The Birder's Handbook is the first of its kind: a portable library of fascinating information not included in your identification guide. For each of the 646 species of birds that breed in North America, The Birder's Handbook will tell you at a glance: * Where the bird nests, and which sex(es) build(s) the nest;* How many eggs the bird lays, what they look like, which patent incubates and for how long, and how the young are cared for;* Food preferences and foraging habits.You will also find information about displays and mating, wintering, conservation status, and much more. In addition, The Birder's Handbook contains some 250 short essays covering all aspects of avian natural history.

    This latest edition contains information on 482 of the most common species found in the state’s major vegetation zones. Each entry includes a full-color photograph of the flower on the page facing the entry, bloom period, range and habitat, and botanical description. A special note in each entry explains the plant’s therapeutic, culinary, and other traditional uses, such as landscaping value. A color map of Texas shows the state’s major vegetation zones, corresponding to the range codes used in the text. Other supplementary material includes a glossary of botanical terms, an illustrated glossary of plant parts, and a selected bibliography for future reading.

    Based on field research, the book brings the amateur naturalist the latest information on animal gaits and the interpretation of scat.