Birds of Northern California

Rating:
Summary: begining birders bible
Review: As a novice birder, identifying species is the most challenging facet. This book is set up to facilitate rapid identification of the birds you encounter. Thumbnail pictures in the front section allow for rapid scanning of various species' prominent features without paging endlessly through the book. The data on each bird in subsequent pages is succinct and interesting to the casual or begining birder. Esoteric information is pleasantly omitted. I use it more than my Sibley guide.

Rating:
Summary: A good book to know who's who
Review: There are many kinds of birds around my workplace - Oracle, in Redwoodshores. I have always been curious what they are. I bought this book and found it very useful. With the help of this book, I've identified several species, including geese, stilts, seagulls, horans, egrets... (you can find the specific name, like Canada Goose, if you read this book.) It's amazed to find that there are so many kinds of birds around Oracle and in the pond in front of it (a.k.a. Lake Larry).

One thing I would like to say about this book is its distribution map (in three colors for summer, winter, and all year round) in North California for each kind of bird. It's very useful because by checking that, you can eliminate some candidates if you are trying to figure out what exact kind of bird you saw.

In the brief description for each bird, the authors managed to squeeze some interesting points in, like Canada Goose is now a community management problem, and cranes bow before they dance to their mates.

If you live in the Bay Area, and want to see water birds, please come to Redwood Shores, go around Oracle green builds (the outer skirt), with this book.

Rating:
Summary: Birds of Northern California
Review: Very good guide for the local birds. As with all guides some of the drawings could be better.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, great pictures, easy to find your bird!
Review: We had this family of birds in our front yard tree that were new and unique to us. I ordered this book for my husband, and within minutes we figured out what type of bird it was! A great book.