National Audubon Society Pocket Guide: Familiar Butterflies of North America (National Audubon Society Pocket Guides)

Very nice little handbook, easy to take with when camping or traveling, even to use in the backyard when you spot a different butterfly. Great colors and descriptions!

For a book with the "footprint" of a postcard, this guide has a boatload of useful information and truly superb photos. The descriptions are brief but highlight a few interesting facts about each species; all contain basic entries about identification, habitat, range, and life cycles. Each entry is accompanied by a gorgeous full color photo of the butterfly viewed from above and a smaller side view (the latter are so small that their usefulness is somewhat compromised, but they're better than nothing). No photos of the caterpillars.

The size makes it very convenient for use while observing. Species pictures on the left hand pages in the upper left corner are most useful when the pages are fanned for quick identification. Information on that particular member of the species is excellent.