John Farrand (1937–1994)

I have thumbed through my copy of this one until the pages (at least the color ones) are falling out. Overall, a great guide, but sometimes good drawings would actually make it easier to positively identify the bird in question than the photographs this book provides.

Another book I've had for ages and until the Sibley book arrived it was my go-to for bird IDs. While the photos are good, I find the Sibley book a quicker way to find what a bird is. This book has terrific info about range, size, markings and ways to differentiate very similar birds (say tundra and trumpeter swans or sandpipers). Often it will show pictures of the bird in different phases and both genders when sexual dimorphism is pronounced (like cardinals or wood ducks).

In 1988, a 4-star effort, perhaps. Nowadays, with its treatment one or two photos, often of perched birds almost always seen in flight - well, it's an abysmal guide. Pick any pair of birds, say, how about YB vs BB Cuckoo. The most basic of fieldmarks are missing in the photos. As with the Eastern version, shorebirds and other difficult to sort birds are treated n a very simplistic manner. Go out and buy a Sibley Guide, instead.

It's not the best, but I don't know of a better one for the price. We keep 2 copies at home & use it fairly often. The pictures are pretty good & sometimes contain second pictures where season or sex changes the look of a bird - not always, though.