A very useful guide to SE Arizona birds
590142
I used this book on my first birding trip to SE Arizona and  it was extremely useful in both identifying the species and the range maps.  It is small enough to fit easily into a jacket pocket and strong enough to withstand some heavy use in the field.
4495452
Combined with other birding books for the area, it worked well in Belize and eastern Guatemala. Drawings included are quite accurate
566272
I recently purchased this book for an upcoming trip to Borneo. I had an older guide but this one was strongly suggested by a friend and fellow tour leader. The recommendation was based upon several points: the book is newer, the taxonomy has been updated, a few more species have been added to the text, a smaller geographic area is covered (making it easier to use than my older guide), and much additional information not usually found in bird guides has been included in the form of side bars. The later includes illustrations of food plants and their fruits, paintings of a few mammals that associate with birds, as well as brief discussions concerning all sorts of topics ranging from zoogeography to animal behavior to organizations that support bird research. There are some very good regional maps with notes on places to bird and what species might be expected. The illustrations are excellent, and the book is reasonably priced. It fits the bill and then some. Highly recommended.
2757792
The Simpson Guide is an excellent, well-researched field guide and it shows. Although this book doesn't have photographs of the birds, the illustrations are first-rate. These illustrations are particular insofar as they depict both male and female plumage, chicks and juveniles, ventral and dorsal flight, face pattern, bill/beak length and more. Obviously, the information varies in length from bird to bird. The entries include plumage, habitat, size and voice and convenient avifaunal range maps, which again are accurate.

Towards the end of the book, there is what is called a handbook, explaining at length the life cycle of a bird, types of habitat, prehistory, Australian bird families and a rare bird bulletin (again showing smaller colored illustrations of these rare birds) To top it off, there is also a glossary and and index of Latin names.
Overall it is comprehensive, thorough volume.
2135915
Dunne's EFGC (Essential Field Guide Companion) is a great supplement to any field guides a birder might have. The purchaser must realize that this is not a "take in your pocket in the field" book, but rather, a "read this part or that part or the whole durn thing when you have time" book.

To sorta kinda reiterate what others have said but some perhaps haven't really snapped to: this is not a field guide per se. It does not have bird diagrams with key identification points depicted, it does not have range maps, it does not have pictures of the species in their natural habitat (or in their unnatural habitat, either).

What it DOES have is
a) extensive notes on all the species covered, with descriptions of range during breeding and non-breeding seasons and migration info;
b) useful descriptions of key features of the physical appearance;
c) notes on songs and calls with the author's own mnemonic devices;
d) info on other species that might seem similar;
e) behavioral discriminators and a plethora of classic "general impression" insights on flight type, "demeanor" etc.

Dunne gives each bird his own nickname, which is typically pretty useful, sometimes spot-on, and often entertaining. Some reviews have complained that these nicknames don't match their experience. Maybe so. I would suggest to them that they simply ignore the nicknames and move on to more substantive criticisms. His comments on bird demeanor are also fun and add a bit of levity.

I find the EFGC to be especially useful as a study source prior to going out to see a new-to-me or unfamiliar species. The good old field guide will also be useful, just as playing sound recordings of call notes and songs from a variety of sources will help provide for a better state of readiness. But, perusing the EFGC will simply add to that mental picture and assist one in gaining a deeper comprehension of the "target species". It's also certainly handy when trying to figure out "which bird was it", although that falls more into the "I'll be better prepared the next time if I see or hear one of those" category.

