The Sibley Guide to Birds

David Allen Sibley, America's most gifted contemporary painter of birds, is the author and illustrator of this comprehensive guide. His beautifully detailed illustrationsmore than 6,600 in alland 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 The Sibley Guide to Birdsprovides a wealth of new information: Captioned illustrations show many previously unpublished field marks and revisions of known marks Nearly every species is shown in flight Measurements include length, wingspan, and weight for every species Subspecies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 WithThe 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.

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 <i>Birding</i> and <i>American Birds</i> (now <i>Field Notes</i>) 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.