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American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Colorado
by Ted Floyd (Author) and Brian E. Small (Photographer)

From Scott & Nix, Inc.:

From the tiny rufous hummingbird to the majestic bald eagle, Colorado is home to more than 496 types of birds, making it one of the finest birding destinations in the world. Preserved habitats created by local, state, and national authorities have helped foster and protect nesting sites for hundreds of species, 235 of which are featured in their natural habitats, from Great Plains to Rocky Mountains, in this ornithological guide. The birds are organized by type from waterfowl to finches and appear in beautiful color photographs accompanied by clear and concise introductions, identification tips, and habitat and birdsong descriptions. The book also includes a complete state bird checklist and a directory of birding destinations, making this field guide the perfect companion for anyone interested in learning more about the natural history of Colorado and the diversity of the state’s birds and where to see them.

• 500 beautiful color photographs featuring over 250 bird species in natural habitats
• Clear and concise introduction, identification, habitat, and birdsong text
• Tips on when and where to see species
• Organized by type of bird from waterfowl to finches
• Complete state checklist, detailed state map, index, and quick index
• Perfect portable book for beginning to intermediate birders

This, the second in the ABA state field guide series, is very similar to its predecessor, American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of New Jersey, in that it has nice photographs and good, state-specific text. On average, the text accounts are shorter and photos smaller than in New Jersey, which is disappointing, but overall it is a good choice for beginning and intermediate birders.

American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Colorado
by Ted Floyd (Author) and Brian E. Small (Photographer)
Flexicover with jacket; 320 pages
Scott & Nix, Inc.; June 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-1935622437
$24.95

Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)

A while back the American Birding Association announced that it would no longer be publishing book reviews in Birding, its flagship magazine, in favor of posting them on its new blog. I wasn’t too sure about that. These were consistently the best reviews around, written by very knowledgeable (dare I say “famous”) birders, and were the first thing I read in every issue of Birding. It was my goal to one day have a review published in this magazine. I was concerned that the quality of the reviews would decline after the change. After all, anyone can post reviews online (I should know). But I’m happy to say that my fear was unfounded. For proof, just read the three reviews on the ABA Blog linked below. Seriously, you should read them. But don’t stop there, the other reviews here are also worth reading. These are some of the best bird book reviews you’re going to find. Enjoy.

Wildlife of the Caribbean
by Herbert A. Raffaele and James W. Wiley

From Princeton University Press:

This is the first comprehensive illustrated guide to the natural world of the Caribbean islands. It contains 600 vivid color images featuring 451 species of plants, birds, mammals, fish, seashells, and much more. While the guide primarily looks at the most conspicuous and widespread species among the islands, it also includes rarely seen creatures–such as the Rhinoceros Iguana and Cuban Solenodon–giving readers a special sense of the region’s diverse wildlife.

Each species is represented by one or more color photos or illustrations; details regarding its identification, status, and distribution; and interesting aspects of its life history or relationship to humans. In addition, an introductory section focuses on the unique characteristics of the Caribbean’s fauna and flora, the threats faced by both, and some of the steps being taken to sustain the area’s extraordinary natural heritage.

Wildlife of the Caribbean is the essential field guide for learning about the living wonders in this area of the world.

• The only guide of its kind for the Caribbean islands
• 600 detailed color images feature 451 amazing species
• Straightforward descriptions suitable for general audience
• Compact size makes the guide easy to carry

Birders will still want a dedicated bird field guide, like Birds of the West Indies (from which the bird illustrations here are taken). But this makes a nice “sampler” guide to other wildlife like plants, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, coral, and shells. I’ll definitely have it with me on my next trip to the Caribbean.

Wildlife of the Caribbean
by Herbert A. Raffaele and James W. Wiley
Paperback; 304 pages
Princeton University Press; May 25, 2014
ISBN: 978-0691153827
$19.95

Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)

Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)

The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar: Living with a Tawny Owl
by Martin Windrow

From Farrar, Straus and Giroux:

The story of an odd couple—a British military historian and the Tawny Owl with whom he lived for fifteen years.

