I've been out of active birding for quite some years now. I have heard that
a few years ago there was issued a new 'definitive' field guide with the
(then-)latest species distinctions, and that it was also a good field guide
in general. At the time I was told you couldn't get it easily in regular
bookstores but could procure it at the Audubon Society.

What's the word out there on field guides? Granted, for the degree of
birding I am doing now my current Peterson's and Robbins and Zim will do
just dandy. But in case I want to be able to follow this list better it
sounds like a good idea to get the latest. (For example it surprised me
that Thayer's keeps being referred to as if it had been made distinct from
the Herring Gull. That shows how long ago it was since I birded in any way
'seriously'. Either that or you guys just looove gull subspecies.)

Thanks a lot. If this is in an FAQ just someone let me know (privately)
where that resides. I have enjoyed reading this list quite a lot, and it
may get me off my duff and into some good birding terrain.

Leslie Schweitzer