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 National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America) :: 0792253140
Description
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Birding is the fastest growing wildlife-related activity in the U.S., and even conservative estimates put the current number of U.S. birders at 50 million. According to the New York Times, some authorities predict that by 2050 there will be more than 100 million—and the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America will be the essential reference for field identification and the cornerstone of any birder's library. This is the ultimate, indispensable bird field guide—comprehensive, authoritative, portable, sturdy, and easier than ever to use.
Among the the new edition's key elements and practical improvements: Every North American species—more than 960, including a new section on accidental birds—classified according to the latest official American Ornithologists' Union checklist 4,000 full-color illustrations by the foremost bird artists at work todayand newly updated range maps that draw on the latest data New durable cover for added protection against adverse weather, plus informative quick-reference flaps that double as placemarkers New reader-friendly features like thumbtabs that make locating key sections faster and easier, and a quick-find index to direct users straight to the information they need.Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
National Geographic have just published the 5th Edition of the Field Guide to the Birds of North America.It has been the most popular field guide and continues to be so with each new edition.It just gets better and better.I bought the 1st Edition and each one since.Though they have all seen years of heavy use,both at home and in the field ,they are still fully serviceable and completely in tack.I did a review on the 4th Edition on February 6,2005,and all the things I said at that time also apply to this new edition.
I started Birding about 20 years ago,and having for many years been a book lover,acquired many bird books along the way.At this point ,I have over 1000 bird and nature books in my library,and were I forced to give up every one except one,the latest edition of National Geographic would easily be my preference to keep.It has been my preference since the start and travelled with me everywhere.I even lost a couple along the way,but at the next opportunity they were replaced.At this point I have only to add 2 more species to get my North America Life List to 600.All this done with this favorite Field Guide at my side.
When I say that this is the Birder's favorite;it is because I know and have met many,many Birders through the years;and every one I know has a copy of it.Well, maybe not a few beginners or people who are only casual watchers at their feeders or cottage;but even they want this guide once they've seen it.
I don't want to give the impression that with each new edition,that the older one is useless.The biggest difference is that the new editions have some minor corrections,better and more up to date range maps,additional rare birds included,and other things like latest approved names and species splits or lumpings.Another thing is that the aids to quick finding of species in the book continually improve. However,to most Birders ,whatever edition they have will serve them for many years.
This new edition has now included all the species ever seen and accepted in North America. 80 species have been added to the 4th Edition, bringing the total now to 967 species;and includes those that are extinct and of extremely rare occurrance.To show how popular this guide is,one has only to look at the number that have been published;
1st Edition 325,000 copies
2nd " 685,000 "
3rd " 470'000 "
4th " 85'000 "
While there is a lot in the guide that has not changed,simply because there is no need to,you will find many changes throughout;in the descriptions,range maps and in the plates.
Some plates have been completely redone,some have been added to with new species and others remain unchanged.
As you go through the new edition and compare it to the 4th;you are going to notice some real differences in the color renditions of the same species.Although generalization is tricky;I feel that in many cases the 4th Edition colors are darker,the browns are deeper,and definition warmer and more realistic.The Nightjars are much more richer in browns and beiges in the 4th Ed. Compare Elegant Trogons in the two editions.The Epidonax Flycatchers in the 5th Ed. are much lighter green than the 4th.The Gray and Thick-billed Kingbirds are very different colors between the editions.However,the Blue-headed,Plumbeous and Cassin's Vireos are identical in both editions.The Wrentit has been redrawn and radically different th color.The Dowitchers have not been redrawn,but the colors of some plumages are extremely different.The plates of the Prairie, Peregrine andGyrfalcon are identical in both editions,unlike the plate for the Broad-winged,Gray and Red-shouldered Hawks. I could go on and on ;but a quick comparison of the two editions,it will be quickly evident to you.
The colors of plumages will vary from one field guide to another;but I can't think of a case where they've varied so much from one edition to the next.I really don't know if this was intended or not--time will tell.However,these comments on color should not discourage you from getting this book,and it must me remembered that colors vary in the field because of lighting and other factors.
If you are planning to buy this book for yourself or as a gift for someone else interested in birds;go ahead,you will be making an excellent choice.
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Author: Guest
OK, got mine in this afternoon. Have spent a very limited amount of time with it so far but from what I've seen, it is an improvement over what was already a pretty decent field guide. One of the things I really appreciate is the new cover, it's durable compared to the old. I always covered my NG's covers with self-adhesive plastic to waterproof and improve durability. This has a plastisized cover that appears to cure both of these problems. And the flaps are now the index keys, both front and back. The thumb-tabs(like a dictionary) make it fast to go to a section like hawks, sparrows, warblers, etc. The thumb tabs are keyed to the flap indexes.
There are many new plates, some that are obviously improved are raptors and sparrows. There new, larger range maps that appear vastly improved. There are new short sections on Greenland and Bermuda.
All in all at a quick look, it is vastly improved while maintaining the same physical size. The margins are smaller to make room for the text and larger range maps. It includes every species supposedly ever seen in North America including 14 pages of "accidentals".
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Author: Guest
This is a big improvement over the Fourth Edition. It now has every (excluding some occasional escapes of course!) species of bird in North America. The taxonomy is updated too. The Blue Grouse is split into the Dusky and Sooty Grouse, the Canada Goose is split into Canada and Cackling Goose, the Green Pheasant seems to be lumped into the Ring-necked Pheasant once again and there are probably a few more updates. The range maps have also been updated too. Some of the more uncommon accidentals and extinct species have been moved to the back few pages of the book. There a list of bird families on the front flap as well as a detailed look at bird topography. On the back flap there is a Quick-Find index as well as a map of North America. The flaps double as place holders and the cover is weather resistant. There are now thumb tabs for the following birds: Hawks, Sandpipers, Gulls, Flycatchers, Warblers, Sparrows, and Finches.
They still aren't as easy to use as some other guides, but they are still decent improvement.
Pros:
*Completely redesigned cover that is very handy
*Every species in North America
*Ivory-Billed Woodpecker update
*Lumping and spliting in some species making this field guide more up-to-date
Cons:
Only the thumb tabs which only come in handy for those species (Hawks, Sandpipers, Gulls, Flycatchers, Warblers, Sparrows, and Finches). Still a decent improvement though.
Overall, this field guide is one of the best and is worth buying. Highly recommended.
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