Subject: Re: Basic field guides (was Re: Yard birds)
Date: Jan 3 10:41:36 1997
From: Janet Hardin - wings at olympus.net


In response to rtylor's request for field guide recommendations, Burt
Guttman wrote:

>Peterson's _Field Guide to Western Birds_. Yes, people who have gotten
>to the experienced or expert stage will recommend the NGS guide, but for
>beginners nothing beats Peterson.

I'll second this. You can get endless arguments from various birders on
this topic, but as an "experienced" birder who owns both guides in
question, I always go for Peterson first. I still say his illustrations are
more accurate, even if the NGS guide provides some additional plumages or
subspecies. One thing I would not recommend for beginners are the books
with photographs only. While it might seem logical that photos would be
more accurate, the varying sources of light, bird posture and "emotion,"
subspecies/age, etc, make too difficult to find a definitive photograph
that will not mislead someone just beginning to learn what to look for. If
possible, I think it's always best to consult more than one source
(including other birders), and nothing beats going out and spending time
watching!

Happy birding --

Janet Hardin
Port Townsend, WA
wings at olympus.net