The Birds Of North America - Western Region

The winning photo-encyclopedic formula of the DK Handbooks, which has sold more than five million copies worldwide, is taken to a new level of excellence in this comprehensive handbook to the birds of North America: Western Region, and every species that occurs west of the 100th meridian in the US and Canada receives its own full-page profile.

Each species entry combines a precise description with annotated photographs to highlight the key field marks of the bird and points of particular interest. An introductory paragraph covers the general gestault of each bird. The following text is broken into six sections, which deal with the song and other vocalizations, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation. Details of the bird's flight pattern and nest identification are shown with icons and described verbally. Similar birds are shown and their distinguishing characteristics are described. Each profile includes a map showing the bird's range during summer, winter, and on migration. Female and juvenile plumages are shown and discussed if they differ substantially from the male plumage.

Published in association with America's preeminent authority, the Smithsonian Institution, this comprehensive handbook to the birds of North America: Western Region includes 696 species -- all birds known to breed east of the 100th meridian on the United States and Canada, as well as regular visitors and vagrants to this region. The Smithsonian Handbook is the first identification guide that includes details of the bird's life history in a concise and user-friendly format. Each full-page profile combines a precise description, annotated photographs, and artworks to highlight the key field marks of the species in each plumage. Similar species are shown and distinguishing characteristics are noted. Further information on the bird's habits describes the typical song and other vocalizations, behavior, breeding, nesting, population, and conservation concerns. Typical flight patterns and nest locations and shapes are described with clear icons, and amplified in the text. Each bird's range during summer, winter, and on migration is clearly shown on a map.