Customer Reviews:
Excellent resource.......2007-06-25
My grandma originally owned a copy of this book and regularly noted sightings of interesting/rare species. I bought my own copy several years ago and it has proved quite useful. The most interesting example was a Java Sparrow sighted in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I couldn't find out what it was from searching around online, but looking in the back of this field guide, under foreign/introduced species, there it was.
Quality Through and Through.......2005-10-11
I received this book as a gift and have used it constantly. I keep it on my window sill during the feeding season to identify the visiters to my feeder. The book's size and physical construction are excellent. As someone who is a novice it seems to be very comprehensive on the subject matter.
The birder's bible.......2005-07-19
Even when I lived in the city, I liked to feed and watch the birds (mainly sparrows and pigeons). Now that we live up in the woods, we're in bird paradise. Using this Peterson Field Guide for "Eastern Birds" plus a good pair of binoculars for visual identifications, and the "Birding by Ear Eastern/Central" CDs (Richard K. Walton and Robert W. Lawson) I've identified 42 species of birds in just over a month, as a casual observer for the Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas II project.
I have other bird books, but it is Peterson's Field Guide that I use most frequently. Roger Tory Peterson's 'system' "is based on patternistic drawings with arrows that pinpoint the key field marks." You don't have to have the bird in hand in order to make an identification. In addition to 136 full-color plates of Eastern birds (male, female, and immature, or summer and winter plumage if they differ markedly), there are also 390 three-color maps (first introduced in the 1980 edition).
The maps are absolutely essential for an amateur like me. If I've narrowed down a blurry little gray bird to X and Y, and Y never makes it north of the Mason-Dixon Line, I can be pretty certain that the bird is X. Here's an actual example on the utility of the maps: I was trying to distinguish a trilling song that could either belong to the Swamp Sparrow, the Pine Warbler, or the Northern Junco. We do see Juncos at our feeders in the winter, but this is July and according to Peterson's map, the Juncos spend the summer north of here, mostly in Canada. So I've narrowed the trill down to the Swamp Sparrow or the Pine Warbler (actually I'm positive we've got both as I've made tentative visual identifications. It makes sense since we live in the Pine Barrens which is dotted with numerous swamps).
This book begins with a generalized introduction to identifying birds by shape, distinctive features and behavior. Physically, it is tightly bound and just the right size to slip into a backpack. The pages are glossy and 'relatively' waterproof if you wipe them quickly dry. There is even a 'life list' up front where you can check off the birds you have seen.
Don't go birding without it.
Excellent beginner book for myself and my sister........1999-04-26
The Peterson field Guide to Eastern American Birds turned out to be the best birding book I've ever read. The book was well thought out and had the format that we needed in our suburban environment. The illustrations were concise and made identifying the birds extremely easy. We have a large population of Red-Winged Blackbirds and Mourning Doves, and its great to actually know what in the world we were looking at. It was great!
Excellent guide to identification of birds........1998-05-13
This is the best of the field guides for the amature birder in my opinion. I purchased a guide that had actual photos of birds in their habitats, thinking it would be the best, but it definately was not as good or as easy to use as the Peterson field guide. If you are looking for a good all around field guide to keep near your binoculars, this one is my pick.
Amazon.com
A guide full of sensible and easy to follow advice for gardeners in all parts of the country who want to experience the magic of hummingbirds in their garden.
Hummingbird Gardens provides specific recommendations for the best varieties of flowers to plant in order to attract the elusive creatures, while integrating gardening ideas and designs with an informative introduction to the general habits, including migrating and nesting patterns, of hummingbirds.
Book Description
Of all the beuty a gardener can cultivate, nothing equals that of the hummingbird. Little wonder that millions of North Americans attempt to attract these spunky birds to their gardens. Hummingbird Gardens provides how-to information on feeders, plant combinations, and garden design. It showcases the continent's 20-plus hummingbird species. By breaking North American into six regions, the authors give tips that are tailored for gardeners in all parts of the United States and Canada.
Customer Reviews:
A wealth of informative text and spectacular photos........1999-10-26
Long, long ago - experience taught me the smoothest way through life is to "never make recommendations to anybody about anything." Sam and I have learned to qualify those don't-miss-it things encompassing: great places to eat, visit, read, watch, etc. For example, we now say, "The food was great the night we were there," or "You would love the movie if you enjoy such-and-such."
