New Titles

 

 

1-2) Floyd, Ted. National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of the United States and Canada―East, and West (2nd Editions). 2025. National Geographic. Flexibound: 447 and 495 pages respectively. Price: $24.99 U.S. each.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARIES: An entirely updated edition of the classic bestselling regional bird field guide from National Geographic, covering the U.S. and Canada east of the Rockies.

     Provides ID information, data-driven maps, and annotated illustrations of more than 800 bird species.

     Backyard beginners and dedicated life-listers alike will love the expanded new edition of this trusted guide to the birds of eastern United States and Canada. With new text, revised art, and data-derived range maps, this valuable resource complements the apps and online resources used by birders today.

     Groundbreaking new features join tried-and-true traditions. This field guide offers:

• More pages, more species than the first edition
• More than 800 species, including 586 likely to be observed and 240 that occur more rarely
• Organized according to current taxonomy
• Informative notes explaining evolution, etymology, and more
• User-friendly format with explanatory text on the left and matching annotated art on the right
• Easy-to-carry paperback with thumb tabs and a visual index
• All-new maps based on crowd-sourced data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird, the world's top database of bird observations

     All told, this second edition of the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of the United States and Canada—East is a must-have guide for birders young and old, avid and beginner.

     An entirely updated edition of the classic bestselling regional bird field guide from National Geographic, covering the western U.S. and Canada, including Hawaii.

     Birdwatchers from the Rockies west will find nearly 1,000 species in this user-friendly guide, with all new text, updated art, and data-driven maps

     Backyard beginners and dedicated life-listers alike will love the expanded new edition of this trusted guide to the birds of western United States and Canada, including Hawaii. With new text, revised art, and data–derived range maps, this valuable resource complements the apps and online resources used by birders today.

     With groundbreaking new features plus tried-and-true traditions, this field guide offers:

• More pages, more species, than the earlier edition
• Nearly 1,000 species, 717 likely to be observed and 253 that appear more rarely
• Organized according to current taxonomy
• User-friendly format with explanatory text on the left and matching annotated illustrations on the right
• Easy-to-carry paperback with thumb tabs and a visual index for easy navigation
• All-new maps based on crowd-sourced data from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's eBird, the world’s top database of bird observations

All told, this second edition of the National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of the United States and Canada—West is a must-have guide for birders young and old, avid and beginner.

RECOMMENDATION: The page counts have increased from 431 to 447 (East) and 447 to 495 (West). Physically the books are about the same size as the first edition ones. Hawaiian birds have been added to the West guide. Most of the artwork has been recycled from the first edition. With the new range maps, the colors are dull especially the yellow and the political boundaries are faint and hard to see, but this should be corrected in later printings. The gray text font can also be hard to see. These books are probably best for more experienced beginning/intermediate birders.

 

 

3-4) Campbell, Iain et al.. Habitats of North America, and Africa: A Field Guide for Birders, Naturalists, and Ecologists (Habitats of the World). 2025. Princeton University Press. Flexibound: 376 and 448 pages respectively. Price: $35.00 U.S. each.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARIES: A richly illustrated field guide to all of North America’s major habitats—packed with invaluable information to help you get the most out of your outdoor adventures

     Whether you’re a birder, naturalist, outdoor enthusiast, or ecologist, knowing the surrounding habitat is essential to getting the most out of your experiences in the field. This compact, easy-to-use guide provides an unparalleled treatment of the wonderfully diverse habitats of North America. Incisive and up-to-date descriptions cover the unique features of each habitat, from geology and climate to soil and hydrology. Requiring no scientific background, Habitats of North America offers quick and reliable information for anyone who wants a deeper understanding and appreciation of the habitats around them.

• Covers 81 major North American habitats, including wetlands and oceanic habitats
• Features hundreds of color photos of habitats and their wildlife, a wealth of helpful diagrams and illustrations, and a detailed distribution map for each land habitat
• Concise text provides all the information you need to identify and understand habitats anywhere in North America quickly and accurately
• Discusses iconic and indicator species of birds, mammals, and plants
• Includes an in-depth section on habitat classification—invaluable for ecologists
• Representative habitat accounts describe what you can expect to see and experience there
• Formatted like a field guide for easy reference

 

     A richly illustrated field guide to all of Africa’s major habitats—packed with invaluable information to help you understand these habitats and their wildlife

     With breathtaking wildlife and stunningly beautiful locales, Africa is a premier destination for birders, conservationists, ecotourists, and ecologists. This compact, easy-to-use guide provides an unparalleled treatment of the continent’s wonderfully diverse habitats. Incisive and up-to-date descriptions cover the unique features of each habitat, from geology and climate to soil and hydrology, and require no scientific background. Knowing the surrounding environment is essential to getting the most out of your travel experiences. Habitats of Africa offers quick and reliable information for anyone who wants a deeper understanding and appreciation of the habitats around them.

