National Audubon Society: The Sibley Guide to Birds »

David Allen Sibley, son of the well-known ornithologist Fred Sibley, began seriously watching and drawing birds in 1969, at age seven. He has written and illustrated articles on bird identification for Birding and American Birds (now Field Notes) as well as regional publications and books. Since 1980 David has traveled the continent watching birds on his own and as a tour leader for WINGS, Inc. He has lived in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. He now lives in Concord, Massachusetts.

David Allen Sibley, America's most gifted contemporary painter of birds, is the author and illustrator of this comprehensive guide. His beautifully detailed illustrations—more than 6,600 in all—and descriptions of 810 species and 350 regional populations will enrich every birder's experience.

The Sibley Guide's innovative design makes it entirely user friendly. The illustrations are arranged to facilitate comparison, yet still capture the unique character of each species.

The Sibley Guide to Birds provides a wealth of new information:
—Captioned illustrations show many previously unpublished field marks and revisions of known marks
—Nearly every species is shown in flight
—Measurements include length, wingspan, and weight for every species
—Subspecies and geographic varients are covered thoroughly
—Complete voice descriptions are included for every species
—Maps show the complete distribution of every species: summer and winter ranges, migration routes, and rare occurrences

Both novice and experienced birders will appreciate these and other innovative features:
—An introductory page for each family or group of related families makes comparisons simple
—Clear and concise labels with pointers identify field marks directly
—Birds are illustrated in similar poses to make comparisons between species quick and easy
—Illustrations emphasize the way birds look in the field

With The Sibley Guide to Birds, the National Audubon Society makes the art and expertise of David Sibley available to the world in a comprehensive, handsome, easy-to-use volume that will be the indispensable identification guide every birder must own.

The New York Times - E. Vernon Laux

A must-have guide for anyone interested in birds.

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Classification of Birds

Learning to Identify Birds

Variation in Appearance

Learning Songs and Calls

Finding Rare Birds

Ethics

Extinct Species

Bird Topography

Parts of a Passerine

Head Feathers

Body Feathers

Wing Feathers

Parts of a Shorebird

Parts of a Duck

Parts of a Gull

Molt and Plumage North American Birds Species Accounts

Loons

Grebes

Albatrosses, Petrels, and Shearwaters

Storm-Petrels

Pelecaniformes

Anhinga, Boobies, Cormorants, Frigatebirds, Gannets, Pelicans, Tropicbirds

Cormorants and Anthinga

Identification of Sulids

Wading Birds Bitterns, Egrets, Flamingos, Herons, Ibises, Spoonbills, Storks

Identification of White Herons

Identification of Dark Ibises

Swans, Geese, and Ducks

Identification of Swans

Geese Head and Bill Shapes

Domestic Waterfowl

Exotic Waterfowl

Identification of Scaup

Identification of Eiders

Diving Motions

Identification of Scoters

Identification of Goldeneyes

Diurnal Raptors

Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Vultures

Harrier Flight Shapes

Raptor Hunting Techniques

Identification of Accipiters

Identification of Buteos

Identification of Falcons

Upland Game Birds

Chachalacas, Grouse, Partridges, Pheasants, Prairie-Chickens, Ptarmigan, Quail, Turkeys

Exotic Game Birds

Gruiformes

Coots, Cranes, Limpkin, Moorhens, Rails

Habits of Rails

Shorebirds

Avocets, Curlews, Dowitchers, Godwits,

Jacanas, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Phalaropes, Plovers, Ruff, Sandpipers, Snipe, Stilts, Turnstones, Willet, Woodcocks, Yellowlegs

Rare Shorebirds

Aging and Identification of Shorebirds

Identification of Peeps

Aerial Displays of Snipe and Woodcock

Identification of Phalaropes

Jaegers and Skuas

Jaeger Bill Shapes

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Hybrid Gulls

Identification of Gulls Alcids

Auklets, Dovekie, Guillemots, Murrelets, Murres, Puffins

Identification of Murres

Pigeons and Doves

Parrots and Their Allies

Cuckoos and Their Allies

Anis, Cuckoos, Roadrunners

Owls

Goatsuckers and Swifts

Hummingbirds

Identification of Hummingbirds

Trogons

Kingfishers

Woodpeckers

Drumming Sounds

Tyrant Flycatchers Flycatchers, Kingbirds, Pewees, Phoebes, Wood-Pewees

Shrikes and Vireos

Jays, Crows, and Their Allies

Crows, Jays, Magpies, Ravens, Scrub-Jays

Larks

Open-Ground Birds

Swallows

Molt in Swallows

Chickadees and Their Allies

Bushtit, Chickadees, Titmice, Verdin

Drab Gray Birds of the Arid Southwest

Nuthatches and Creepers

Wrens

Scold Notes

Sedge Wren and Grass Sparrows

Old World Warblers, Thrushes, and Their Allies

Bluebirds, Dippers, Gnatcatchers, Kinglets, Robins, Thrushes, Warblers, Wrentit

Identification of Gnatcatchers

Typical Thrushes

Robinlike Songs

Mimids

Catbirds, Mockingbirds, Thrashers

Starlings and Mynas

Wagtails and Pipits

Silky-Flycatchers and Bulbuls

Waxwings

Wood-Warblers Parulas, Redstarts, Warblers, Waterthrushes

Blue-winged x Golden-winged Hybrids

Warbler Plumages

Identification of Fall Warblers

Identifying Songs

Aberrant Passerines

Tanagers, Cardinals, and Their Allies

Bananaquit, Cardinaline Buntings, Cardinals, Dickcissel, Grosbpeaks, Tanagers

Identification of Tanagers

Identification of Grosbeaks

Identification of Cardinaline Buntings

Emberizine Sparrows and Their Allies

Emberizine Buntings, Juncos, Longspurs, Sparrows, Towhees

Identification of Spizella Sparrows

Sparrowlike Birds

Identification of Emberizine Buntings

Icterids

Blackbirds, Bobolink, Cowbirds, Grackles, Meadowlarks, Orioles

Identification of Meadowlarks

Identification of Orioles

Finches