With all of those lessons in mind, I'm unequivocally saying, "Get your hands on Hummingbird Gardens as soon as possible." I don't think the co-authors, Nancy Newfield and Barbara Nielsen, have yet realized the true scope of what they have accomplished.
I knew Nancy was working on a book with somebody, but thought it was strictly for the southern Louisiana area. When Sam brought home my unexpected copy, it took only a few minutes of browsing for me to tell him something like, "Good lord, this thing is really, really good - and I mean good!" That's saying a lot for a person who is not easily impressed, and the more I read, the better it got.
Somehow, Nancy and Barbara truly did it all in Hummingbird Gardens by combining a wealth of well written, informative text with spectacular photographs of both the hummingbirds and the flowering plants so loved by these creatures. The beautiful birds and blossoming plants are well covered in their own separate chapters.
At the same time though, the content flows smoothly into pertinent regional information for those in: California, The Pacific Northwest, The Southwest, The Western Mountains, The Southeast and The East and Midwest. They so skillfully blend bird and bloom with helpful tips and enthusiasts' experiences that you will want to read on and on about other hummers in other gardens!
As far as I can determine, they left no stone unturned. All who open its covers will soon learn to appreciate the inclusion of subjects often left out of other publications. This one did not forget such things as: References and Further Reading (great bibliography), Resources (supermarkets for the hummers' favorite natural foods), and an excellent Index.
One last thing. Although Hummingbird Gardens was primarily done for the millions of us who simply love and enjoy these particular bounties of nature - I sincerely believe ornithology, as a whole, will gain as well. The professionals cannot be out in the field all of the time, thus what we see "our" hummers doing in our yards can contribute a great deal to the science. Meanwhile, we are very lucky, indeed, that Barbara and Nancy decided to share their knowledge and discoveries with the rest of us!
An excellent resource.......1999-10-10
Including information from real-life hummingbird gardeners around the U.S., this book will be useful to virtually anyone in North America who's trying to create backyard habitat for these fascinating birds. The main shortcoming of this book is in the depth of coverage of the plants, particularly photos. There were not enough showing an entire plant (though more than enough of the birds themselves), and the one feeder illustrated contained dyed sugar water (a no-no and contradictory to the text). Novice hummingbird gardeners should cross-reference the plant names with national and regional gardening guides for photos and cultural information such as size and temperature tolerance.
Beautiful and Informative.......1999-08-06
This book has incredible photographs and gobs of information about these amazing creatures. It's an unabashed sales-job to get you to become a hummingbird gardener. (That's not a bad idea!)
Book Description
Robert Tyrrell, the world's foremost photographer of hummingbirds, has successfully captured on film the utterly fascinating day-to-day activities of our colorful North American species. Included among the 235 full-color pictures are never-before-photographed sequences such as nesting, molting, preening and territorial aggression, as well as an unprecedented portfolio of hummingbirds feeding from wildflowers.
Esther Tyrrell has written the accompanying illuminating text, by far the most complete and up-to-date information on hummingbirds ever assembled, which will make this book the definitive source for both scientists and the general reader for years to come.
This lavishly illustrated volume opens with an introduction to this lovely family of
Customer Reviews:
Stunning Photos!.......2006-05-06
Of course, everyone loves the feisty, peppy hummingbird with it's glorious colors. This book shows details that the average birdwatcher never sees. The close up photos, some in action sequence, are a delight and there are pictures even showing the nests made of cobwebs, feathers and lichens.
The text supplements the photos giving details of the author's observations on hummingbird behavior.
One section covers the different hummingbirds, giving each variety a two-page spread. There are several photos plus a listing of the field markings, range, breeding range, winter range, nesting, migration and habitat for each.
Additional graphics are quite useful, like the one showing the names for the body parts of hummingbirds. What a useful (and beautiful) book!
Unbelievable photography.......2000-12-29
This book conains the most amazing photography imaginable (the authors' companion book Hummingbirds of the Caribbean is just as wonderful). Dazzling colors and awesome stopped-action shots. I can't imagine how it was done.
Highest praise.......1999-03-16
The wife and husband team of Esther and Robert Tyrrell logged over 30,000 miles of travel to photograph and document the 16 species of North American hummingbirds. Using his own special high-speed strobe techniques, Robert has photographed the tiny colorful birds in a variety of activities flying, perching, and nesting. The book contains over 200 amazing photographs, reproduced in dazzling color. In her text, Esther has culled information from hundreds of sources and provides a comprehensive and well-written overview of the birds' anatomy and behaviors. A must for any bird lover!
