2013 was a great year for bird books, but based on the titles already announced 2014 may end up being even better! Here are some to be looking forward to.
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Rare Birds of North America
by Steve N. G. Howell, Ian Lewington, and Will Russell
February 16, 2014; Princeton University Press
This is the first comprehensive treatment of vagrant birds to North America. And what birder doesn’t love vagrants? You can get a look inside on Amazon
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Ten Thousand Birds: Ornithology since Darwin
by Tim Birkhead, Jo Wimpenny, and Bob Montgomerie
February 16, 2014; Princeton University Press
I loved Birkhead’s The Wisdom of Birds, which also dealt with the history of ornithology. If his previous books are any indication, this one should be a great read.
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The Sibley Guide to the Birds of North America, Second Edition
by David Allen Sibley
March 11, 2014; Alfred A. Knopf
This is the one that we are ALL looking forward to. The first edition was a game-changer, and I can’t wait to see this one.
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The Thing with Feathers: The Surprising Lives of Birds and What They Reveal About Being Human
by Noah Strycker
March 20, 2014; Riverhead
According to the publisher, this is “An entertaining and profound look at the lives of birds, illuminating their surprising world—and deep connection with humanity.” Sounds like a book for me, especially since it’s written by Noah Strycker, who’s writing I’ve enjoyed in various birding magazines and his first book, Among Penguins: A Bird Man in Antarctica.
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Hummingbirds: A Life-Size Guide to Every Species
by Michael Fogden, Marianne Taylor, and Sheri L. Williamson
April 1, 2014; Harper Design
A book that illustrates every hummingbird species with life-sized photographs? What a fantastic idea! If you ever have the urge to drool uncontrollably, check out the extensive preview on Amazon
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American Birding Association State Field Guides:
Colorado and
New Jersey
April 1 and May 1, 2014 (respectively); Scott & Nix, Inc.
I’m not a fan of most state field guides, but I have faith that the ABA and guide authors Ted Floyd (CO) and Rick Wright (NJ) will do these right.
Princeton University Press is looking for some feedback on a birding app they’re working on. Here’s the link to the short survey – https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/92F8D86
The big surprise…it’s an app to identify bird sounds, the mythical Shazam-for-birds.
Facing Extinction: The World’s Rarest Birds and the Race to Save Them: Second Edition
by Paul F. Donald, Nigel J. Collar, Stuart J. Marsden, and Deborah J. Pain
From Christopher Helm (Bloomsbury):
Almost two hundred species of birds have become extinct in the past 400 years, and a similar number today are in imminent danger of following them. The world’s conservationists are leading the fight to prevent the demise of these remaining critically endangered birds, with a fair degree of success. This new book examines the process and issues concerning extinction – how and why it happens and what can be done about it. Whilst man is to blame for many of the causes, such as persecution and habitat loss, species have become extinct on a regular basis since life began. After several thought-provoking introductory chapters, the book showcases about 20 species on the brink of extinction from around the world and describes the work that is being undertaken to save them. Some are success stories, but a few are not. This is a subject close to the hearts of all birders and ornithologists and this book, written by a team of leading conservationists, will strike a chord in most of them.
This book, with many great photos, looks at endangered birds from several perspectives and presents 20 detailed case studies on individual species or groups of birds. This book is relatively expensive here in the U.S., but is worth getting if you want the latest in bird conservation. But for most birders, I’d first recommend The World’s Rarest Birds or, if you want a bunch of not-as-detailed profiles of endangered birds, Atlas of Rare Birds
Facing Extinction: The World’s Rarest Birds and the Race to Save Them: Second Edition
by Paul F. Donald, Nigel J. Collar, Stuart J. Marsden, and Deborah J. Pain
Paperback; 320 pages
Christopher Helm (Bloomsbury); December 19, 2013
ISBN: 978-1408189665
$42.95
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
Sport Optics: Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, and Rifle Scopes
by Alan R. Hale
From Hale Optics:
Virtually all people have an interest in sport optics products and they should have some basic knowledge about them prior to making a purchase. This book is intended to help consumers make the best decision possible for their needs.
