MJKilpatrick Loc: Cape May, NJ

Hi crphoto8,

Sibley's is about the best if you are only going to have one. What I would mention is that most bird ID folks will have more than one guide sitting on the shelf. Unfortunately, even with Sibley's, no guide has the space or ability to represent all the variations, sub-species and molt phases of a bird. They all kinda fall short from be comprehensive. So, usually one will have several points of reference. Even the online photo apps based on a photos only work if the definitive major aspects of the bird (eye rings, wing bars, etc.) are visible. They can often come back with wrong of inconclusive ID. Once you get into a specific type of bird, like Warblers, shorebirds, sparrows and especially gulls, there are a host of specific guides to these types that are much more inclusive of the variations, sub-species, age and molt plumage of those specific birds. So Sibley's is great if you only have one, my advice is to try to pick up additional guides, especially if you have having challenges with a specific group of birds. Richard Crossley has guide's that are interesting. They are photos of variations of the bird places in habitat at different sizes, lighting and poses. It represents birds more as we see them than the illustrated guides. But still, none will singly get to to pin that bird's ID all the time, it usually takes a few. And don't ignore the old guides as additional reference. Some the were done in black and white, like the first Peterson guide, helps show that bird's markings and what to look for in the field. So have a reference at hand that includes several guides will help much more than just one guide. My advice is, in your travels, check library sales, yard sales, etc. to pick up additional reference to add to your shelf. If you can find a place that has a variety of guides you can go in and page through visit it........such places are hard to find though. Sibley's would be a good starting point but to pin the ID of many birds you will need additional points of reference. That being said IDing a bird is not as difficult as it seems. There are key features that will eliminate most possibilities and then features that will distinguish it from one, two of three options left. For example, four key things to look at on Warblers is eye ring, wing bar, streaking on chest or flanks (and color) and the color under the tail. You can eliminate half by determining if it has wings bars or not. Then you can eliminate a bunch more determining whether it has an eye ring. This will usually bring you down to two of three options. Same with the presence of streaking on the chest or flanks. They the color under the tail, head details, etc will tell you which of those three left is your bird. The same with sparrows, the head patterns are distinctly different, come to know those head patterns and it quickly eliminates most and leaves you will only a couple left. Then the wing bars, mantel feathers, feet color and bill color, and the streaking on chest of flanks brings you to your bird. But it helps to have several points of guide reference as all will not show or discuss in great detail some of the subtle aspects you look for in the micro features of a bird. And, the only thing else I will mention is that they are all hard to ID unless you see them multiple times. They more you see a particular bird, the more it stands out to you for what it is. So, no matter what field guides you have, even if you have them all, watching and seeing them is the most significant thing you can do to get better at ID for no guide represents them in all the varying aspect of light, habitat and space that we encounter them. Learn a few first, know them. Learn a few more and know them. Eventually it will be only one every now and then that will give you trouble in identifying. It takes time, but the skill evolves as you do........kinda on the same learning curve as learning to photograph birds......it is on a parallel course as you find yourself learning and pursuing birds with the camera. Just some thoughts for you. With My Best,

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

I've preferred the Peterson's series (paintings), I also have National Geographic and Audubon books (Photographs), and a few others. I sometimes have to consult more than one to make an ID. So, the Peterson's Field Guide to Western Birds would be my suggestion to you. For completeness I also have the Peterson's Guides to Eastern Birds, Texas Birds, and Mexican and Caribbean Birds. R.T. Peterson keys the birds by showing and indicating the critical points for differentiation of species. The Sibley Guide seems popular, but it must be after my binocular birding days. Not familiar with it than other than seeing it on Amazon.com.

Check one or two bird guides out of a library first to see what works best for you. Experience helps to, knowing the habits and behavior of the birds. As you may have figured out I was a Birder before I thought of photographing them. You know, the old school walking around with Binoculars and a Bird Book or two.

CanonShot Loc: Lancaster County, PA

As a serious birder, I constantly use the Sibley Field Guide to Birds because of its completeness and portability. Very easy to carry with quick access. My backup is the larger Crossley ID Guide for use in my truck and at home. An accomplished birding guide recommended them and he was right on. Check them out before making that important decision.

ToBoldlyGo Loc: London U.K.

Thanks for the Merlin recommendations here. I've previously paid £10 for an app which is frequently poor. No cost on this one and you guys praise it.

dcampbell52 Loc: Clearwater Fl

I have the Audubon on Android and love it.. I have a lot of great shooting in Florida and it gives me a lot of sites... Also another great app is the All Trails App.. also free. It is primarily for joggers and bicyclists but it lists every park, riding trail, etc in the US, Australia.. and probably the rest of the world... And the price was right (FREE). It tells about the trails, whether they are easy, hard, back pack etc. and gives gps maps (you are here on the trail) shows image.. etc. There are about 30 nature trails within 1 hour of my house... and most are fee.. but the All trails lists any entry fees.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

My favorite because of how it is organized, makes it fast to ID the birds, is the Golden Field Guide "A Guide to Field Identification Birds of North America". I've used several others and don't find them as easy to find the birds.

agillot

field guide to birds of north america by edward s Brinkley [ national wildlife federation ]500 + pages .

lsaguy Loc: Udall, KS, USA

You might also want to see if any local museums publish guides to the local birds. The Great Plains Resource Center here in Kansas publishes a ten book series on the fauna of the Great Plains, three of which are devoted to the birds. They're quite thorough and free and pocket sized to boot. If you like to hold a book instead of a screen they're great and require no batteries or searching for a signal.

Rick

jeep_daddy Loc: Prescott AZ

I started out with a quick reference guide that is laminated and folds up so you can put it in your pocket. It has the most common birds displayed according to size from small to large and one side has water fowl and the other dry land birds. It was very handy. I'll be giving it to my sister the next time I see her. I know all the common birds and now I need to look up the birds that aren't so common.

Robert R Loc: Indianapolis and Naples

Most birders I work with use Sibley. Be sure to pick one with range maps.

John_F Loc: Minneapolis, MN

When you see a bird what do you actually see in terms of detail. Go to the library and check the books to see if you can identify from what the book presents.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

I don’t do much bird photography: don’t have the lens for it—and don’t want to invest in one. However, I’m also a fan of this app. Also have the Sibley and the Audubon Bird books....

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

I'll second this suggestion. "A Field Guide to the Birds" by Roger Tory Peterson is easy to use, has great, multiple, color pictures of each bird and is set up logically so you can narrow down an unusual bird, easily. I have the guide for Eastern and Central North America and I'm sure there's a Western version.

crphoto8 Loc: Anaheim, California

Thanks to everybody for their suggestions. There are several favorites as expected. So I've already ordered the Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd edition. I'll probably add a field guide such as NatGeo or Peterson's before I head to the Canadian Rockies, Glacier and Yellowstone in August. I'll check the Merlin app as it seems to complement the others.
Thanks again, Sam.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I have found that the Peterson guide books are excellent.
They use drawings rather than photos which are much better to illustrate the differences in birds and the details that it shows.
They are used all over as reference books. I don't know if they are available as hard cover but my soft cover has lasted a couple of decades of use and travel.