Rating: 
Summary: Weird layout but great nonetheless
Review: This field guide is one of the best I've seen. Like all guides, it does have a few shortcomings: The introductory material is placed in the middle of the book rather than at the beginning, and the quality of the art varies greatly, from the absolutely beautiful work of Alderfer and Van Dusen (especially appreciated in shorebirds and gulls), and the less stunning but wholly acceptable vireos and warblers of McQueen, to the less satisfactory presentation of sparrows and the quite misshapen birds in the "Arctic birds" section. Those criticisms aside, this is a superior field guide. The format does not allow for lengthy descriptions of species, and the very toughest ID problems still require more attention than this book can give them, but in most cases the birds are illustrated (in proper habitat!) and described more than well enough to result in accurate identifications. The pages which introduce each group of birds (e.g. "Pelagic birds", "Wading birds", "Raptors") are to me one of the best parts of the book. A great deal of useful information, ranging from anatomical terminology to behavior to conservation, is presented in these short (1/2 to 3 pages)essays. The heavy focus on conservation is an important inclusion: birdwatchers, more than most people, should realize that our actions are directly affecting (and usually harming) the objects of our sport/hobby/study/obsession; this guide makes that very clear. Comparatively speaking, I'd rank this guide roughly parallel to the much-praised National Geo guide, which has more illustrations of some species (and even worse sparrow paintings!) but less on status and conservation. The Griggs guide generally has better written descriptions and more definitions of terms than National Geo. I would definitely prefer the Griggs guide as a general field guide for a beginning or intermediate birder. And I think that even more advanced birders who don't often refer to field guides (and likely own and use the in-depth identification guides and articles on sparrows, shorebirds, gulls, et cetera) could appreciate this guide for some of its lovely artwork and its emphasis on conservation.
Rating: 
Summary: most informative and easy to use
Review: This is the best bird guide I have ever used. It helps my family to identify birds by key features. My sons now look at birds and tell me their beak shape, what they most likely eat, the color of the legs and their relative size, all from regularly using this book. It gives pictorial examples of birds one might confuse with one another. Also useful are the estimates of particular bird population in each geographic area, with terms such as "abundant," "populous," "numerous," and "numerous but declining." I appreciate the brief, not preachy, explanations given for why certain populations of birds are declining.
Rating:
Summary: Depth and clarity
Review: With so many birding field guides available these days, birders suffer from a veritable embarrassment of riches when it comes to selecting which volume(s) to take into the field. Even in the face of still competition, this still fairly new guide put together by the American Bird Conservancy has many strong points to recommend it. First, the illustrations are, for the most part, gorgeously painted and well-printed. Second, there is adequate emphasis on key identification field marks. Third, the book is small enough to be easily carried in a jacket pocket or field guide pouch. And fourth, although no single field guide can really be said to include "all the birds," this one comes close enough, and even features some special sections and illustration plates showing "accidentals" that occasionally show up in North America. If there is a key problem for potential users of this guide, it is that its authors have daringly attempted to create a new way to organize the presentation of the many hundreds of species included. Rather than follow the taxonomic approach typical of other field guides, the authors have organized in part in accordance with habitat and geographical area. For novice birders unfamiliar with the way it's "usually done," this may prove quite convenient. For experienced birders, however, this distinctive organization will likely prove the source of headaches rather than added convenience. The other problem with this and indeed, any field guide that is more than a year or so old is that ornithologists are constantly lumping and splitting species. With its 1997 publication date, the book is recent enough to have included some important "splits," including the California/Black-tailed gnatcatchers and the California/Canyon towhees. However, there are more recent changes that have occurred since 1997, including the newly recognized Gunnison sage grouse and the splitting off of Arizona from Strickland's woodpecker. Hopefully, the publishers of *All The Birds* will employ a periodic updating regimen to keep its readers current with regard to what is or is not considered a "real species." Ultimately, the field guide that most avid birders will continue to carry with them in the field always is the *National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds of North America*. As a second and perhaps more portable reference, however, *All The Birds of North America* might be a good book to bring on one's field trips, as well.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy second bird guide to take into the field
Review: With so many birding field guides available these days, birders suffer from a veritable embarrassment of riches when it comes to selecting which volume(s) to take into the field. Even in the face of still competition, this still fairly new guide put together by the American Bird Conservancy has many strong points to recommend it. First, the illustrations are, for the most part, gorgeously painted and well-printed. Second, there is adequate emphasis on key identification field marks. Third, the book is small enough to be easily carried in a jacket pocket or field guide pouch. And fourth, although no single field guide can really be said to include "all the birds," this one comes close enough, and even features some special sections and illustration plates showing "accidentals" that occasionally show up in North America. If there is a key problem for potential users of this guide, it is that its authors have daringly attempted to create a new way to organize the presentation of the many hundreds of species included. Rather than follow the taxonomic approach typical of other field guides, the authors have organized in part in accordance with habitat and geographical area. For novice birders unfamiliar with the way it's "usually done," this may prove quite convenient. For experienced birders, however, this distinctive organization will likely prove the source of headaches rather than added convenience. The other problem with this and indeed, any field guide that is more than a year or so old is that ornithologists are constantly lumping and splitting species. With its 1997 publication date, the book is recent enough to have included some important "splits," including the California/Black-tailed gnatcatchers and the California/Canyon towhees. However, there are more recent changes that have occurred since 1997, including the newly recognized Gunnison sage grouse and the splitting off of Arizona from Strickland's woodpecker. Hopefully, the publishers of *All The Birds* will employ a periodic updating regimen to keep its readers current with regard to what is or is not considered a "real species." Ultimately, the field guide that most avid birders will continue to carry with them in the field always is the *National Geographic Field Guide To The Birds of North America*. As a second and perhaps more portable reference, however, *All The Birds of North America* might be a good book to bring on one's field trips, as well.
Rating:
Summary: A great start to quick and easy bird indentification.
Review: Within days I was recognizing and I.D.ing birds like it was a life long hobbie. This book makes a difficult job easy. In an easy to read manner.
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