- Intended for consumers who are interested in purchasing sport optics products, for sales and marketing people who sell or support these products, and for those who have an interest in optical products
- The most comprehensive and accurate book on sport optics ever written covering basic optical technology but written in an easy to understand language that is clear and interesting
- The optical knowledge in the book counteracts many optical misconceptions and errors as well as ad slogans and hype
The author has years of experience in this field, so if you want to know more about birding optics, this looks like a great resource.
Sport Optics: Binoculars, Spotting Scopes, and Rifle Scopes
by Alan R. Hale
Paperback; 182 pages
Hale Optics; 2013
ISBN: 9780989791601
$24.95
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
BirdWatching magazine has posted an interview with David Sibley, which includes a first look at the second edition of the Sibley Guide.
Some highlights:
- The trim size will be the same, but it will have 80 more pages than the last one.
- More species! 98 “non-exotic rare species” and 13 exotic species have been added.
- Updated, more detailed range maps that are zoomed in where appropriate.
- The illustrations are larger, and many have been revised.
My biggest question right now is regarding the family sequencing: will he use the same order as last time (taxonomic), or switch to something like that proposed by Howel, et al.? I would prefer the latter, but I have a feeling that will not be the case. Regardless, the publication date – March 11, 2014 – can’t get here fast enough.
A free online chat with Richard Crossley and Dominic Couzens, the co-authors of The Crossley ID Guide: Britain and Ireland, will take place on November 21st from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm GMT (2:00 pm – 3:00 pm EST).
Richard and Dominic will share stories from their own adventures along with tips on finding, identifying and photographing birds. They’ll also discuss the design, layout and purpose of their new field guide. Their talk will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.
Joining the fun is very easy. All you need is a computer with a relatively fast internet connection and speakers (cameras and microphones are not required). Just visit the Shindig web site at the event time, enter your email address and a name, and you are ushered into the event.
You can learn more at the Shindig web site: http://shindig.com/event/crossley-id-guide
The Crossley ID Guide: Britain and Ireland
by Richard Crossley and Dominic Couzens
From Princeton University Press:
This guide is a celebration of the beauty of birds and the British and Irish countryside. Aimed at beginner and intermediate birders, yet suitable for all levels, this new volume in the groundbreaking Crossley ID Guide series is the most user-friendly guide to the birds of Britain and Ireland. Following The Crossley ID Guides’ award-winning design, this book looks at all regularly occurring species in Britain and Ireland, and shows readers how to identify birds in their natural habitats using size, structure, shape, probability, and behavior–just like the experts do! Stunning images are accompanied by the colorful and compelling text of Dominic Couzens, one of Britain’s leading nature writers.
This unique book treats more than 300 species–all the regularly occurring birds likely to be encountered by observers–and the guide’s attractive pages provide a real-life approach to bird identification. Beautiful, in-focus scenes present birds in various plumages and in lifelike poses set in identifiable British and Irish habitats. The plates also illustrate how a bird’s appearance changes with distance. Organizing images in cohesive, easy-to-understand plates rather than as separate photographs, this book also sets itself apart by containing more images that demonstrate flight, behavior, habitat, and plumages than any other volume available. Not only is this field guide a reference book, it is also a spectacular teaching resource that makes it easy for nature enthusiasts to see and appreciate the big picture of bird identification.
- The most user-friendly guide to the birds of Britain and Ireland
- A close look at more than 300 regularly occurring species
- Award-winning Crossley ID Guide design
- Lifelike images of birds from near to far
- A celebration of the British and Irish countryside
- A teaching and field guide and essential reference
- Concise and compelling text by Dominic Couzens and Richard Crossley
Crossley tackles British and Irish birds in the same format as his previous guide to eastern North America. But this time the book is slightly smaller (and thinner from covering fewer birds), making it much more portable.
