The Sibley Guide to Birds

After spending a weekend in the field with the new Sibley's, I can attest to the value of this book. Initially I was impressed by the many illustrations and detail that obviously go into every species description. Sibley spends needed time and space on difficult-to-identify species instead of just a couple of head profiles. On a weekend when I saw both Harlan's and Krider's Red-tailed Hawks (as well as the usual birds), this was quite welcome. The only item that could be a possible drawback with this book is that I don't feel enough attention was given to identifying habitat for many birds. When one is trying to Empidonax flycatchers, habitat is vital when making identification. While habitat is mentioned, I just don't think that it is given the importance it should have. That said, this book is a winner!! I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this book (or give it as a gift). It may replace your field guide of choice, but even if it doesn't it is an excellent supplement. As an aside - with all the splitting going on, this is the first book I've seen (I haven't looked at Kaufman's) that places Vireos with the Jays they have now been classified with. Also, all the most recent name changes have been included. Quite a benefit!

The arrival of this book gives North American birders what their European counterparts have enjoyed for some time now - a first rate, superbly illustrated bird guide. The artwork by the author, David Sibley, is equal to the best work in the better European guides. This is work by someone who knows what birds look like. And can convey that knowledge through a drawing. The colors are clear and bright (the way so many birds actually look when seen well) and though occasionally they may seem a touch off, they are probably as accurate as modern printing will allow. The figures are a refreshing change from the often too dark and dingy, over detailed, and awkward images in some other guides, North American or otherwise. Where feather detail is needed, it's shown, see p. 186, Western Sandpiper, for example. The birds are accurately posed, and, equally important, they are well portrayed in terms of head and body shape and "facial" expression. The printing in my copy is excellent and tack sharp. The organization and layout for this book is outstanding, and though it may remind some of the equally excellent Birds of Europe by Svensson, Mullarney, and Zetterstrom, it differs somewhat. For one thing, Sibley seems to treat birds more in terms of natural groupings than as completely individual entities. This reflects the more fluid context that many forms exist in, rather than our rigid and heirarchical taxonomies. The text on the top of many pages refers to both (usually) of the species shown, and there are many other extra bits of information scattered throughout like this. Birds are shown by age and sex from top to bottom of the page. If you want to compare juvenile plumages of two similar species, you can find them both at the top of the column, just under the images of flying birds. All the birds on a plate generally face the same direction too, facilitating easy comparisons. I would have liked to see more information on habitat and especially status, even though the latter is more subjective and can vary throughout a species' range. But these are minor complaints and the book really stands up as it is. It's true, you won't be carrying this book in your pockets - unless they are particularly large ones! But it's no larger than many of the other international guides out, and lighter than many of them. Stick it in a book cover and drop it in your day bag or pack. You won't notice it! I recently carried one of the heavy international field guides for a couple of months in my pack. It wasn't the problem I thought it might be. Probably the best technique for birding is to just leave it in your pack or car most of the time anyway, having studied it at home and gotten an idea of what to expect on the outing. But even very experienced birders may want to consult their guide on the spot occasionally. This one is no doorstop, so you'll be able to take it along. Because of its excellent organization, outstanding illustrations, and up to date info

From the moment I first opened David Sibley's new field guide, I was mesmerized. It offers a compact presentation on every species of bird north of the Mexican border and is undoubtedly one of the most user-friendly guides ever developed. In many ways, Sibley takes Roger Torey Peterson's method to its logical end--a guide that capsulizes all the essential information about similar species, arraying them close to each other for comparison. But unlike Peterson, Sibley presents ample information on the many plumages of individual species which are apt to confuse even some of the most experienced birders. Sibley's art work is very appealing to the eye, and his bird potraits are all very naturally posed. He also points out distinguishing field marks with text arrayed alongside his portraits, facilitating rapid identification. His approach also offers flight views together with perched views where that is helpful.There are a few negatives--only a few. The book would be unwieldy to carry in the field. (Best to bring it along and leave it in the car, perhaps.) The range maps are for the most part too small to easily distinguish, especially where birds appear in only limited areas. And the description of songs and calls strike me as inferior to Peterson's, from which I've learned most of the songs and calls I know over the past 40 years.In comparison to the other new bird guide just published, Kenn Kaufman's "Focus Guide," I much prefer David Sibley's. While Kaufman has crammed an incredible amount of information into a small, very quickly accessible volume, Sibley's is far more useful in distinguishing between species. Kaufman's is far handier to carry along in the field, but it offers far less data on individual species than Sibley. (Although I cannot feature using this information, Sibley even gives the average weight of each species--a fascinating bit of information not readily available in most other guides.)In any event, if you are a person interested in birds at any level of expertise, you are bound to enjoy David Sibley's excellent new guide. Buy a copy as soon as you can!

The latest attempt to publish the perfect bird guide book comes very close. The Sibley guide is more comprehensive than the National Geographic guide (NG) in its inclusion of views. In examining each page of the book I was bewildered at the number of views. The first published drawings I have seen of some species in flight are in this thorough book. The group accounts to begin each section are excellent. These accounts show all species in a family on one page; often examining hard to identify plumages like first-winter female wood-warblers. The range maps and voice details are much better than any previous attempt. Identification skills are sprinkled throughout the book in areas where they are most needed. In this regard, the Sibley guide gives the user some of what Kenn Kaufman's Advanced Birding, Jack Connor's The Complete Birder and the American Birding Association's Birding magazine provide.It falls short of perfection in four areas that will be considered minor by most readers:The drawings are not as sharp as in the NG. The feather detail is often absent and edges are blurred leaving less of the feather texture affect found in the NG. This may be a purposeful attempt to get users to focus on the feel of the bird rather than searching for details that can sometimes only be seen with a bird in hand.The habitat information is not as complete as in the NG. Unlike the NG where habitat and historical details are provided with individual species, the Sibley guide gives their habitat info in group descriptions at the tops of most pages.There are still some omissions. While I have not had time to search for every vagrant species, two birds I have personally seen in North America are not included - the whiskered tern and the brown shrike.It is not field worthy. In this I expect some will disagree. It will surely fit in a shoulder bag or backpack. Perhaps more important, it may be good for birding if birders don't take it with them. Birding skills are developed by viewing birds and trying to remember and record details. This guide's utility will be as the definitive guide for pre and post observation.I am still giving this book five stars and advise every serious birder to purchase it, study it, and learn from it. It will be the first guide I turn to when I'm back at my car after a cool morning in the field.

David Sibley has written an excellent field guide. This book surpasses National Geographic's "Field Guide to Birds of North America" and the Peterson's Series of Bird Guides. It includes a greater number of illustrations and portrays more of the various ages of the birds. One has to appreciate the flight views of the many birds.The colors of the illustrations are excellent. This corrects one compliant of the 3rd edition of National Geographic Field Guide. Advanced and beginning birders will benefit from the examples. The range maps have been adjusted in several cases. Sibley has taken great care in producing the most up-to-date field guide.The accompanying text is very informative. It is packed with information about each species. Sibley "Guide to Birds" definitely shows that years were taken to produce this comprehensive reference.If there is a downside, this book is heavy. Many pages were required to incorporate all the interesting and informative information contained in this fabulous book!Sibley has set a new standard in Bird Field Guides. It will be years before this book is surpassed. Sibley's "Guide to Birds" is a must book for any birders library.