2011 Gift Guide for Birders

Looking for something to get for the bird-lover in your life? You can never go wrong with a good bird book. Here are a few suggestions.

Field Guides

Birdwatchers can never have enough field guides (to the delight of publishers everywhere). I’m not going too far out on a limb when I say that the only way either of these wouldn’t be a hit is if the recipient already has a copy.

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Sixth Edition
Jon L. Dunn and Jonathan Alderfer
The National Geographic guide has long been considered one of the best North American field guides, and with this new sixth edition is updated and improved. It’s perfect for any birder, from beginner to expert.
The Crossley ID Guide: Eastern Birds
Richard Crossley
The Crossley guide is one of the most beautiful and innovative guides to come along in a while. The only problem is that it’s been out almost a year now, so many may already have it. But if they don’t, it’s worth having for anyone interested in North American birds.

For Children

For the Birds: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson
Peggy Thomas (Author) and Laura Jacques (Illustrator)
This book is worth sharing just for the gorgeous illustrations. But it also tells the story of Roger Tory Peterson’s life, while encouraging children to pay attention to nature and the birds around them. That makes this the perfect gift for kids ages eight and up.

For more suggestions for kids, please see this list of Children’s Bird Books.

Other Books

Avian Architecture: How Birds Design, Engineer, and Build
Peter Goodfellow
One of my favorite books this year, Avian Architecture not only shows the various kinds of nests birds make, but how they make them. Just take a look at all the cool stuff it includes!
The Birds of America
John James Audubon
No birder’s library is complete without a copy of Audubon’s masterpiece. At the current price ($42.01 as I’m writing this), this is a bargain, and recommended for those who don’t have the room (on shelf or in the budget) for the larger, more expensive baby elephant folio edition.
The Atlas of Birds: Diversity, Behavior, and Conservation
Mike Unwin
This attractive, well-designed book presents a LOT of information about all the kinds of birds, how and where they live, and their conservation. While any birder can learn from it, it is perfect for someone just getting into birds.
Arctic Autumn: A Journey to Season’s Edge
Pete Dunne
One of birding’s best authors takes us to the northern edge of the continent. Although not all (or even mostly) about birds, it’s still a very good read that any birdwatcher will likely enjoy.