• Covers 73 major African habitats, including oceanic habitats
• Features hundreds of color photos of habitats and their wildlife, a wealth of helpful diagrams and illustrations, and a detailed distribution map for each land habitat
• Concise text provides all the information you need to identify and understand habitats anywhere in Africa quickly and accurately
• Discusses iconic and indicator species of birds, mammals, and plants
• Includes an in-depth section on habitat classification—invaluable for ecologists
• Representative habitat accounts include a feature describing what you can expect to see and experience there
• Formatted like a field guide for easy reference

RECOMMENDATION: These books are a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the natural history of North America and/or Africa!  

 

 

5) Pasquier, Roger F.. Birds at Rest: The Behavior and Ecology of Avian Sleep. 2025. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 338 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Birds at Rest is the first book to give a full picture of how birds rest, roost, and sleep, a vital part of their lives. It features new science that can measure what is happening in a bird’s brain over the course of a night or when it has flown to another hemisphere, as well as still-valuable observations by legendary naturalists such as John James Audubon, Alfred Russel Wallace, and Theodore Roosevelt. Much of what they saw and what ornithologists are studying today can be observed and enjoyed by any birder.

     From the poles to the tropics, how, when, and where birds sleep reflect the ecology and behavior of each species, as well as their evolution from dinosaur ancestors. Some sleep briefly, their brain half awake, others spend long cold nights in torpor, and a few can sleep while flying. Their roosting habits are also varied. Most birds sleep alone, some in pairs or families, while others in flocks of millions. Birds at Rest explains how each strategy works over the course of a season, a year, or a lifetime by providing protection, mating opportunities, information about food, and other survival benefits.

     With evocative drawings by artist and illustrator Margaret La Farge, Birds at Rest discusses how environmental challenges such as artificial lights and noise, invasive species, and climate change are disrupting avian sleep and proposes solutions to ensure that birds get the rest they need.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in this aspect of bird behavior.

 

6) Eipper, Tie and Scott. Snakes of Australia. 2025. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 368 pages. Price: $45.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A comprehensive and user-friendly photographic field guide

     With more than 1,000 photographs, Snakes of Australia illustrates and describes in detail all 240 of the continent’s species and subspecies—from file snakes, pythons, colubrids, and natricids to elapids, marine elapids, homalopsids, and blind snakes.

• Features introductions to each family, species descriptions, type locations, distribution maps, and quick-identification keys to each family and genera
• Covers English and scientific names, appearance, range, ecology, disposition, danger level, and IUCN Red List Category
• Illustrates every species and has multiple images for some species to show variation
• Presents information on habitat types, snakes in the environment, and snake-bite prevention and first aid
• Includes a checklist of all the snakes, a glossary, and a table of venom toxicity

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the snakes of Australia.

 

 

 

 

7) Nentwig, Wolfgang et al.. House Spiders - Worldwide. 2024. ‎ Springer. Paperback: ‎ 223 pages. Price: $32.99 U.S.

 

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: To avoid any misunderstandings: this book is not about spiders as pets, but about those spiders that live in our houses and apartments as lodgers. Mostly ignored and sometimes (wrongly) feared, there is hardly a building in the world that does not harbour some species of spider. What is fascinating is that we always find the same species. These spiders must have special adaptations, because the humidity in our homes is far too low, they are too clean, and the food supply is usually scarce. However, those spiders that have made the leap into our four walls are rewarded with a worldwide right to stay. This, in turn, is due to people's eagerness to trade and migrate worldwide: Humans tirelessly transport their belongings and an endless stream of goods around the world in sacks, parcels and containers. And our domestic spiders, as stowaways, travel just as tirelessly and unrecognized. It is therefore possible to present domestic spiders found throughout the world in a single book, as they are essentially the same everywhere. The 50 or so most important species and species groups are presented here in a generally understandable way, with a detailed profile, photos and distribution maps.

     The authors of this book are experts who work at museums, universities and in administration in Europe and North America. They are not only recognized scientists, but have also been avowed spider fans for decades.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in domestic spiders!

 

 

 

New Titles

 

 

 

1) Menkhorst, Peter et al.. The Australian Bird Guide: Revised Edition. 2024. Helm. Flexibound: 566 pages. Price: $55.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Australia's avifauna is large, diverse and spectacular, reflecting the continent's wide range of habitats and evolutionary history. The book covers every regularly occurring species in Australia, including subspecies and rarities. Illustrations of more than 900 species on almost 250 plates, with particular emphasis on providing the fine detail required to identify difficult groups and distinctive plumages, make The Australian Bird Guide the most comprehensive guide to Australian birds ever published.

