Birds of Wisconsin

I am a bird enthusiast and taking an Ornithology class which this is perfect for!

I rarely write reviews, but I LOVE this book! You can actually find the bird you want to identify! I started with Stan's "Birds of Illinois," which was great. Now I am learning the Birds of Wisconsin (some overlap, of course). And with the addition of the CD, now I can learn their calls too. Stan tells you exactly the identifying feature that helps you tell the birds apart--features that you can actually see! And the book is small enough to carry with you when traveling. Thanks, Stan!!!

This book and all the other "Birds of (state)" guides by Stan Tekiela seem to bring out the worst in experienced birders. While I am a beginner at birding, this dislike of Tekiela's guides is somewhat understandable. To experienced birders, a bird guide in which the birds are listed by color, not taxonomy, is bordering on criminal. Many of those birders seem to have forgotten that they were once novices and likely confused sparrows with wrens or finches. A beginning birder is likely to be overwhelmed by all the birds listed in a Sibley Guide, Kaufmann Focus Guide, or even a Peterson Guide. What better for a beginner than a book that lists the 100+ most common birds in their state in order of color. You see a brown bird with a small beak and a light yellow chest, you flip to the brown birds and only have to browse through 40 or so birds to try and find what you saw. Easy. After a few months, you'll begin to recognize sparrows, finches, warblers for what they are (maybe not the exact species) and will want a more advanced book. This book is the best at what it is. A guide for beginning birders or people who only look at birds out in their backyard feeders. Don't compare it to the Sibley, Kaufmann, etc.... Highly Recommended!

Now in an expanded second edition, Birds Of Wisconsin: Field Guide by naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela is significantly enhanced with updated photos, information, and range maps. This easy-to-use guide is specialized and restricted to 111 common species focused upon Wisconsin birds and Wisconsin range maps. Superbly organized by a color coding approach (see a yellow bird, then go to the yellow section to find out what it is), especially helpful in trying to distinguish between similar appearing birds, hallmarked with gorgeous bird photography, and laced with Wisconsin aviary tidbits and facts, Birds Of Wisconsin: Field Guide is a compact, shirt pocket size for easy portability and designed for use in conjunction with the also highly recommended Birds of Wisconsin Audio CDs (1591930391, $14.95) featuring the recorded sounds of 110 of Wisconsin's most commonly encountered birds.

I'm a amateur birder in Wisconsin. I can't tell the difference between a House Finch and a Purple Finch even if they're sitting side by side.Here was my normal birding routine. I poured myself a cup of coffee. I looked out the window and saw a little gray bird. "Gee", I wondered, "What is that?" I pulled the North American Bird Guide off the shelf and three cups of coffee later, I'm still wondering what I saw. But, I had it narrowed down to a mere four dozen birds.Birds of Wisconsin makes this search a snap. First, there are only 111 birds in the whole book - and they are birds that I actually see in Wisconsin! Second, there is a large picture (4" x 6") of every bird with a description on the opposite page - what a great idea! Third, there is a Wisconsin state map showing the range of the bird (summer, winter, year round).Each description contains information on size, male / female / juvenile characteristics, nest, eggs, incubation, fledging, migration, food, and notes. The notes point out which bird looks similar and what to compare. Also contains interesting facts and comments. Did you know a House Sparrow was really a Finch?The book contains a two page index / checklist (when you only have 111 birds, you can fit them on two pages).Identifying birds is once again fun. I actually can find the bird that I'm after, and often before it flies away.Book images are crisp and clean. Excellent information and interesting notes throughout. Very easy to use, and fits nicely in a jacket pocket.Great book for Wisconsin birders!PS: The little gray bird was a White Crowned Sparrow :-)

I bought this book as a gift for myself. I have always loved the birds at the feeder or the ones seen in the woods but found it hard to find specific species from other books. "Birds of Wisconsin": Field Guide allowed me to make definite identification. The pictures are beautiful enough for framing and is written in language that the average bird admirer can understand. Thank you for this guide. It makes my hikes even more pleasant and the moments spent watching the feeder enlightening.