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A good field guide is an essential tool for identifying birds. As a novice on one of the OnLocation(sm) tours you can choose to have page numbers displayed along with the species choices. The following provides information on each of the guides listed as a choice for the OnLocation tours. Others will be added shortly. All are good choices though there are differences that may make one better for your particular purposes.

Here are some field guide tips to help you in evaluating field guides.


National Geographic Cover
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National Geographic

Full Title: Field Guide to the Birds of North America
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Publication Date: 1987 (2nd Edition)
Size: 5.0 x 8.0 inches
ISBN (Paperback): 0-7922-7451-2
Description:
This was the most detailed and comprehensive of the North American illustrated guides until Sibley. Its size and weight make it a little more attractive for field use. Plumage is very detailed and includes sub-species and multiple immature plumages when these are appropriate.

Sibley Cover
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Sibley

Full Title: National Audubon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds
Publisher: Knopf
Publication Date: 2000
Size: 9.75 x 6.5 x 1.25 inches
ISBN (Flexible binding): 0-679-45122-6
Description:
This is the most detailed and comprehensive of the North American guides by a wide margin. Its use in the field will be hampered by its size and weight. It shows birds in consistent poses for easy comparisons and shows a comprehensive set of illustrations for most plumages. Shows multiple plumages of each species in flight also.

Kaufman Cover
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Kaufman

Full Title: Kaufman Focus Guides: Birds of North America
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Publication Date: 2000
Size: 7.5 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches
ISBN (Paperback): 0-395-96464-4
Description:
This compact North American guide combines the best of photos and illustrations by using digitally enhanced photographs. The format is similar to most illustrated guides with several species per page arranged so that comparisons can be made easily. Targeted toward beginning and casual birders, it features a photographic table of contents and a quick index to simplify identifying birds quickly.

Peterson Eastern Cover
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Peterson Eastern

Full Title: Peterson Field Guides®: Eastern Birds
Author/Illustrator: Roger Tory Peterson
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication Date: 1980 (4th Edition)
Size: 4.5 x 7.25 inches
ISBN (Flexi-book): 0-395-91176-1
Description:
Compact Eastern illustrated guide. Arrows used to highlight key field marks. Separate range maps in back.

Peterson Eastern Cover
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Peterson Western

Full Title: Peterson Field Guides®: Western Birds
Author/Illustrator: Roger Tory Peterson
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company
Publication Date: 1990 (3rd Edition)
Size: 4.5 x 7.25 inches
ISBN (Flexi-book): 0-395-91177-X
Description:
Compact Western illustrated guide. Arrows used to highlight key field marks. Separate range maps in back.

Golden Cover
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Golden

Full Title: A Guide to Field Identification: Birds of North America
Author(s): Chandler S. Robbins, Bertel Bruun, and Herbert S. Zim
Illustrator: Authur Singer
Publisher: Golden Press
Publication Date: 1983 (2nd Edition)
Size: 4.6 x 7.5 inches
ISBN: 0-307-33656-5
Description:
Compact North American illustrated guide. Sonograms of songs.

Stokes Eastern Region Cover
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Stokes Eastern

Full Title: Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Eastern Region
Authors: Donald And Lillian Stokes
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: 1996 (1st Edition)
Size: 5.0 x 8.25 inches
ISBN (Paperback): 0-316-81809-7
Description:
Photographic Eastern guide. Learning pages for bird groups. Descriptions of feeding, nesting, and other behavior along with conservation trends.

Stokes Western Region Cover
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Stokes Western

Full Title: Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Western Region
Authors: Donald And Lillian Stokes
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: 1996 (1st Edition)
Size: 5.0 x 8.25 inches
ISBN (Paperback): 0-316-81810-0
Description:
Photographic Western guide. Learning pages for bird groups. Descriptions of feeding, nesting, and other behavior along with conservation trends.

ABC All the Birds of NA Cover
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ABC

Full Title: American Bird Conservancy: All the Birds of North America
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 1997 (1st Edition)
Size: 8.6 x 4.1 inches
ISBN (Paperback): 0-06-273028-2
Description:
Compact illustrated guide for North America.

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