From leading ornithologist and bestselling author David Sibley comes this essential write-in field companion for all levels of birders. This indispensable birder's companion includes both ample space for on-site notes and a life list to be filled in by the legions of passionate birders who have bought Sibley's bestselling guides. Included are entries for the 923 species found in the United States and Canada, with space for recording where and when a bird was seen and for notes or memories about the sighting. At the back is a complete checklist of all the birds for building the life list.

Provides basic information about the biology, life cycles, and behavior of birds, along with brief profiles of each of the eighty bird families in North America.

The bird book for birders and nonbirders alike that will excite and inspire by providing a new and deeper understanding of what common, mostly backyard, birds are doing—and why: "Can birds smell?"; "Is this the same cardinal that was at my feeder last year?"; "Do robins 'hear' worms?" "The book's beauty mirrors the beauty of birds it describes so marvelously." —NPR In What It's Like to Be a Bird, David Sibley answers the most frequently asked questions about the birds we see most often. This special, large-format volume is geared as much to nonbirders as it is to the out-and-out obsessed, covering more than two hundred species and including more than 330 new illustrations by the author. While its focus is on familiar backyard birds—blue jays, nuthatches, chickadees—it also examines certain species that can be fairly easily observed, such as the seashore-dwelling Atlantic puffin. David Sibley's exacting artwork and wide-ranging expertise bring observed behaviors vividly to life. (For most species, the primary illustration is reproduced life-sized.) And while the text is aimed at adults—including fascinating new scientific research on the myriad ways birds have adapted to environmental changes—it is nontechnical, making it the perfect occasion for parents and grandparents to share their love of birds with young children, who will delight in the big, full-color illustrations of birds in action. Unlike any other book he has written, What It's Like to Be a Bird is poised to bring a whole new audience to David Sibley's world of birds.

Responding to popular demand, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers an all-new edition of its beloved Birder's Life List and Journal. This completely updated full-color edition includes gorgeous illustrations. Open-ended pages allow birders to make longer entries and sketches, and fill-in areas facilitate notes on species.

A special place for birders to record their observations and memories. Essays accompany original images from the world's greatest bird photographers. 115 illustrations. in color.

From leading ornithologist and bestselling author David Sibley comes this essential write-in field companion for all levels of birders. This indispensable birder's companion includes both ample space for on-site notes and a life list to be filled in by the legions of passionate birders who have bought Sibley's bestselling guides. Included are entries for the 923 species found in the United States and Canada, with space for recording where and when a bird was seen and for notes or memories about the sighting. At the back is a complete checklist of all the birds for building the life list.

From the renowned author of the New York Times best seller The Sibley Guide to Birds, a comprehensive, beautifully illustrated guide to identifying birds in the field. Sibley's Birding Basics is an essential companion for birders of all skill and experience levels. With Sibley as your guide, learn how to interpret what the feathers, the anatomical structure, the sounds of a bird tell you. When you know the clues that show you why there’s no such thing as, for example, “just a duck” birding will be more fun, and more meaningful. An essential addition to the Sibley shelf! The Sibley Guide to Birds and The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior are both universally acclaimed as the new standard source of species information. And now David Sibley, America’s premier birder and best-known bird artist, turns his attention to the general characteristics that influence the appearance of all birds, unlocking the clues to their identity. In 200 beautifully rendered illustrations and 16 essays, this scientifically precise volume distills the essence of Sibley’s own experience and skills, providing a solid introduction to “naming” the birds. Birding Basics reviews how one can get started as a birder—the equipment necessary, where and when to go birding, and perhaps most important, the essential things to look for when birds appear in the field—as well as the basic concepts of bird identification and the variations that can change the appearance of a bird over time or in different settings. Sibley also provides critical information on the aspects of avian life that differ from species to species: feathers (color, arrangement, shape, molt), behavior and habitat, and sounds.