Richard H. Pough (1904–2003)

"A few may survive in some remote southern swamp, but it is doubtful."

Substitute "forest" for "swamp" and the same might be written today about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but Pough was talking about the Carolina Parakeet. He was also deeply concerned about the woodpecker, alas, and today we are about as far removed from the last confirmed wild Ivory-billed as Pough was from the parakeet.

Other parts of the book are less haunting reminder and more fascinating puzzle. What happened to the show more Ipswich Sparrow? No worries, it's still with us, but it was reclassified as a subspecies of Savannah Sparrow in 1973. Why does Pough claim the House Finch only makes it as far east as Texas? Didn't he know they were basically everywhere? No, he didn't, because at that time, they weren't--not yet. Apparently he was personally involved in fighting the illegal pet trade that brought them to the east, but by 1946, when this book was first published, that population was not yet large or established enough to mention in a field guide. Now, of course, they are ubiquitous throughout the region.

Pough is more interested in conservation than in identification, but the names and ranges of the birds are far too out-of-date for this to be useful as an identification guide in any case. As a glimpse into birding history, however, it is excellent. If you aren't a birder, it may not be particularly interesting. show less

What a crappy effort. Compare with the modern day Sibley, or it's contemporary masterpiece by RT Peterson, However, the Eckleberry illustrations are remarkable!

Guide contains over 400 Full-Color Illustrations of 275 Species. Front Contents section to find by Family and Species - Genera - Plate- page # to be found. A standard Abbreviation Chart used in the Text of the book. Back section includes an Index. This book is from 1946 Doubleday & Company - Not what you would call a Pocket Reference but definitely full of information and details.

Goodwill