Now in its 4th Edition, revisions include 250 updated range maps, and new classification information National Geographic is reissuing the Field Guide to the Birds of North America in the 4th edition, focusing on its accuracy and easy use in the field. This is the ultimate birders field guide - sturdy, easy to carry and use, and featuring the most complete information among bird guides. It features all species known to breed in North America, including those that are regular visitors to our continent or that drop in occasionally - more than 800 in all. The edition is lavishly illustrated with specially commissioned full-colour illustrations, plus newly updated range maps and detailed descriptions. A superb new index allows birders in the field to quickly identify a species.

    Taking into account the great advances made in ornithology since the publication of the seminal Handbook of British Birds (1941)--which for many years provided the foundation on which the field was built--the eight volumes together will contain descriptions of over 760 species of birds, of which about 600 are breeding species. Each breeding species is described in detail in sections devoted to field characteristics, habitat, distribution, mortality and longevity, population (with maps showing breeding and wintering areas), social pattern and behavior, breeding, food, voice, plumages, moults, measurements, weights, structure, and geographical variation. Regular migration and accidental species are treated under these headings where relevant. Each volume also contains specially-commissioned color plates of each species which show the full range of normal plumage together with more distant flight views. In addition, color plates of eggs, black-and-white illustrations, and many text-figures showing display postures, voice sonograms and melograms, and annual cycles, are included. All of these features combine to make the Handbook an indispensable reference work for both the professional scientist and the ever-growing body of amateur ornithologists.

    Aside from the pure pleasure of seeing the most exquisite flowers in the world in full color and reading about them, gardeners and flower lovers are here offered a history of flower gardens, gardening techniques, and suggestions on how to create and maintain a blooming garden. The entries for 369 species of garden flowers present full-color illustrations and detailed descriptions, and are arranged alphabetically by genus (with synonyms and common names as well). Full-color symbols illustrate the plant types and how they can best be used in the garden, and maps show the origin of the species and their natural distribution. This is one of the most stunning and informative books a gardener can own.