Designed for beginning and experienced birders. David Quady and his nationally acclaimed fellow authors have written text for the over 390 species of birds that are found from Monterey County to the northern border of California in the publisher's best-selling format: Description, Similar Species, Seasonal Abundance, Where to Find, Habitat, Diet and Behavior, Voice and Did You Know. More than 500 photographs illustrate species, often in different plumages. The photos have been selected and reviewed by the team of authors for regional accuracy. Two maps illustrate key birding spots and the northern California habitats. A ten-page habitat section introduces the sixteen unique geographic regions that support the bird diversity of northern California and highlight the importance of habitat conservation. A Quick Guide to Local Birds, at the front of Birds of Northern California, provides an easy reference to the pages that provide a complete description of the different birds.
David Quady, a longtime resident of northern California, has birded the region extensively since the 1970s. He wrote the owls section of National Geographic Society's Complete Birds of North America. Jon Dunn and Kimball Garrett co-authored Birds of Southern California (R.W. Morse Company). Brian Small is a professional wildlife photographer and shares his photo collection for this title.
"This attractive book is just the thing for northern California residents and visitors interested in learning the birds of their region. Like the other regional field guides published by R. W. Morse Company, this book is compact yet complete, with superb color photographs complemented by informative text about each species. Both identification and natural history are well treated in the text, and the interesting facts included about the birds are an extra not found in most field guides. People love these little books. They fit in a jacket pocket, and they are all you need to get started in a long and rewarding life as a birder. The price is reasonable, and I highly recommend one at home and one as a traveling companion!"
– Dennis Paulson, naturalist and author, Pacific Northwest