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| Authors: Jon L. Dunn, Jonathan Alderfer
Brand: Random House
List Price: $24.00
Buy New: $14.30
You Save: $9.70 (40%)
New (46) Used (20) from $10.26
Rating:  46 reviews
Sales Rank: 4337
Media: Paperback
Edition: 5
Pages: 504
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 6
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.4 x 1.1
MPN: RH0792253140
ISBN: 0792253140
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.097
EAN: 9780792253143
ASIN: 0792253140
Publication Date: November 7, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 46
The Bird Book that most Birders prefer. November 9, 2006
J. Guild (Toronto,Canada)
18 out of 21 found this review helpful
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.
The best, but not the best for beginners January 21, 2007
Virgil Urp (AZ, USA)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
Among field guides to birds of North America that can readily be carried into the field, this is the most complete and most thorough. It's the one that I've used for years, and newly updated and improved to boot.
But if you are a beginner or casual birder, you might do better to make your first field guide one that is aimed more at beginners. For that I'd recommend the Kaufman Focus Guide to Birds of North America. If you advance beyond the beginner or casual birder stage, and start to look at things like empidonax flycatchers and gulls, you will know that it's time to supplement that Focus Guide. Then, this would be the one to buy.
My Favorite Field Guide May 7, 2007
Doc Graywood (San Antonio, Texas, United States)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
I recently renewed my interest in birding. Prior to this book, I used the Golden Field Guide from 1983, and the Audubon Eastern and Western Field Guides. Wow, have things changed from the 80's. I love the artistry in the National Geographic books and the organization. I also highly recommend NG Complete Birds of North America as a home companion. I recently also bought Kaufmans Field Guide for photographic versions of the birds; it's nice, but is no replacement for this book. I also compared Sibley's. I wasn't as impressed.
I highly recommend NG Field Guide to the Birds of NA. I am going to buy this book for my brother-in-law
Updated Guide Is the Best May 14, 2007
intellmkt@aol.com (Atlanta, Georgia)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Each issue of the National Geographic Guide to North American Birds just keeps getting better. With this one, just every every possible bird is listed, and the descriptions have been expanded. I probably have fifteen or so field guides to North American Birds, and this one remains my favorite.
Hawkeye Review June 26, 2007
Hawkeye birder
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Excellent Field Guide for North American birds----I have owned numerous field guides and this one is by far the best. The bird pictures are excellent and easy to compare with the living specimens. Field notes and range maps are also excellent. A great birding guide that will not dissappoint. National Geographic continues to put out top quality publications.
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