Book Description
This book is the first ever, comprehensive photographic guide to the identification of all 24 species of hummingbirds to be seen as breeders or vagrants in North America.
For all their startling colors, the speed of hummingbird flight and the often drab coloration of females and immatures make this group especially difficult to deal with in the field. The simple field marks are often poorly lit, hard to spot, or simply not shown by any particular individual under observation. But accurate identification of these popular and beautiful birds brings both real satisfaction and a welcome challenge to most birders.
Steve Howell, a well-known and respected bird tour leader and author, has made a particular study of the finer points of hummingbird recognition and has specially chosen over 200 stunning photographs to complement the information given in his text. Some species feature as many as 14 photographs each. A detailed introduction covers the basics of hummingbird anatomy and plumage variation, allowing the observer to effectively focus on points that are of value in the field. New field marks are provided and old myths dispelled in this ground breaking and essential new guide.
Key Features:
- Contains up to 14 full-color photos for each species, with detailed photo captions
- Detailed introduction covers fundamentals of hummingbird identification, including discussions of anatomy, plumage variation, and molt
- Comprehensive species accounts describe all plumages, compare similar species in depth, and discuss voice, displays, behavior, geographic range, and seasonal distribution
- Emphasizes difficult to identify plumages, such as females and immatures
- Features 200 stunning photos picked specifically to show identification criteria
Customer Reviews:
Hummingbirds of North America- Review.......2007-07-09
Um livro bastante técnico, exelente para biólogos e/ou ornitólogos.As informações são muito completas principalmente no que se refere às variações de plumagens que ocorrem dentro das mesmas espécies( machos, fêmeas e filhotes).Exelentes informações sobre a distribuição geográfica das espécies.
Hummingbirds - one of my passions............2007-05-13
I'm now able to correctly identiful many species of Hummingbirds. Great source of information. Very detailed book.
Steve Howell's photographic hummingbird guide.......2006-03-01
This is a very useful book for birders who want to be able to identify hummingbirds in the U.S. It includes photos and accompanying text for every hummingbird that you are likely (or lucky enough) to spot within U.S. borders. The text is particularly good, and the photos are shown large enough to be of use to the beginner/intermediate birdwatcher in addition to the experienced observer.
The Best Hummingbird Book Ever.......2002-03-30
At The Hummingbird Web Site and at the guest ranch we manage in the mountains in southeastern Arizona we are often asked what is the best hummingbird book. Here's the answer: Steve Howell's Hummingbirds of North America: A Photographic Guide. We refer to it almost daily. It sits in our office beside the three other bird books we would not be without -- the Sibley Guide, Jon Dunn's National Geographic Field Guide, and A Guide to the Birds of Mexico by - Guess who? - Steve Howell. Most of our guests are bird watchers on vacation. The book they were all talking about last year was the Sibley Guide. This year the book most often mentioned is the Howell hummingbird book.
Book Description
Covering 31 North American species, with more than 250 color photos and 33 maps, this is the most comprehensive field guide to hummingbirds. Introductory chapters cover the natural history of hummingbirds, ways to attract and feed them, and major hot spots in the United States and Canada for observing these fascinating birds. The 31 color plates illustrate 28 species, 7 hybrid combinations, 3 forms of albinism, and 4 species of sphinx moths often mistaken for hummingbirds. Species accounts provide in-depth information on plumage, molt, songs and calls, wing sounds, similar species, behavior, habitat, distribution, taxonomy, and conservation concerns. Detailed, up-to-date range maps show breeding, non-breeding, and year-round distribution, migration routes, and records outside expected areas of occurrence. For a few widespread migratory species, separate maps illustrate expected spring arrival dates.
Customer Reviews:
ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR BACKPACK!.......2007-07-04
As stated, it is difficult to go wrong with and of the Peterson Field Guides. This work is certainly no exception. Do be warned though, if you are a beginning birder, that NO field guide can meet all needs. This guide, like others, must be supplemented with as many different guides as possible. In this case, I might recommend Howell's wonderful work.
That being said, you certainly need to add this one to your collection. This work covers the thirty or so species found in the U.S. along with several that may or may not be seen. The range maps are great, but again, another warning to the newcomer to this wonderful pastime. The range of many of birds found in the U.S. in changing, almost at a yearly rate. We can go on forever as to why this is occurring, but it never-the-less is. As the natural habitat of these amazing creatures is shrinking, so are the bird populations.
