been a great help in my shorebird watching.
Customer Reviews:
EXCELLENT REFERENCE BOOK.......2006-08-24
I've been using this nice volume for a number of years now. The book is well illustrated and the text quite helpful. I use this work for both drawing and painting various subjects. The examples given here can quite well be used for other species than address in this volume. This is not a simple step by step book for those beginning although I do feel it would be a great help for anyone interested. Some degree of skill is needed in drawing and some in color shading to reap the full benefits from this book.
Book Description
This easytouse guidebook, now in its 10th printing, enables anyone, from beginner to expert, to identify 285 shorebirds and intertidal plants and animals. Beautifully illustrated with 94 colour photographs.
Customer Reviews:
Simply Among the Best.......2003-02-07
I own and use numerous guides to creatures of the Pacific Northwest and British Columbia. Dr. Snively's book is clearly among the best of the genre. Her considerable skill as an educator and her extensive experience along local seashores have combined to create an excellent guide to the marine critters in this part of the world.
Book Description
The first complete guide to the world's shorebirds, featuring all 211 species illustrated in their various plumages. The clear, accurate text describes each species in detail.
Customer Reviews:
Best guide for identifying shorebirds.......2001-05-29
This book covers all of the shorebirds of the world with 1700 full-color paintings. There are lots of general tips on identifying shorebirds, and each bird is covered extensively. When I first picked up the book at an ABA Teen Birder convention in Colorado, a birder near me said "You have to buy that! Look at the Dunlin page!" Well, the Dunlin page is indeed a good example of this guide's excellence! There are 28 paintings on the page covering the different plumages of the bird and how it looks in flight and from different positions. The text on the adjacent page gives brief descriptions of the bird in each of those plumages and a world range map. It also redirects you to the all-text section of the book that has extensive information on identification, voice, habits, moments, description, age/sex, races, and measurements of the bird. I definitely recommend this book to any birder interested in the identification of shorebirds!
It's a truly wonderful book.......1999-06-22
I have purchased this book some five years back in a local book exhibition. Text is accurate especially for one who is interested in bird hunting. But the real feast is the breathtaking illustrations made by the single artist himself. His painstaking artwork for each species,male&female, juvenile upperwings, lower wings are really fine. Only minus aspect is if the book would have been little bigger the illustrations would have also become bigger.
It's a truly wonderful book.......1999-06-22
I have purchased this book some five years back in a local book exhibition. Text is accurate especially for one who is interested in bird hunting. But the real feast is the breathtaking illustrstions made by the single artist himself. His painstaking artwork for each species, male&female, juvenile upperwings, lower wings are really fine. Only minus aspect is if the book would have been little bigger the illustrations would have also become bigger.
Poor reprint quality ruins a great series.......1999-01-28
Make a plate-by-plate comparison of the new Waterfowl or Shorebirds guides with the original hardcover editions and you'll see that the sofcover illustrations look like cheap color photocopies. All of the subtlety and detail that made the originals the best field guides of their kind has been lost. Save your money for the used bookstores.
Average customer rating:
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Shorebirds of North America (American Nature Guides)
Alan Richards
Manufacturer: Smithmark Publishers
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Binding: Paperback
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