Book Details
Title: 'Sibley's Birding Basics'Author: David Allen Sibley
Genres: Non-Fiction, Natural History, Reference, Field Guide, Bird Watching
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2002
'Sibley's Birding Basics' is a guide to interpreting what you see when you're watching birds. It would be great if, when watching birds, we always had a clear, close-up view of the birds we are trying to identify, so we can see the exact color patterns and physical appearance of the birds. But we don't often have that.
Sometimes we catch a glimpse of a bird as it flies past, or see a silhouette as the sun sets, or hear a bird singing in the early morning. These are all clues, and David Allen Sibley's book is the guide that shows us how to tie these clues together to make a wholistic picture of the birds we see and in turn, identify them.
Content Summary
'Sibley's Birding Basics' examines the following topics:
- Getting Started
- Finding Birds
- The Challenges of Bird Identification
- Misidentification
- Identifying Rare Birds
- Taxonomy
- Using Behavioral Clues
- Voice
- Understanding Feathers
- Feather Arrangement and Color Patterns
- Structure of Tail and Wings
- Bare Parts
- Molt
- Feather Wear
- Age Variation
- Ethics and Conservation
Review
'Sibley's Birding Basics' is the best introduction to bird watching I know—easy-to-read, interesting, and superbly illustrated. Its value reaches beyond bird watching, as it teaches us how to look at wildlife and shows us how an understanding of behavior, anatomy, and adaptation enhance our ability to both identify and enjoy watching animals.Feathers are continually subjected to the degrading effects of the environment from the moment they grow. The two primary effects are wear and fading. The resulting gradual change in shape and color of feathers can lead to dramatic changes in appearance over time. Many species take advantage of this and simply allow their bright courtship/breeding plumage to develop as feather tips wear away, revealing the colors that were depositied in the previous autumn. ~David Allen Sibley, 'Sibley's Birding Basics'
Though written in an approachable style easily understood by beginners, 'Sibley's Birding Basics' remains rich with technical content. It does not shy away from the discussion of the more advanced topics that stretch the book's relevance to include experienced birders.
Recommendation
I recommend this book to anyone interested in birding and especially those just starting out watching birds and wildlife in general. It is a beautifully illustrated text, packed with interesting details and bird watching facts.