The photographs in this book are a bit small and the quality is not what I would like, but the photographs are quite adequate, particularly if they are supplemented with other guides. The information found in the text is quite informative and accurate, as are the range maps, as far as we know (see above paragraph). There is much good information in this book concerning behavior, nesting habits and feeding patterns. This is certainly a book I would not want to be without when out in the field specifically looking for this particular family of birds. Recommend this one highly.
Hummingbirds - one of my passions...........2007-05-13
Great book to teach us how to correctly identify hummingbird species. I can now identify several species easily & that's fun with about 30 some birds being fed by me in my garden. Great source of information.
A Field Guide to Hummingbirds of North America (Peterson Field Guides).......2007-01-10
Excellent Guide to Hummingbirds! I bought the book for my sister's birthday. She loves it!
This little bird chipped off in brilliance.......2006-07-15
I've always thought that aliens visiting planet Earth would avoid the big geology that is the centerpiece of many of our national parks. All planets have spectacular geological features. Mars, for instance, has the largest (known) volcano in our solar system.
Instead, the aliens would concentrate on life exclusive to Earth. Among these unique creatures must be the jewel-like hummingbirds.
D.H. Lawrence writes of a world "where the humming-bird flashed ahead of creation" and "This little bit chipped off in brilliance...went whizzing through the slow, vast, succulent stems..."
Do you remember when you saw your first hummingbird? One of my earliest memories, half-seen, half-heard, is of a buzzing emerald of a bird hovering in front of the flat cup of a hollyhock, flashing its iridescent feathers only inches from my face. After that, nothing could persuade me there was not magic in the world.
Imagine yourself visiting this blue-and-green world and seeing a hummingbird for the first time.
Well then, back to business. This Peterson Field Guide fulfills its promise to deep-dive into the world of North American hummingbirds. I was particularly interested in Rufous Hummingbirds because I thought I had seen one at our backyard feeder. Only three Rufous sightings have been verified in this state, so being able to record another would be quite a coup.
According to this guide, it's not quite that easy. What I might have seen was a Ruby-Throat with pollen on her breast--or a hybrid Ruby-Throat. It's actually easier to verify the age and sex of a particular hummingbird than its species! Not only that, but hybridization between species is frequent--this book has photographs of "adult male Costa's x Anna's," "adult male Rufous x Calliope," "adult male Broad-tailed x Black-chinned" etc. etc.
So, back to the deck until I can photograph my green hummingbird with the orange-gold gorget. Meanwhile, I've read this book from cover to cover. It is packed with fascinating text on the habitats, feeding, territoriality, communication, courtship and nesting (the latter is strictly up to the female), migration, and life spans of North American hummingbirds. Even without the photographs, it would have been an interesting read.
With the photographs, this book is a gem. Most of the colored photos are included as aids to species (and hybrid) identification, but I think some were incorporated just for the sheer joy of viewing these little birds. The author, Sheri L. Williamson is one of North America's foremost experts on hummingbirds and has spent hundreds of hours in the field, observing and banding several thousand individuals of 16 species. The result is a book no hummingbird enthusiast will want to be without.
Finally the book I've been looking for!!.......2002-03-05
This book is wonderful!! I just finished reading it. I'd been waiting so long for a hummingbird book with photos of the females and the immature birds. In the past, I've had so much trouble looking through art drawings of hummingbirds. Now we have photos of each bird to help with identification in the field.
This book is a must-have for hummingbird enthusiasts! Make sure to read the text too, because tons of fabulous facts and trivia are included. For instance, females of some species sing, and females outnumber the male hummers most of the time, but in one instance a female was killed and a male was seen feeding the babies she'd left behind! How interesting!
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:
Wonderful Book.......2007-01-08
This book is worth getting for the pictures alone, stunning in detail and glorious of color. Most of the book gives information about the various types of hummingbirds, almost none of which we'll ever see here in the East other than the ruby throated. For those of you on the other coast, it may be useful for identification of backyard sightings.
Book Description
Paul A. Johnsgard's Hummingbirds of North America is the only book devoted to the identification, distribution, and biology -- both individual and comparative -- of all hummingbirds that breed in North America. Including updated range maps, identification keys, and a bibliography that has been broadened to include literature on the little-known Mexican species, the book is both accessible to amateur birders and an authoritative volume for ornithologists.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent, valuable technical resource but not a photo book.......2004-06-05
I am thrilled with this purchase. I already own several coffeetable photograph books on hummingbirds so was looking for one with more technical, scientific information. Since this book is published by the Smithsonian, in its second printing, and got excellent reviews from scientific publications (see the reviews listed on the back cover when you "look inside the book"), I figured it would meet my need for more in-depth information. I was right.
