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khornstein1's review
4.0
A couple of years ago, I thought it would be cool to get into bird watching. Then I found out bird watching is mostly adding birds to your "life list." Somehow I thought bird watching would be about studying bird behavior, biology, and all the wonderful things birds do and how they've evolved (my grandfather was an ornithologist so that may be where I got these ideas.) Anyway, I got really frustrated with bird books that just had appearance and location, and sometimes what the birds' calls sound like. This book is different. It's best read in tiny doses. By focusing in on a small number of birds, Sibley points out some really incredible facts. It's not a textbook and it's not really a "fun facts" book, it's more about opening your mind to more questions and curiosity about birds. He also pointed out that there are many things about bird behavior that we still don't really understand; I loved that. I got a bit frustrated by the fact that it was hard to look up individual birds, but I eventually accepted that it's not a complete guide at all, more of an introduction. Highly recommended for bird watchers or just casual bird observers.
leesmyth's review
5.0
This is a wonderful book!!! The heart of it (pp. 2-175) is a portfolio of North American birds, presented in easily digested two-page increments. The left page is a roughly life-sized color drawing of the bird (or its face, for the larger birds), and the right page provides some cool facts about the bird, with helpful sketches as needed. Some of the info is specific to a few species (e.g. nesting or migration patterns), while other info is of broader applicability (e.g. feather design, skeletal structure, respiratory system or blood circulation). With a light touch, Sibley also flags some open questions that scientists have not yet resolved, as well as conservation issues past and present.
Just how cool are the cool facts, you ask? Well, let's just say I kept coming across nifty tidbits I wanted to share (did you know that most parrots are left-footed?!).
I plan to go back and read the introduction and post-portfolio bird synopses as well.
Just how cool are the cool facts, you ask? Well, let's just say I kept coming across nifty tidbits I wanted to share (did you know that most parrots are left-footed?!).
I plan to go back and read the introduction and post-portfolio bird synopses as well.
glowbird's review
4.0
This is a beautiful book with the best illustrations of birds I’ve ever seen. But I am not going to sit down and read it closely. It’s a lovely coffee table object and would make a wonderful gift for a very specific kind of naturalist or birder.
dolcezzina21's review
5.0
This was such a great read. It didn't have that textbook feel. I learned so much more about birds and especially about many of the birds that visit my yard and bird feeder. I also learned more about the behaviors of my pet bird from reading this book. After reading this, I am even more obsessed and I ordered binoculars to identify each bird that comes to my yard and I closely watch their behaviors. I read this at a perfect time of year because we have nests around our property and alot of nesting activity, even a young fledgling we watched over, and this book was the perfect companion throughout these experiences! A highlight of my start to summer!