Best of
Ornithology

2010

Bird Songs Bible: The Complete, Illustrated Reference for North American Birds


Les Beletsky - 2010
    Bird Songs Bible covers the sights and sounds of every single breeding bird in North Americanearly 750 in all. This utterly distinctive package features a state-of-the-art digital audio player that brings to life the birds' songs and calls with the touch of a button. Written by a panel of ornithological experts and produced with the renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology, this indispensable reference features lavish illustrations of the birds and their habitats, scientifically accurate range maps, and detailed information on distribution, habitat, behavior, and vocalizations. A beautiful keepsake object, Bird Songs Bible is an essential volume for the true bird lover.

National Geographic Bird Coloration


Geoffrey Hill - 2010
    More than 200 gorgeous photographs highlight the explanations of the essentials: what color is, ornithologically speaking; how it is produced and measured; how birds use color to attract mates and deter competitors; how birds perceive color; and how coloration varies across species by sex, season, and age.Geoff Hill guides his readers along an engaging but authoritative narrative illustrated with vivid photographs and fact-packed captions. A book conceived in the same spirit as National Geographic’s more traditional bird guides, it’s sure to appeal to serious ornithologists, recreational bird watchers, and natural history buffs alike.

The Birds of Panama: A Field Guide


George R. Angehr - 2010
    More accessible than ever to birdwatchers and other ecotourists, the country has become a premier neotropical birding and nature tourism destination in recent years. The Birds of Panama will be an essential tool for the new generation of birders traveling in search of Panama's spectacular avifauna. This user-friendly, portable, and affordable identification guide features#58;bull; large color illustrations of more than 900 species.bull; the first range maps published to show the distribution of Panama's birds.bull; concise text that describes field marks for identification, as well as habitat, behavior, and vocalizations.bull; range maps and species accounts face illustration pages for quick, easy reference. bull; the inclusion of North American migrants and seabirds, as well as female and juvenile plumage variations.bull; an up-to-date species list for the country that reflects recent additions, taxonomic splits, and other changes in classification. Panama's unique geography, small size, and varied habitats make it possible to see a vast diversity of birds within a short time. Its western and central areas harbor representatives of species found in Central America; species characteristic of South America may be found in the east. In the winter, birds from northern climes are commonly found in Panama as migrants. This is the one field guide the novice or experienced birder needs to identify birds in the field in Panama's diverse habitats.

Wildbranch: An Anthology of Nature, Environmental, and Place-based Writing


Florence Caplow - 2010
    The poetry and essays by more than fifty contributors offer the reader glimpses into places as diverse as a forest in West Africa, the moors of Ireland, the canyons of the Sonoran desert mountains, and the fields of New England, and they reflect the varied perspectives of field biologists, hunters, farmers, environmental educators, wilderness guides, academics, writers, and artists. The collection is an intimate portrait of the natural world drawn through the wisdom, ecological consciousness, and open hearts of these exceptional contributors. The Wildbranch Writing Workshop, cosponsored by Orion magazine and Sterling College, has encouraged thoughtful natural history, outdoor, and environmental writing for more than twenty years. The Wildbranch faculty has included its founder E. Anne Proulx, the essayists Edward Hoagland, Janisse Ray, and Scott Russell Sanders, the poet Alison Hawthorne Deming, and many other notable authors. Many have work included in the anthology. Winner of the New Mexico Book Association's Southwest Book Design & Production Awards for Excellence in the category Trade Books: Non-illustrated.

Birds of Southeastern Arizona


Richard Cachor Taylor - 2010
    This pocket-sized photographic guide features 640 stunning color photographs of the over 400 birds of Southeastern Arizona (including the Mexican vagrants) along with their descriptions, locations, elevation charts, and a regional checklist. Authored by lifelong Tucson resident and local bird expert, Rick Taylor, it is the ideal guide for beginning and experienced bird watchers. The perfect Holiday gift item for that relative or friend who enjoys watching birds.