Jana-TAS Loc: Washington

The best book you can get to help you track down what you are seeing the best would be the Birds of Oregon by Stan Tekeila. If you have a local Wild Birds Unlimited near you they might possibly have one to save you having to order it and paying S & H. Then if you go other places also within the state you can better track down faster what you are seeing besides just what is in your backyard. If you get larger books that are the entire U.S. it will be harder for you to track down quickly what you are seeing. Not that it is not also nice to have them, it's just harder to track down quickly what you are seeing when you are not sure what they are. I will never forget the time when I saw a Turkey Vulture along side the highway (so of course going fast) when we were driving. I knew I had never seen anything like it. I hurried up and grabbed the Birds of Washington book out of my camera case while the bird was fresh in my mind. When I saw the picture in the book I knew that was exactly what I saw when I saw the picture in and the red on the head and that the bird was dark and large. So now whenever we go over to visit family in Central-Eastern Wa. I keep my eyes peeled for that bird when we hit the Cle Elum area. Any of you who do not have the State books by Stan Tekeila for your states I suggest you get them from your local WBU's or order one if you do not have a WBU near you. They make it much easier to track down what you are seeing. Esp. in the winter when migration is happening and you might not be familiar with a winter bird.

Carnac Loc: Las Vegas

I've always liked Roger Tory Peterson's field guide.

There are editions specific to regions (I find this helpful). There is also a lot of "how to identify" notes and tips.

I think paintings/illustrations tend to be better at detailing key ID points - often difficult to see in a photo.

I also like the life list check-list.

Jim

Swamp-Cork Loc: Lanexa, Virginia

I agree with several other members suggestions recommending Cornell's Lab of Ornithology. The apps are free, and any donation or becoming a member would be put to good use. I'm sure most bird lovers have enough books to supply a library on this subject, with many only covering certain types of birds, for example," The Shorebird Guide by Michael O'Brien, Richard Crossley, and Kevin Karlson" which go into much more detail on shorebirds.

Mac Loc: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia now Hernando Co. Fl.

I didn't go through all four pages to see if these had been mentioned, if they have I apologize for the duplication.
I use two apps. The one I use the most is Merlin Bird ID http://merlinallaboutbirds.org which is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Another good app is Birdsnap, http://birdsnap.com

Dana C Loc: Buhl, Idaho

Go to Barnes & Nobel. Mine sells a region specific laminated fold out which covers all the birds seen in Idaho. It is really handy and not as cumbersome as the Audubon Guide To North American Birds.

Jana-TAS Loc: Washington

It's always good to become a member of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology if you know you have a true interest in birding. You can know your donation for membership is going to a good cause and even other donations are. With how much of an interest there is in the Pileated Woodpecker I in the past have even though about contacting them and asking them if they would be interested in setting up camera for their students to be able to watch/ view of the Pileated's when they feed here. Esp. since they bring their babies in the summer and feed them mouth to mouth. It is usually the Daddy always feeding the newborn. My parents and I someday hope to see a generation actually living in the backyard. We really think it is going to happen someday if not with the Pileated's, possibly a Flicker, Downy, or Hairy. When my parents wanted a huge fir tree cut down they were going to have the whole tree cut down but I was able to talk them into keeping it as a huge tall snag for the Pileated's to play with. I then purchased 2 of the Duncraft Sandwich logs to help encourage the Pileated's to "play" with the tall snag. The Sandwiches have very much helped. They have gotten one spot on the upper right side of the tall snag pretty much deep enough now for the Flickers to fit their whole body in now.

Rancher38 Loc: Halfway, OR

Good luck on that, hope they don't start on your house!?

Jana-TAS Loc: Washington

Don't worry about that. They are very much interested in the tall snag out back and have plenty of trees to work on and homemade suet to eat.

Nightski

Jana, I have been watching this and I am fascinated. I have steel siding and soffets. :-D I would love to attract these birds. Thanks for the tips.

Jana-TAS Loc: Washington

Nightski: if you are on Facebook and have the interest in birding if you join a couple of the birding groups there are: Backyard Bird Watchers and Backyard Bird Watchers of Facebook plus a few more I have my suet recipe posted under the files in the groups. If you know you are going to want to make your own take advantage of the year end sales on store bought suet and after feeding the store bought wash and save your square plastic containers and save them up. Get at least 3 cases if you can from Tractor Supply Co. if you have one near you. They most likely will have it on sale. Then if you join one of those groups bring to my attention in the group for the tips you will need in where to get your other items for saving money. The recipe I make attracts the Pileated Woodpecker and other woodpeckers. I was for many years using a special product called Bugs & Berries but over a year ago the manufacturer went out of business so sorry to say I can not refer you to her or I for sure would. If you know you have a Starling problem and you have a local Wild Birds Unlimited near you try and get a Sandwich Suet Feeder from them, if you don't have one you can get it from duncraft.com With hanging the Sandwich logs on the tall snag it helps encourage the Pileated's to "play" with the tall snag. Besides the woodpeckers if you need other help with attracting birds don't hesitate to ask any questions. If you are not a member of your local Audubon too look them up online and you might want to join. In the Spring-Summer time they possibly will be having Native Plant sales and if you read up on which Native Plants are for your Zone you would then be able to be aware when your local Audubon is having a Native Plant Sale and it's always good to support them and if you plant Natives you will be more likely to attract more different species to your yard.

Tipent Loc: Central Oregon

Nightski,
Woodpeckers love suet, especially during the winter months. Also many other birds. Photo of the Hairy and Northern Flicker in my back yard. We also have Downy and White-headed visit every day. I'm sure any local pet shop can get you started. Watching birds can become addictive.

Nightski

Thank you. :-) I wish they would nest in our pine trees. That would be awesome.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Their nesting in YOUR pine trees could be disaster. Their nesting in your NEIGHBOR'S pine trees would be awesome, and then some. Previous posters have summed up the bird's desire for suet.

Nightski

:lol: :lol: :lol:

LarryFB Loc: Depends where our RV is parked

After reading through some of the responses to the OP, I down loaded Merlin to my iPhone. My first thought was that it only had about 400 or so birds in its database, National Geographic Birds has about 900 and so does iBird Pro. After trying several birds using Merlyn to identify them, I am very impressed. This is certainly a great app for begining or intermediate birders.