Jon L. Dunn - National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Pros: Thumbtabs, quick-find index, new range maps, easy to use, comprehensive listing of birds

Cons: None

The Bottom Line: Birders can rely upon this as a valuable tool for field work. Improving upon this fifth edition might be impossible. Six stars.

Review: How old does a book need to be to earn the classification of antique? How can a classic reference book outdo itself? Too many years ago I purchased the first edition National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America convinced this ...

Pros: Great quick indexes, perfect field guide size and good information

Cons: Species details can be limited at times by size of book

The Bottom Line: If you need a good, handy field guide for birds, this is the top choice out there. Sibley's is a better identification guide, but this can go with you.

Review: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 5th Edition Many years ago, when I was first being exposed to 'real' birding, I remember being shown the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America that my ...

Pros: Excellent illustrations and great diagrams. Introductory pages are very insightful to "birding".

Cons: It's a field guide, so it does not contain comprehensive species information.

The Bottom Line: If you want to know what kind of bird happens to be at your feeder, in your tree, etc., this is the book to get.

Review: How I became an owner of this reference book I enjoy watching nature. The wife and I purchased our first home in the spring of 2006. Our new home was more suburbia then were used to growing up around, but we both desired that. The added ...