Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Classification of Birds

Learning to Identify Birds

Variation in Appearance

Learning Songs and Calls

Finding Rare Birds

Ethics

Extinct Species

Bird Topography

Parts of a Passerine

Head Feathers

Body Feathers

Wing Feathers

Parts of a Shorebird

Parts of a Duck

Parts of a Gull

Molt and Plumage

North American Birds Species Accounts

Loons

Grebes

Albatrosses, Petrels, and Shearwaters

Storm-Petrels

Pelecaniformes

Anhinga, Boobies, Cormorants, Frigatebirds, Gannets, Pelicans, Tropicbirds

Cormorants and Anthinga

Identification of Sulids

Wading Birds

Bitterns, Egrets, Flamingos, Herons, Ibises, Spoonbills, Storks

Identification of White Herons

Identification of Dark Ibises

Swans, Geese, and Ducks

Identification of Swans

Geese Head and Bill Shapes

Domestic Waterfowl

Exotic Waterfowl

Identification of Scaup

Identification of Eiders

Diving Motions

Identification of Scoters

Identification of Goldeneyes

Diurnal Raptors

Eagles, Falcons, Hawks, Vultures

Harrier Flight Shapes

Raptor Hunting Techniques

Identification of Accipiters

Identification of Buteos

Identification of Falcons

Upland Game Birds

Chachalacas, Grouse, Partridges, Pheasants, Prairie-Chickens, Ptarmigan, Quail, Turkeys

Exotic Game Birds

Gruiformes

Coots, Cranes, Limpkin, Moorhens, Rails

Habits of Rails

Shorebirds

Avocets, Curlews, Dowitchers, Godwits, Jacanas, Lapwings, Oystercatchers, Phalaropes, Plovers, Ruff, Sandpipers, Snipe, Stilts, Turnstones, Willet, Woodcocks, Yellowlegs

Rare Shorebirds

Aging and Identification of Shorebirds

Identification of Peeps

Aerial Displays of Snipe and Woodcock

Identification of Phalaropes

Jaegers and Skuas

Jaeger Bill Shapes

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Hybrid Gulls

Identification of Gulls

Alcids

Auklets, Dovekie, Guillemots, Murrelets, Murres, Puffins

Identification of Murres

Pigeons and Doves

Parrots and Their Allies

Cuckoos and Their Allies

Anis, Cuckoos, Roadrunners

Owls

Goatsuckers and Swifts

Hummingbirds

Identification of Hummingbirds

Trogons

Kingfishers

Woodpeckers

Drumming Sounds

Tyrant Flycatchers

Flycatchers, Kingbirds, Pewees, Phoebes, Wood-Pewees

Shrikes and Vireos

Jays, Crows, and Their Allies

Crows, Jays, Magpies, Ravens, Scrub-Jays

Larks

Open-Ground Birds

Swallows

Molt in Swallows

Chickadees and Their Allies

Bushtit, Chickadees, Titmice, Verdin

Drab Gray Birds of the Arid Southwest

Nuthatches and Creepers

Wrens

Scold Notes

Sedge Wren and Grass Sparrows

Old World Warblers, Thrushes, and Their Allies

Bluebirds, Dippers, Gnatcatchers, Kinglets, Robins, Thrushes, Warblers, Wrentit

Identification of Gnatcatchers

Typical Thrushes

Robinlike Songs

Mimids

Catbirds, Mockingbirds, Thrashers

Starlings and Mynas

Wagtails and Pipits

Silky-Flycatchers and Bulbuls

Waxwings

Wood-Warblers

Parulas, Redstarts, Warblers, Waterthrushes

Blue-winged x Golden-winged Hybrids

Warbler Plumages

Identification of Fall Warblers

Identifying Songs

Aberrant Passerines

Tanagers, Cardinals, and Their Allies

Bananaquit, Cardinaline Buntings, Cardinals, Dickcissel, Grosbpeaks, Tanagers

Identification of Tanagers

Identification of Grosbeaks

Identification of Cardinaline Buntings

Emberizine Sparrows and Their Allies

Emberizine Buntings, Juncos, Longspurs, Sparrows, Towhees

Identification of Spizella Sparrows

Sparrowlike Birds

Identification of Emberizine Buntings

Icterids

Blackbirds, Bobolink, Cowbirds, Grackles, Meadowlarks, Orioles

Identification of Meadowlarks

Identification of Orioles

Finches and Old World Sparrows

Crossbills, Finches, Goldfinches, Grosbeaks, Old World Sparrows, Redpolls, Siskins

Red Crossbill Types

Identification of Red Crossbills

Exotic Finches

Species Index