However, be advised, the color plates are beautiful paintings but not photographs. In fact, there isn't a photograph in the entire book, so if that's what you're searching for, buy a different book. If you want an in-depth study of North American and Mexican hummingbirds, complete with range, identification information, habitats, breeding etc., this is your book. And while it is based on scientific and technical references, the writing style is interesting and accessible for us lay people.
By the way, according to this book, the Portuguese name for "hummingbird" literally means "flower-kisser," while the literal translations for Central and South American names for "hummingbird" include: "rays of the sun" and "tresses of the day-star." If you're interested enough in hummingbirds to be researching books on them, I thought you'd enjoy knowing this.
Great technical guide to hummingbirds.......1999-10-06
This is a truly fascinating book on hummingbirds. It is a must-have guide for anyone looking for complete technical information on these birds. Numerous charts, maps & b/w illustrations really help.
The book starts out with 24 color plates of paintings showcasing a wide variety of hummingbird species. Next, hummingbirds are classified & their general attributes are described.
Then distribution is covered. The evolution of the birds & how they became specialized in also explained. The following chapters compare anatomy, physiology, biology, ecology & reproduction of the different species.
Over 40 different species are described in detail, including range, size, habitat, movements & foraging behavior. Identification keys for both North American & Mexican hummingbirds are a great bonus.
Book Description
Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.
Book Description
Bird and gardening expert Mathew Tekulsky uncovers the simple steps any gardener can take to attract and enjoy one of nature's most beautiful creatures. He introduces the reader to hummingbird habits and reveals the regions where they live and migrate.
Customer Reviews:
How to attract hummingbirds to your garden.......2002-11-10
The author, Mathew Tekulsky, is enthusiastic about hummingbirds, and his enthusiasm comes through in his word pistures of these little butterflies of the bird world whose wings beat so fast that they are invisible, like the blades of an airplane propeller.
Let Mathew tell you how to attract them to your garden! The book is devoted single-mindedly to hummingbirds, how to make them welcome in your garden, and how to cultivate the flowers and other plants that will bring them in and grace your garden with the beautiful little creatures.
This is a wonderful book for your horticultural library, as well as a great source of information on hummingbirds.
Joseph Pierre
Book Description
Reminiscent of nineteenth-century botanical prints, the full-color illustrations in this small nature guide are miniature watercolors, as delightful to look at as they are accurate. With each illustration the reader will find the polular and scientific names, size, range, and a concise description of the habitat or an interesting bit of lore. Ideal for the backpacker or dayhiker, the book fits handily in the pocket.
Customer Reviews:
Very nice pocket book.......2003-07-25
Excellent little field guide. Great writting and very nice art. Great for adults and children.
Good for both the beginning and the avid hummer-watcher!!.......1999-05-19
My grandmother had this book, which was a gift from my mother. A friend borrowed it and failed to return it, which almost broke my grandmother's heart! She really enjoys her hummers (averaging 25-30 on just two feeders!), and refers to this book on a regular basis. It's full of facts that everyone can enjoy.
informative, filled with terrific artwork & lots of facts.......1999-01-11
I wrote on my Backyard Habitats page that this is a wonderful little book, perfect for putting in your purse. It's as informative as it is artful. Gorgeous drawings and tons of info about all of the hummers found around the USA
Books:
- A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Princeton Field Guides)
- A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds (Princeton Field Guides)
- Albatrosses, Petrels and Shearwaters of the World (Princeton Field Guides)
- Anthropology (12th Edition)
- Arnie the Darling Starling
- Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds to Your Backyard: Watch Your Garden Come Alive With Beauty on the Wing (A Rodale Organic Gardening Book)
- Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows
- Barnyard in Your Backyard: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Chickens, Ducks, Geese, Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, and Cows
- Bird Song Ear Training Guide: Who Cooks for Poor Sam Peabody? Learn to Recognize the Songs of Birds from the Midwest and Northeast States
- Bird Songs
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Birds
| Field Guides
| Outdoors & Nature
| Subjects
| Books
A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America
Peterson Field Guide to Feeder Birds of Eastern North America
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America : Revised and Updated
A Field Guide to Animal Tracks (Peterson Field Guides(R))
Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Birds, Large Format Edition
