Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 3rd Edition

It can be a good book for people who bird watch. However for me, I wanted a book so that I can learn to draw and paint birds. And it does have a ton of them in this book! My only problem is that a lot of the pictures are on the small side, and because there are so many birds, I feel the book should be a little bigger. But that’s me! Otherwise it’s a good book.

I have been birding for 18 years and own several hundred bird books.I have used all the common books for North America that have been around during that period .I have built my life list for North America up to 596 species in that time.In my opinion, this is the best all round Field Guide for North America. Until this book first came out in 1983 the most popular bird guide was Peterson,s; but it came in two volumes,one for the East and one for the West.This book covers all North America.I am frequently asked by people who are just getting started in birding,people who are buying for someone they know who "is interested" in birds and others who have a book ;but want something else;and ask, "What is the best book to buy,there seem to be so many?" My answer is;"You can't go wrong with this book."It is now in its 4th Edition, and I have bought each new edition as they have come out.There have been continual improvements made with each edition.The National Geographic have been a major publisher of all kinds of books for a long time. Personally,I feel their strength has been in photography and high quality printing and construction.In many cases their books are somewhat superficial;but don't let that disuade you .This book is so well done it is the choice of the majority of birders.I can't think of any birder I know who hasn't got a copy of it. The thing that makes this book such a success is that it was put together by a large number of the best birders in North America.There are several other reviews on this book and they are all worth reading.I just can't imagine anyone regretting that they choose to buy this book;what more is there to say to recommend it?

I have been birding for 23 years. My life list is a respectable 450 species in North America. While some reviewers may not carry this book around, I will guarantee you the National Geographic Society (NGS) Field Guide to the Birds of North America is the #1 choice among every birder I know. On my shelf I have a dozen guides...in fact probably every one published. Some are better for some things (such as Sibley), but overall this one is HANDS DOWN my favorite. What makes it so good? With due respect to Roger Tory Peterson, the illustrations and written clues in the NGS guide are unmatched. Secondly, in the 4th edition, National Geographic has demonstrated a fervent desire to keep up with the ever-changing naming conventions from the American Ornithological Union. Other guides simply do not keep pace. If you are new to this hobby, this is THE guide. If someone told you they are interested, but they don't know where to start, this is THE guide to get them.The one to get if you only get one. The one to use if you have many.

Is it that much better than the 3rd edition, I think so. The colors seem better rendered, there is a new "quick find index", a couple of pages in from the back cover, it should have been on the back cover. I cut those last pages out so that when I open the back cover, it's there, right in front of me. The ranges maps are better, names have been corrected and all in all, it's a delight to behold and use. I do wish they had used a plasic cover. The only thing that comes close is David Sibley's guide and it's just too big for a pocket. I like Petersons last edition of his eastern guide but the illustrations in this one are better. I have the 3rd edition and it is by far the most worn of my collection of field guides (I have them all, at least the recent ones). It's not a lot of money when you buy it here, how can you pass it up?

but I have, for the most part. I had always preferred Peterson b/c I (a) thought the art was better and (b) liked having a guide which filtered out species I was unlikely to see in a particular area. The new NGS guide is taxonomically, artistically, and generally better, enough so that my Peterson now rarely leaves my shelf.