Nothing takes the place of actually seeing, hearing and experiencing birds, enjoying them while you can. But it sure it nice that Pete Dunne has given us a pathway to a fuller birdy understanding. Not just noting their presence, but perceiving them.
2028657
I've been birding for about 6 years now, and this is the book I always have with me on birding expeditions, since its second edition - it's small enough to portable (though not small enough for a pocket,) and the illustrations are excellent in quality. The comparison pages showing several similar-looking species (comparing different species of ducks, hawks, gulls, warblers et cetera) are excellent. The descriptions are generally very good, and contain useful distinguishing information including vocalizations and distinctive movement patterns. The range maps are easily read, and at the front of the book, there are pages explaining how to identify birds, plumage, anatomy, and sundry other topics of use.
Generally, I prefer drawings/paintings to actual photographs when using birding books - I've found that often times, the photographs in birding books are less than good examples of several species, especially when there are one or more variations. Also, with illustrations, the artist controls the lighting, the angle, et cetera. Since this book uses illustrations, so perhaps I'm biased toward it in that way. ...P> The NGS book here is more than sufficient for most birders, I would imagine. Another plus is that it's all the birds of the continent, period; no need to buy an Eastern/Western edition when you travel to other areas of the country.
In this newest edition, they have included notations for whether or not the bird is endangered or threatened, as well as a handy one-page "quick-find index" at the back for finding a general group of birds quickly (for example, finches, jays and hawks,)so one doesn't have to spend precious moments looking through the longer, full index for them.
The book is durable, and withstands dampness and even light rain very well. The colors of the birds are very realistic, and they do a wonderful job portraying the different seasonal plumages. It appears that the colors have been modified very slightly from the last edition to look even better than they did.
An excellent book, all around. Naturally, selection of a birding guide is a very personal thing, and while I love this book, others may intensely hate it, preferring photographic guides. My best advice would be to get your hands on as many guides as possible, and see which suits your preferences for size, images, descriptions, and general feel, including portability, ...
3607767
This is a magnificent guide, especially for beginners. Expert birders may prefer the encyclopedic guide by David Sibley, another excellent piece of work. This guide has a number of advantages as a guide:
It easily fits into your pocket It has a handy thumb index, once you get used to it It has a comprehensive index inside the back cover The photos are superb, and the color matches better than any other guide I know.
I highly recommend this guide.
3730159
Chris's book is a valuable addition to any birding library. He offers insights, including historical vignettes as to why birds are named, brief and wonderfully concise descriptions of common behaviors, and tips on how to identify birds in detail rarely found elsewhere.  Everyone needs a general guide but guides like this book fill in the gaps and focus on a region where many unique native birds as well as those who migrate through are covered in fascinating, yet brief, detail. Great guide.
4770714
For a brief (portable) guide it's VERY good.  Containes important tips and information regarding bird habitat and habits.  Very good illistrations and descriptions with bolded highlights.  Good general map/range of territory where birds would be expected to be found.
6051
I have enjoyed and will keep this book as a quick reference.
Good to know that there is an entire bird oriented community which I have just recently become aware of.
Good book would certainly not hesitate in recommending it.
1086305
I really like the book and audio CDs.  First off, the book is divided into sections based on color, which is the most prominent feature of the birds I watch.  Also, it lists both male and female seperately if they have different colors, with a quick reference to the opposing sex's page.  This made it easy for me to identify all of the birds I see in my back yard on the bird feeders.  The text aso describes behavior of the birds and other interesting facs.
The CD's have each of the birds songs on it with descriptions of the calls and several examples of the different types of calls each bird makes and when they make them.
This guide cuts to the chase for any bird watcher in the Carolinas, showing only birds you'll see here.
1679007
The Sibley Guide has been instrumental in identifying the almost overwhelming variety of birds in our area.  I use it OFTEM.
2513290
This is a superb guide. I bought it for my 81yo father because his Peterson guide book had come apart after oh, 15 years of wear and tear.  That book was nowhere near as good a book for a plain old ordinary birder.  The pictures are photos, not drawings. The info on the birds is right along side of the pictures.  Lastly, we were able to ID a bird at Dad's feeder, a California Towhee.  Probably the single most drab bird in the avian world. Cute tho' in its own chubby way.
3372484
Finding Butterflies in Arizona, by Bailowitz and Brodkin, is a welcome addition to available literature on the fauna of Arizona, and one of the first of it's kind that I've seen in this format. It will be particularly helpful for birders who are interested in learning about and finding butterflies.  The book is arranged very much like a typical bird-finding guide, a major plus. The major biotic regions of the state are described in the front of the book, and then broken down into fairly concise but clear chapters devoted to each region. Specific species, both common and rare, are discussed in each chapter, including the best season to look for them.  The last third of the book describes where to look by species and is arranged taxonomically, starting with the swallowtails and ending with the skippers, and is fairly complete. Towards the back of the book is a chapter describing what to look for by season, and is extremely helpful. A checklist is featured at the end of the book.
There are only a few pages of butterfly photos in the book, mostly common species, and no real natural history info,so anyone without strong knowledge of the local lepidofauna should bring a field guide with them, either a general guide like the Kaufman or Peterson guides, or an Arizona-specific or southwest specific field guide, when using this book in the field.
2285789
I received yesterday my copy of The Sibley Guide to the Birds. It is exciting to see the detailed illustration and to read the useful information provided in this book. It is much more than a field guide. I bird in the central Chihuahuan Desert and this guide will be a most useful tool in many seasons to come. It arrived just in time for the fall migration.  Sibley has raised the standard several notches for field guides everywhere.
105610
This book has been so helpful since I came to Florida. The color coding for the bird species, descriptions, comparisons with similar species, and compact size of the book make it invaluable for the beginner or less knowledgeable birdwatcher.
2443792
This large-format comprehensive guide to these jewel-like birds found only in the Americas includes gorgeous close-up photographs of birds in flight, feeding, nesting and fighting. Many of the entries are two-page spreads, often featuring more than one photo.

Entries are sub-headed with the Latin name and size of the bird. The text includes distribution, foods, and migration and breeding information, where available.

The entries are preceded by a 49-page lavishly illustrated introduction on the bird's lifecycle, which delves into evolution and backyard feeding (including plants and feeders), and the status and delicacy of scientific research.

Anyone who enjoys marveling at these colorful, antisocial, amazing birds will enjoy this beautifully designed and informative book.