This was my first bird book

I have immensely enjoyed this book as a resource for identifying birds I have seen while travelling or hanging in my yard. I can't say how many of my first sightings were identified in this book. Though tattered and worn and a bit stiff from getting wet, this book still sits by the window where the birds fly by. Birds add so much to my quality of life, it is nice to have a good, well-organized resource near by.

My favourite bird book.

I have been birding for 18 years and own several hundred bird books.I have used all the common books for North America that have been around during that period .I have built my life list for North America up to 596 species in that time.In my opinion, this is the best all round Field Guide for North America.
Until this book first came out in 1983 the most popular bird guide was Peterson,s; but it came in two volumes,one for the East and one for the West.This book covers all North America.I am frequently asked by people who are just getting started in birding,people who are buying for someone they know who "is interested" in birds and others who have a book ;but want something else;and ask, "What is the best book to buy,there seem to be so many?" My answer is;"You can't go wrong with this book."It is now in its 4th Edition, and I have bought each new edition as they have come out.There have been continual improvements made with each edition.The National Geographic have been a major publisher of all kinds of books for a long time. Personally,I feel their strength has been in photography and high quality printing and construction.In many cases their books are somewhat superficial;but don't let that disuade you .This book is so well done it is the choice of the majority of birders.I can't think of any birder I know who hasn't got a copy of it.
The thing that makes this book such a success is that it was put together by a large number of the best birders in North America.There are several other reviews on this book and they are all worth reading.I just can't imagine anyone regretting that they choose to buy this book;what more is there to say to recommend it?

Hard to Go Wrong

For birders, there's never been a better time to find a field guide. Sibley and Kauffman have both published very good guides recently, serious competition for the venerable National Geographic guide. National Geographic has responded with this, the 4th Edition, which has almost all of the new names, new splits and new species. How to decide among the competitors for the guide to take into the field?

First, you can't go wrong with any of the three. They are all very good, although each brings different strengths and weaknesses.

Second, if you bird with a companion, carry different guides: one of you take National Geographic and one of you take Sibley or Kauffman.

Third, measure your skill level against the assumptions of the various guides. If you are a novice, then Kauffman might be your best choice. If you are a beginner who has a bit of experience, then National Geo may be your best choice. If you are an advanced beginner or better, then perhaps Sibley.

But as an overall choice, with decent art (although not quite as good or as consistent as Sibley), decent identification highlights (although not quite as good as Kauffman), quite good behavior cues, excellent treatment of vagrant birds, pretty accurate range maps and highly readable text, National Geographic emerges as the most versatile of the three.

If you can, get all three. If you can't get all three, this is probably, by the thinnest of margins, the best choice