     This revised edition includes updated maps and artwork, reflecting advances in our knowledge of the biology and distribution of Australia's birds, plus fully updated text to ensure identification, distribution and status details are current and accurate, along with an improved index.

     This book sets the standard for coverage of Australia's remarkable avifauna. It is truly indispensable for anyone looking to explore Australia's magnificent and unique birdlife.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone birding Australia!

 

 

2) Boon, Richard. Clinging to the Edge: A Year in the Life of a Little Tern Colony. 2024. Pelagic Publishing. Paperback: 134 pages. Price: $36.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A summer migrant to Europe from West Africa, the Little Tern is one of our most threatened and most captivating seabirds. This book is the story of one breeding season at the Beacon Lagoons colony on the North Sea coast, near Spurn Point in East Yorkshire. In elegant and evocative prose it offers an intimate portrait of these endangered birds, covering everything from foraging and breeding to predators and conservation.

     The colony's small size means that it can be monitored, protected and documented in an unusual level of detail. Close observation of the birds' behaviour and an in-depth knowledge of the natural history of their environment raise important questions about how and why we seek to preserve and protect species for whose decline we are ourselves largely responsible. A tight focus on the spectacular natural, geographical and cultural headland that is Spurn Point also provides new insights into the ecology of Little Terns. Covering the progress of the colony month by month, through an eventful spring and summer, Clinging to the Edge brings these charismatic and endearing birds vividly to life.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in Little Terns.

 

3) Hansen, Robert and Jackson D. Shedd. California Amphibians and Reptiles. 2025. Princeton University Press. Flexibound: 520 pages. Price: $35.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: California is home to more than 200 species of reptiles and amphibians that can be found in an extraordinary array of habitats, from coastal temperate rainforests with giant redwoods to southeastern deserts offering dazzling wildflower displays each spring. California Amphibians and Reptiles covers every species and subspecies in this biodiverse region of the United States, with outstanding color photography and in-depth species accounts that draw on the latest findings on taxonomy and distribution. Setting a new standard for regional field guides, this state-of-the-art guide will serve as the definitive reference for California’s amphibian and reptile fauna for many years to come.

• Covers all 209 species of amphibians and reptiles found in California
• Features hundreds of stunning photos that illustrate geographic and within-species variation as well as differences among males, females, and young
• Includes first-ever color images and species accounts for newly discovered species
• Shows every species and subspecies in full color on a white background
• Depicts all amphibian larvae in breathtaking color
• Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, similar species, habitat, range and elevation, activity and behavior, diet, reproduction, and conservation
• Provides updated status of all threatened, endangered, nonnative, and special concern species
• Accurate range maps reflect contemporary and, where applicable, historical distributions in light of significant habitat loss across the state
• An invaluable resource for amateur naturalists, resource managers, and professional herpetologists

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in California's amphibians and reptiles! 

 

 

 

4) Harris, Stephen A.. Catesby's Natural History. 2024. Bodleian Library. Hardbound: 304 pages. Price: $75.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A beautiful reproduction of naturalist Mark Catesby’s flora and fauna illustrations of North America and the Caribbean.

      Mark Catesby was an eighteenth-century naturalist and artist whose work on the natural history of North America and the Caribbean still resonates today. During several perilous trips, Catesby collected specimens and made extensive observations in the field, gathering material that would eventually become The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands, which featured 220 elaborate, distinctive hand-colored illustrations.

      With their striking combinations of animals and plants paired together with the first-hand observations he made, Catesby’s stunning illustrations were widely appreciated in their time and catalyzed interest in the natural history of Colonial America. Ultimately, his work was established as a key reference for the scientific understanding of natural history. As an artist, Catesby meticulously recorded the environment, sifting fact from fiction about the lives of the plants and animals he observed. As a collector, he introduced many living plants to Britain, thereby changing European gardens forever.

     Catesby’s Natural History reproduces all the original plates and shows how Catesby’s practical field experience shaped his work in all areas. Whether through the now-extinct species he recorded or the cultural changes he witnessed, his research continues to be relevant, demonstrating the vulnerability and fragility of the natural world. 

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in the natural history history of North America.

 

 

 

BEST BIRD BOOKS OF 2024

 

The following are my picks for the best bird books of 2024:

BEST BOOK: 

1) van Duivendijk, Nils. ID Handbook of European Birds. 2024. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 1056 pages (in two volumes). Price: $107.00 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Would you like to be able to identify any bird species in Europe, in all plumages, in every season? ID Handbook of European Birds is the resource for you. This identification handbook blends incisive descriptions with stunning high-resolution photos to provide the most comprehensive, in-depth coverage of European birds available. Never before has so much current information been brought together in one place and presented so clearly and completely. This monumental two-volume work is destined to become a standard reference to Europe’s birds.