The Crossley ID Guide: Britain and Ireland
by Richard Crossley and Dominic Couzens
Flexibound; 304 pages
Princeton University Press; October 27, 2013
ISBN: 978-0691151946
$27.95
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
Extraordinary Birds: Essays and Plates of Rare Book Selections from the American Museum of Natural History Library
by Paul Sweet
From Sterling Signature:
Extraordinary Birds follows the success of Natural Histories, and is the next compendium in this well-received series that marries art and thought-provoking science. American Museum of Natural History ornithologist Paul Sweet takes readers on a migratory journey across the globe, introducing them to unique and exquisite birds, as well as to groundbreaking avian studies from the past 500 years. Featuring 40 frameable prints and an equal number of fascinating, in-depth essays, this stunning collection gives bird lovers a precious look at illustrated ornithological monographs from the museum’s Rare Book Collections.
This set contains a paperback book and 40 8.5×11 prints from ornithological monographs. The book includes a brief history of ornithology and an essay on the source of each of the prints. This is a very nice set, especially if you enjoy bird art and/or ornithological history (even more so if you have some wall space to hang a few of these prints!).
Extraordinary Birds: Essays and Plates of Rare Book Selections from the American Museum of Natural History Library
by Paul Sweet
Paperback in Clamshell Box; 144 pages
Sterling Signature; October 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1454906599
$50.00
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
Birds and People
by Mark Cocker
From Random House:
The definitive groundbreaking book on the relationship between birds and humankind, with contributions from more than 600 bird enthusiasts from all over the world.
Part natural history and part cultural study, this book describes and maps the entire spectrum of human engagements with birds, drawing in themes of history, literature, art, cuisine, language, lore, politics, and the environment. Vast in both scope and scale, it draws upon Mark Cocker’s 40 years of observing and thinking about birds to celebrate this relationship. The book is as important for its visual riches as it is for its groundbreaking content, as one of Europe’s best wildlife photographers has traveled in 39 countries on seven continents to produce a breathtaking and unique collection of photographs. The author solicited contributions from people worldwide, and personal anecdotes and stories have come from more than 600 individuals of 81 different nationalities, ranging from university academics to Mongolian eagle hunters, and from Amerindian shamans to highly celebrated writers. The sheer multitude of voices in this global chorus means that it is both a source book on why we cherish birds and a powerful testament to their importance for all humanity. Endorsed by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Birdlife International.
I still haven’t seen this book, but from everything I’ve heard it could be one of the best books of the year.
Birds and People
by Mark Cocker
Hardcover; 704 pages
Random House; September, 2013
ISBN: 9780224081740
$65.00
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching: Eastern Waterbirds in Flight
by Ken Behrens and Cameron Cox
From Houghton Mifflin Harcourt:
Seawatching is the challenging act of identifying waterbirds in flight. Since more than one hundred different species can fly past an observation point, often at great speed or in tightly packed, mixed-species flocks, identification of these distant shapes can be a mystery. The keys to the mystery—the subtle traits that unlock the identity of flying waterbirds, be it wingbeat cadence, individual structure, flock shape and behavior, or subtle flashes of color—are revealed in this guide.
Though commonly called seawatching, this on-the-fly observation and identification method is by no means restricted to the coast. There are impressive waterbird migrations on the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and many inland lakes and rivers. Nor is it restricted to migrating waterfowl, as the principles of flight identification apply as effectively to ducks flushed off a pond as to distant migrating flocks. Like Hawks in Flight and The Shorebird Guide, the Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching breaks new ground, provides cutting-edge techniques, and pushes the envelope in bird identification even further.
This is a wonderful resource. It will be most useful for those on the east coast, but any birder in the U.S. or Canada could benefit from it since many of the birds it covers (especially ducks and gulls) are transcontinental.
Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching: Eastern Waterbirds in Flight
by Ken Behrens and Cameron Cox
Hardcover; 614 pages
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; September 17, 2013
ISBN: 978-0547237398
$35.00
Buy from Buteo Books
(based in the U.S.)
Buy from NHBS
(based in the U.K.)
