Calfironia State University, Fullerton, Department of Biological Science

Current Location: Home > People > Faculty > Joel Weintraub > Ornithology > Birding References

Birding References

By Bob Allen & Joel Weintraub

Focusing on birds found in and around Orange County, California, USA.

Ther is also a more graphical version of this list, complete with book covers, good for viewing.

• Brown, V., H. Weston, Jr., & J. Buzzell. 1986. Handbook of California Birds, third edition. Naturegraph Publishers, Happy Camp, CA. ISBN: 911010-16-5. http://members.aol.com/Naturgraph/homepage.htm
• Clarke, H. 1989. An Introduction to Southern California Birds. Mountain Press Publishing Company, Inc., Missoula, MT. ISBN 0-87842-233-1.
• Cunningham, R.L. 1990. 50 Common Birds of the Southwest. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association, Globe, AZ. http://www.spma.org/
  • Bob: A very nice, readable book, typical of the high quality of SPMA publications.
• Dickinson, M.B., editor. 1999. Field Guide to the Birds of North America, third edition. The National Geographic Society, Washington, DC. ISBN: 0792274512.
  • Covers all the birds known from North America. Easy to use format, though a little large and heavy for field use. Often simply called "NGS3."
• Ehrlich, P.R., D.S. Dobkin, D. Wheye. 1988. The Birder's Handbook : A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds, Including All Species That Regularly Breed North of Mexico. Fireside/Simon & Schuster, NY. ISBN: 0671659898.
• Fisher, C.C. & H. Clarke. 1997. Birds of Los Angeles : Including Santa Barbara, Ventura and Orange Counties. Lone Pine Publishing, Renton, WA. ISBN: 1551051044.
  • Bob: Nice book with clean illustrations reproduced in fairly large size on the page. Includes biological information as well.
• Gray, M.T. 1995. Watchable Birds of the Southwest. Mountain Press Publishing Company, Inc, Missoula, MT. ISBN 0-87842-322-2.
  • Bob: Very nice work, outstanding photographs.
• Gray, M.T. 1999. Watchable Birds of California. Mountain Press Publishing Company, Inc., Missoula, MT. ISBN 0-87842-389-3.
  • Bob: Very nice work, outstanding photographs.
• Hamilton, R.A. & D.R. Willick. 1996. The Birds of Orange County, California. Status and Distribution. Sea & Sage Press, Sea & Sage Audubon, Irvine, CA. ISBN: 0-9650311-0-1.
  • Bob: The text discusses each bird in Orange County, recorded observations, and seasonality. No illustrations.
• Harrison, G.H. 1988. The Backyard Bird Watcher. Simon & Schuster, NY. ISBN: 0671663747.
• Kaufman, K. 1999. A Field Guide to Advanced Birding: Birding Challenges and How to Approach Them (Peterson Field Guides). Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. ISBN: 039597500X.
  • Bob: Points out the technical details needed to discern similar species. Ken incorporated some of these tips in his Focus Guide, listed above.
• Kaufman, K. 2000. Focus Guide to the Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. ISBN: 0395964644.
  • Joel: Uses photographs to show bird features. Good beginners book but little space to write notes. Up-to-date.
• Local Birds. 1995. Local Birds of Orange County. Local Birds, Inc., Woodside, CA. ISBN: 1-886403-14-7. http://www.localbirds.com/
  • Bob: Not a book but rather a laminated, three-panel foldable guide to birds most often found in Orange County. Very cool format, convenient size for backyard or trail. Lamination can be written on with an erasable marker. A great choice for schools. Available for many other areas and subjects as well.
• Morris, A. 1996. Shorebirds: Beautiful Beachcombers. NorthWord Press, Inc., Minocqua, WI. ISBN: 1-55971-567-7.
  • Bob: Impeccable photographs and text by Arthur Morris. Each bird is reproduced large enough to get a good look at it, unlike field guides where the images are small. A good book with which to learn shorebird recognition and biology.
• Peterson, R.T. 1998. A Field Guide to Western Birds. A Completely New Guide to Field Marks of All Species Found in North America West of the 100th Meridian and North of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series: 2. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. ISBN: 0395911737.
  • Bob: Authored by the late great Roger Tory Peterson, inventor of the "Peterson System" and series of Peterson Field Guides. Clean and clear illustrations and text.
• Peterson, R.T. 1998. Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA. ISBN: 0395906660.
  • Bob: Easy reading, especially good for kids and novice birders.
• Sexton, C.W. & G.L. Hunt, Jr. 1979. An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Orange County, California. Museum of Systematic Biology Research Series No. 5. University of California, Irvine, CA.
  • Bob: Provides text accounts of bird observations in Orange County. No illustrations. Superceeded by Hamilton & Willick 1996. Probably out of print.
• Sibley, J. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. Audubon Nature Guides Series. Random House. ISBN: 0679451226. http://www.randomhouse.com/
  • Joel: Great information, more than simply a field guide. Lots of space to write notes and grow with. Bulky. Eventually you WILL buy this book.
  • Bob: Joel was right, I bought a copy after I saw his!
• Small, A. 1994. California Birds: Their Status and Distribution. Ibis Publishing Company, Vista, CA. ISBN: 0934797099.
  • Joel: First book to check rarity of species in State.
  • Bob: A very large tome, chalked full of data, not intended for field use. Great photographs.
• Stokes, D. & L.Q. Stokes. 1996. Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds: Western Region. Little, Brown & Company, Boston, MA. ISBN: 0316818127.
  • Bob: Written by the Stokes husband-wife team, authors of many winning titles.
• Thompson, B. 1997. Bird Watching for Dummies. IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., Foster City, CA. ISBN: 0-7645-5040-3. http://www.idgbooks.com/
  • Bob: A nice beginner's book. Covers all aspects of birdwatching, including field guides, binoculars, field trips, bird characteristics, and finding other birdwatching groups. Surprisingly good.
• White, M. 1999. National Geographic Guide to Birdwatching Sites: Western U.S. National Geographic Society, Washington, DC. ISBN: 0792274504.
  • Bob: Good examples of major birdwatching localities in the western U.S. and how to get there.

Where do I get these fine references?

• Sea & Sage Audubon House. At the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, along Riparian View, just north of Michelson, Irvine, 949-261-7963. Directions are available at http://exo.com/~kenyon/sjws.htm
• Acorn Naturalists, 17821 East 17th Street, P.O. Box 2423, Tustin, CA 92781-2423. http://www.acornnaturalists.com/.
• Borders Books & Music. Check local listings for your nearest store, or shop on the web at http://www.borders.com/.
• Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/.

Revised 28 November 2000.