Birds of San Diego

I am most likely to reach for a guidebook like this in spring (or, to a lesser extent, fall), when suddenly looking at a bird I am not used to seeing. I am fortunate, not only to be living in San Diego, but to be living on nearly half an acre of mixed native and introduced trees, shrubs, and flowers that attract a wonderful assortment of avian visitors, from raptors to runaway parrots. This book is quite incomplete but useful nonetheless. The illustrations are beautiful and 'steal the show' as far as I'm concerned, the "abundance charts" and habitat icons are helpful, there is the obligatory glossary and a species checklist for those who would want it. Like I say, the book is beautiful, functional, but not comprehensive, so you will need another guidebook as well. It helped me to quickly identify a Wilson's warbler but didn't help with a Cassin's kingbird (the book includes the western k-bird but not the Cassin's). Of the local orioles, this book features only the Bullock's, which I see rather rarely, and makes no mention of the Scott's or hooded orioles which I see frequently (the flashy hooded oriole is constantly present in my yard throughout every summer). This book doesn't include the osprey and it is interesting that the more comprehensive Audubon guide doesn't appear to list this bird as occurring in San Diego either (giving Audubon the benefit of the doubt, maybe their little range map is just to difficult to read in this case?). At any rate, ospreys are here whether any guidebook includes them or not. Exceptions acknowledged, most of what should be here, is, including my favorite little aerobatic acrobat, the black phoebe who is 'dancing in air' outside my window as I write this. Happy hunting.

It is different compared to field guides. It did provide a basis for a list of birds to study. Well written and illustrated with a lot of information

I highly recommend this beautifully illustrated publication. When I see a bird in my yard, I grab my binoculars and the guide, and within minutes identify the species -- and I'm a novice. The book provides quick identification tips as well as information on habitats, similar species, feeding habits, and songs. I've identified 15 species already, and have set up hummingbird feeders, finch socks, and seed feeders to attract more visitors. I guess I'm hooked.

This is one of the best books I've seen for identifying birds in the San Diego area. The seasonal frequency charts are useful, and the colored drawings of the birds are professionally rendered in a way that makes the birds really recognizable in the field. The text also contains good practical pointers for field identification.