• Covers 733 species known to occur in Europe
• Features more than 5,500 spectacular color photos
• Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, molting, age, and gender
• The high-quality photos depict the characteristics most essential for identification
• Innovatively designed for easy, at-a-glance reference
• An ideal resource for anyone who wants to enhance their experience in the field
• A must for bird-watchers everywhere, from beginners to seasoned birders

RECOMMENDATION: These books are a MUST-HAVE for all serious birders in Europe!   

 

 

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

 

1) Ayyash, Amar. The Gull Guide: North America. 2024. Princeton University Press. Flexibound: 518 pages. Price: $39.95 U.S. 

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The definitive photographic guide to North American gulls.

     Gull identification can be challenging for even the most seasoned birder. While these birds are common to coasts, lakes, and rivers, they exhibit remarkable plumage changes related to age, which is sometimes complicated by similarities between species and a readiness to hybridize. This book provides an invaluable identification guide to all regularly occurring gull species and subspecies throughout North America. It is packed with the very latest research on field identification, updated taxonomy, current distribution trends, color maps, and helpful notes on natural history, aging, and molt. The Gull Guide integrates the essential elements that are critical to understanding gulls, setting an entirely new standard for identifying and enjoying these marvelous birds.

• Features more than 1,800 superb color photos
• Covers 36 gull species as well as 7 of the most commonly encountered hybrid gulls
• Gives equal attention to rarities from Asia, Europe, and South America
• Describes the key characteristics of all age groups, from juvenile through adult plumages
• Innovative photo collages give side-by-side comparisons, enabling readers to distinguish between similar species and avoid common pitfalls associated with gull identification
• Comes with a one-of-a-kind “cheat sheet” describing key features of select Larus species
• A must for the bookshelf of every birder and ornithologist

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the gulls of the region!

 

 

2) Ellis, David H. et al.(editors). The Golden Eagle Around the World. 2024. Hancock House. Hardbound: 918 pages. Price: $99.95 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Unlike all other monographs on the Golden Eagle, each of which had a regional focus on the study area of the author, this book represents the most wide-ranging compilation of Golden Eagle research ever.

      With over 175 authors reporting on more than 2000 combined field seasons, representing every biome where the species is found, this book marks one of the greatest attempts to describe the biology of any circumpolar species. Having more than 920 pages, over 1,500 illustrations, many never previously published, this work represents a truly global achievement. It merits a place in the library of every ornithologist and raptor enthusiast.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the Golden Eagle! The only drawback to this book is a lack of a subject index. 

3) Stokes, Lillian Q. and Matthew A. Young. The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada. 2024. Little, Brown and Company. Paperback: 332 pages. Price: $21.99 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Learn all you need to know about identifying and attracting finches with this comprehensive, gloriously colorful field guide from America’s foremost authorities on birds and nature.

     Following the extraordinary finch superflight of 2020-2021, birders across the country became obsessed with finches. With The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, you can gain expert knowledge on these beautiful birds and bring them into your own yard. This fully illustrated guide tells you all you need to know about attracting, observing, and protecting finches.

The book also includes:

• A special section on endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper finches, plus other rare and vagrant species
• Detailed identification information on each finch species’ plumages, subspecies, and voice
• The most complete and up-to-date range maps, including maps of core occurrence and irruption ranges for all red crossbill call types, which have never before been published in a guide
• Complete life history information
• Scientific studies on finch migrations and conservation
• More than 345 stunning full-color photographs and over 50 range maps covering 43 species

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the finches of the region!

 

 

4) Kaufman, Kenn. The Birds That Audubon Missed: Discovery and Desire in the American Wilderness. 2024. Avid Reader Press. Hardbound: 387 pages. Price: $32.50 U.S.

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Renowned naturalist Kenn Kaufman examines the scientific discoveries of John James Audubon and his artistic and ornithologist peers to show how what they saw (and what they missed) reflects how we perceive and understand the natural world.

     Raging ambition. Towering egos. Competition under a veneer of courtesy. Heroic effort combined with plagiarism, theft, exaggeration, and fraud. This was the state of bird study in eastern North America during the early 1800s, as a handful of intrepid men raced to find the last few birds that were still unknown to science.

     The most famous name in the bird world was John James Audubon, who painted spectacular portraits of birds. But although his images were beautiful, creating great art was not his main goal. Instead, he aimed to illustrate (and write about) as many different species as possible, obsessed with trying to outdo his rival, Alexander Wilson. George Ord, a fan and protégé of Wilson, held a bitter grudge against Audubon for years, claiming he had faked much of his information and his scientific claims. A few of Audubon’s birds were pure fiction, and some of his writing was invented or plagiarized. Other naturalists of the era, including Charles Bonaparte (nephew of Napoleon), John Townsend, and Thomas Nuttall, also became entangled in the scientific derby, as they stumbled toward an understanding of the natural world—an endeavor that continues to this day.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the ornithological history of the USA!