Identification Guide for Pacific Northwest (3 Viewers)

[Justin USA]

Hi gang,

I live in the Seattle area and I'm looking for a basic guide that would help me identify the most common birds found in and around Washington state. I used a library copy once and I really liked it because it had pictures of birds on the extreme ends of the pages so you could thumb through pretty quickly. I wish I wrote down the name. Any other suggestions appreciated.

Thanks,
Justin

 

[Robert / Seattle]

Hey Justin,

Most books that confine themselves to the Seattle or Puget Sound region are very limiting overall -- you'll run a very real risk of missing the ID on many birds that just happen to be wandering through.

The best overall guide to our region is "The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America", as seen here: http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=BKS-SIB-FGBW&src=froogle&kw=BKS-SIB-FGBW The book covers the entire west, but a comprehensive approach is the best way to learn the art and craft of fine birding anyway.

This should be supplemented with "The Birds of Washington State", by Bell and Kennedy (http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Washington-State-Brian-Bell/dp/1551054302).
The illustrations are not very helpful, but the range maps are incredibly precise, as is the text for each species, and together these two books will give you the best balance for field guides to birds in our region.

Be cautious when using field guides with photographs. Though often helpful as secondary references, they frequently show birds as they might only appear at infrequent "photo-ops". A well considered illustration, showing a bird in all its manifestations, is by far the better way to go.

Good luck,

Robert / Seattle

 

[jedigrant]

Very well put, Robert.

Justin, I know you didn't ask about this, but if you're looking for places to go birding, check out A Birder's Guide to Washington, published by the American Birding Association. It also has helpful abundance and distribution graphs that should complement "The Birds of Washington State".

 

[Jim M.]

Incidentally, I noticed that my Fifth Edition National Geographic Guide to the Birds of North America has, at the end, an advertisement of sorts for various National Geographic regional bird guides, including one for Washington and Oregon. I have never seen any of these, but was wondering what they were like. Anybody have more info on these?

Best,
Jim

 

[Robert / Seattle]

Incidentally, I noticed that my Fifth Edition National Geographic Guide to the Birds of North America has, at the end, an advertisement of sorts for various National Geographic regional bird guides, including one for Washington and Oregon. I have never seen any of these, but was wondering what they were like. Anybody have more info on these?

Best,
Jim

Hi Jim,

I bought the regional edition with high hopes, only to discover a significant number of missing species, both breeding and non breeding. Strangely, these missing birds are indicated for the region and included in the National Edition! Those missing species accounts do not follow any logical grouping and seem completely arbitrary (e.g., Golden Eagle among many others).

"The Birds of Washington State" (Bell and Kennedy) gives excellent detailed accounts (albeit with useless illustrations) for 320 species, and lists dozens more vagrants or accidentals. The National Geographic regional guide, by contrast, lists only 186 species for TWO states - describing their list on the back cover as "must see birds"! I thought all birds were "must see".

Not recommended.

Robert

 

[Justin USA]

Jim, Grant, and Moore,

I will order the Sibley guide today. I hope to get it by next Friday so I can take it with me to Ocean Shores. I'll make my wife drive so I can educate myself on the way o

I've owned my Nikon 82 for almost a year and taken it on only a dozen outings so far :-C

Thank you all very much for your help.

Sincerely,
Justin

 

[Robert / Seattle]

Jim, Grant, and Moore,

I will order the Sibley guide today. I hope to get it by next Friday so I can take it with me to Ocean Shores. I'll make my wife drive so I can educate myself on the way ... Justin

Good plan, Justin ...

Let us know how you make out.

Cheers,
Robert