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A must have for the serious birder. Easy to use index tabs. Good new info.
I, usually, use this one along with Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, which is a VERY close second. I would have liked to see a more permanent binding and cover, also, better detail on many of the drawings and more behavioral details.
I have used many others and consistently reach for this one the most. I am really starting to love this Nat Geo Field Guide.
It is not perfect; none are. Previously, I loved my (often ridiculed, seriously outdated) Golden-Guide to Field Id-Birds of North America, the best.
This NG Field Guide is somewhat similar in format, which makes the transition easier. I like the thumb tabs, fold-out, indexed covers, extensive drawing coverage of variations and larger maps.
All-in-all, a very good field guide.
I was surprised at the number of different birds that I saw. Very good book for identifying birds. I am not a "birder", but enjoy watching from my kitchen window at the different ones feeding at my bird feeders outside. My curiosity caused me to order the book, to identify the different ones that I saw. I have enjoyed being able to add names to the birds that I see.
Birders in North America have a wonderful dillema. Nat. Illustrations are excellent and well organized , species accounts and range maps are detailed and helpful, and I think voice descriptions are a little better than Sibley's. In my opinion two titles emerge as the best of the best. When trying to identify a confusing bird, I often use both guides and cross reference the two. National Geographic and David Sibley's guide. There are so many excellent birding guides on the market, which one to choose. Geo is smaller and more portable, and the new edition is thumb indexed along the books pages and I feel is more user friendly for beginning birders.
In truth you couldn't go wrong with either, and I actually own and use both. If pressed to choose I would lean toward the Sibley guide, but there are many reasons to own The Nat Geo guide. As far as which guide has better illustrations, I think that is debatable on a species by species basis, some are better in one, some are better in the other. In short if you are only going to own one field guide to The Birds of North America , you won't be disapointed with The National Geographic guide.
National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth EditionVery clear pictures and descriptions. makes identification very simple.
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