Birding References

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.

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.

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/

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.