Subject: Re: Field Guides (was Bird ID help, please)
Date: Oct 18 11:12:12 1998
From: SCRBJAY at aol.com - SCRBJAY at aol.com


Michael,

Are we living in the same body? I've had a Golden Guide forever. My first one
cost $3.95 and is well used. I really like it for the range maps with the
narrative opposite the bird plates.

A couple of years ago I bought a Peterson's because I like the field marks
used in that book to help ID what I'm looking at. They really do compliment
each other with small differences. Like you, I carry Peterson's in the field
and use the Golden Guide as a reference.

Example, I saw a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW Friday that didn't fit the Peterson's
plate; I couldn't see any yellow between the bill and eyes. The Golden Guide
shows a third picture of a winter bird that was nearly identical to the one I
saw.

Conclusion? You really need more than one or two field guides to help answer
your ID questions.

Phil Kelley
Lacey, WA
acrbjay at aol.com