Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds: Western Region

I am unabashedly a bird lover. Having birds flock to my feeder is among my top simples pleasures of life. The ability to recognize the variety of birds is very rewarding. "Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds" is the best basic bird guide book I yet used to quickly identify birds (Eastern Region). The pressing argument among bird guides is whether you identify birds by size/shape or by color (for a good guide that uses size/shapes see "Focus Guide to the Birds of North America by Kenn Kaufman). Stokes has used plumage color to identify over 100 species. His full color photographs (separate images of male / female) are wonderful. I especially like the tips for attracting birds and the condensed information on habitats and population change. This would be a great gift for a youngster that is inclined towards watching birds and I am sure that any adult would be equally pleased. Highly recommended.

This book turned me from a passive bird observer into a bird watcher. Our children were so excited to be able to find the birds themselves using the color coding.

This book is great because it's color-coded which makes it easy to find out what feathered friend just visited our yard. My kids have spent hours poring over the book and now know the names and pertinent data of the birds in our region. I keep this book handy and grab it when I see a bird I don't recognize. Chances are good that it is listed in this book!

Finally a bird book that is 'user friendly'. Sorting the birds by color makes indentification so much easier. Usually we can make the identificatioin BEFORE it flies away. Thank you to the Stokes!

I JUST RECEIVED THIS BOOK AND WAS GREATLY PLEASED WITH ALL THE COLOR PHOTOS IT CONTAINED. I HAVE A BACKYARD FEEDER AND MY 5 YEAR OLD NEPHEW AND I ENJOY WATCHING THE VARIOUS BIRDS. ALTHOUGH HE IS ONLY 5, MY NEPHEW IS THRILLED WITH THE BOOK AND THE CHANCE TO BE ABLE TO USE THE PHOTOS TO IDENTIFY THE VARIOUS KINDS OF BIRDS HE HAS SEEN. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BOOK FOR BEGINNER "BIRD WATCHERS" LIKE US.