Martin Windrow was a war historian with little experience with pets when he adopted an owl the size of a corncob. Adorable but with knife-sharp talons, Mumble became Windrow’s closest, if at times unpredictable, companion, first in a South London flat and later in the more owl-friendly Sussex countryside. In The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar, Windrow recalls with wry humor their finer moments as well as the reactions of incredulous neighbors, the awkwardness of buying Mumble unskinned rabbit at Harrods Food Hall, and the grievous sense of loss when Mumble nearly escapes.

As Windrow writes: “Mumble was so much a part of my life in those days that the oddity of our relationship seldom occurred to me, and I only thought about it when faced with other people’s astonishment. When new acquaintances learned that they were talking to a book editor who shared a seventh-floor flat in a South London tower block with a Tawny Owl, some tended to edge away, rather thoughtfully . . . I tried to answer patiently, but I found it hard to come up with a short reply to the direct question ‘Yes, but . . . why?’; my best answer was simply ‘Why not?’”

In the spirit of J. R. Ackerley’s My Dog Tulip, Windrow offers a poignant and unforgettable reminiscence of his charmed years with his improbable pet, as well as an unexpected education in the paleontology, zoology, and sociology of owls.

This sounds very similar to Wesley the Owl. If it’s anywhere close to as good, it will be a good read.

The Owl Who Liked Sitting on Caesar: Living with a Tawny Owl
by Martin Windrow
Hardcover; 320 pages
Farrar, Straus and Giroux; June 10, 2014
ISBN: 978-0374228460
$26.00

Birds of Kenya’s Rift Valley
by Adam Scott Kennedy

From Princeton University Press:

Kenya’s Rift Valley includes four major national parks–Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, Mount Longonot, and Hell’s Gate–as well as many smaller areas that are outstanding for wildlife. Birds of Kenya’s Rift Valley features the 320 bird species that are most likely to be encountered on safari in this world-famous region, which runs from Lake Baringo in the north to Lake Magadi in the south. Featuring over 500 stunning color photos, this beautiful guide breaks new ground with its eye-catching layout and easy-to-use format. The book follows a habitat-based approach and provides interesting information about the ecology and behaviors of each species. Birds of Kenya’s Rift Valley avoids technical jargon in the species descriptions, which makes the guide easily accessible to anyone. With it, you will be identifying birds in no time.

• Stunning photos of 320 bird species
• Major plumage variations depicted
• Jargon-free text
• Helpful notes on what to look and listen for, behavior, and why some birds are so named

This is Kennedy’s third photographic guide to East African hotspots, following Birds of the Masai Mara and Birds of the Serengeti. I really like these guides; they make a good primary field guide for most visitors and a supplemental photo guide for more serious birders. Just be aware that there is quite a bit of overlap between their coverage. I’ll detail that further in a more detailed review.

Birds of Kenya’s Rift Valley
by Adam Scott Kennedy
Paperback; 256 pages
Princeton University Press; May 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-0691159072
$29.95

Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)

Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)

New Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America
by Bill Thompson III

From Houghton Mifflin Harcourt:

What a new birder needs is a field guide that shows most of the birds he or she is going to see but doesn’t overwhelm with rarities unlikely to be seen. This is that book. Covering 300 of the most common birds in the United States and Canada, this guide has just the right amount of information about how to identify birds, where and when to look for them, what they sound like, and how they behave.

The New Birder’s Guide includes easy-to-understand descriptions and maps, clear photos, drawings of common and interesting behaviors, and fun “Wow!” facts for each bird, plus expert advice on identification basics, how to get started, and how to improve your birding skills.

This guide is essentially a re-branding of the author’s previous The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America. The main changes are to the formatting (for the better) and about 9 more introductory pages. The species accounts are untouched, except for the occasional new photo. While this guide may still be more suited to younger birders, it would be a good choice for any new birder, young or old.

New Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America
by Bill Thompson III
Paperback; 368 pages
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; May 6, 2014
ISBN: 978-0544070479
$16.95