What a new birder needs is a field guide that shows most of the birds he or she is going to see but doesn't overwhelm with rarities unlikely to be seen. This is that book. Covering 300 of the most common birds in the United States and Canada, The New Birder's Guide to Birds of North America has just the right amount of information about how to identify birds, where and when to look for them, what they sound like, and how they behave. The New Birder's Guide includes easy-to-understand descriptions and maps, clear photos, drawings of common and interesting behaviors, and fun "Wow!" facts for each bird, plus expert advice on identification basics, how to get started, and how to improve your birding skills.
Please note that this is a repackaged version with a slightly longer introduction of The Young Birder's Guide to Birds of North America.
Bill Thompson III is the editor of Bird Watcher’s Digest and the author of many books about birds. He lives in Ohio with his wife, the author and illustrator Julie Zickefoose, and their two children.
"[...] I wish that I had The Young Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America when I was a child. It’s both a good introduction to birding and useful for identification. But since it was intended for ages 8-12 (approximately), I was initially concerned that it wouldn’t be appropriate for adults when I heard that it had been turned into The New Birder’s Guide to Birds of North America. But after a closer examination, I don’t think that’s the case; this is a good introductory field guide for new birders of all ages. Everything else being equal, of the two I’d recommend The New Birder’s Guide (even to young birders) since it has an expanded introduction."
- Grant McCreary (09-06-2014), read the full review at The Birder's Library
"I love this book. It is fun to read, beautifully laid out, and accompanied by exquisite illustrations. The sections called 'Wow' and 'Remember' on each page will elicit 'I never knew that!' from many readers. This is a winner for the new birder from four to one hundred and four."
– Jane Alexander, actress and former board member of the American Birding Association