American Museum of Natural History Birds of North America Western Region

The only guides to use a fully integrated photographic approach to profile the extraordinary range of birds found in North America, the American Museum of Natural History Birds of North America Region guides are ideal for birdwatchers and bird lovers of every age, and include information on behavior, nesting, and habitat. Contents 5 ......Page 7 Preface 6 ......Page 8 How This Book Works 8 ......Page 10 Evolution 10 ......Page 12 Anatomy and Flight 12 ......Page 14 Migration 14 ......Page 16 Courtship and Mating 16 ......Page 18 Nests and Eggs 18 ......Page 20 Identification 20 ......Page 22 Species Guide 22 ......Page 24 Gamebirds 23 ......Page 25 Waterfowl 38 ......Page 40 Loons 70 ......Page 72 Tubenoses 74 ......Page 76 Grebes 80 ......Page 82 Storks, Ibises, and Herons 87 ......Page 89 Pelicans and Relatives 96 ......Page 98 Birds of Prey 102 ......Page 104 Rails and Cranes 121 ......Page 123 Shorebirds, Gulls, and Auks 128 ......Page 130 Pigeons and Doves 190 ......Page 192 Cuckoos 195 ......Page 197 Owls 199 ......Page 201 Nightjars and Nighthawks 214 ......Page 216 Swifts and Hummingbirds 217 ......Page 219 Kingfishers 226 ......Page 228 Woodpeckers 228 ......Page 230 Flycatchers 243 ......Page 245 Shrikes, Vireos, Jays, and Crows 261 ......Page 263 Waxwings, Chickadees, Titmice, Swallows, Larks, and Kinglets 281 ......Page 283 Wrens, Gnatcatchers, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, and Thrashers 301 ......Page 303 Thrushes, Wagtails, Pipits, and Dippers 321 ......Page 323 Finches 333 ......Page 335 Wood–warblers 346 ......Page 348 Orioles and Blackbirds 372 ......Page 374 Longspurs, American Sparrows, Tanagers, and Cardinals 384 ......Page 386 Rare Species 418 ......Page 420 Vagrants 470 ......Page 472 Glossary 472 ......Page 474 Index 474 ......Page 476 Acknowledgments 479 ......Page 481 This definitive field guide is the only guide to use a fully integrated photographic approach to profile the extraordinary range of birds found in Western North America. The highest-quality photography brings nearly 575 species to life on the page, capturing their beauty and making identification quick and effortless. The 367 species most commonly seen west of the 100th Meridian (in the United States, the region west of the Great Plains) are featured in full-page profiles that emphasize all the information needed to identify them. Diagnostic photographs are silhouetted and clearly annotated, and any plumages, whether female, juvenile, subspecies, and winter or summer, that differ noticeably from the primary image are also included and labeled accordingly. Detailed similar species boxes show the plumage that is most similar-in some cases the female or juvenile rather than the featured adult-and the most significant differences are picked out. Stunning context photographs show the bird at home, in its normal habitat or performing behavior that is typical of that species. Schematic artworks show the shape and posture of the bird in flight as well as its coloration, and a diagram of its flight pattern is also included. The Southwest, a region characterized by its own region of birds where species common to northern Mexico may cross the border, is a popular destination because of the many species that can be seen nowhere else in eastern North America. The 80 most common of these southern gems are profiled in their own section of quarter-page entries, each with a stunning photograph annotated to point out the most significant field marks. A separate section profiles 128 species that are particularly uncommon or local in their distribution. Contents 5 7 Preface 6 8 How This Book Works 8 10 Evolution 10 12 Anatomy and Flight 12 14 Migration 14 16 Courtship and Mating 16 18 Nests and Eggs 18 20 Identification 20 22 Species Guide 22 24 Gamebirds 23 25 Waterfowl 38 40 Loons 70 72 Tubenoses 74 76 Grebes 80 82 Storks, Ibises, and Herons 87 89 Pelicans and Relatives 96 98 Birds of Prey 102 104 Rails and Cranes 121 123 Shorebirds, Gulls, and Auks 128 130 Pigeons and Doves 190 192 Cuckoos 195 197 Owls 199 201 Nightjars and Nighthawks 214 216 Swifts and Hummingbirds 217 219 Kingfishers 226 228 Woodpeckers 228 230 Flycatchers 243 245 Shrikes, Vireos, Jays, and Crows 261 263 Waxwings, Chickadees, Titmice, Swallows, Larks, and Kinglets 281 283 Wrens, Gnatcatchers, Nuthatches, Treecreepers, and Thrashers 301 303 Thrushes, Wagtails, Pipits, and Dippers 321 323 Finches 333 335 Wood鈥搘arblers 346 348 Orioles and Blackbirds 372 374 Longspurs, American Sparrows, Tanagers, and Cardinals 384 386 Rare Species 418 420 Vagrants 470 472 Glossary 472 474 Index 474 476 Acknowledgments 479 481 Provides a photographic reference that covers numerous species of birds that breed or are regularly seen in the western region of North America, and includes information on behavior, nesting, and habitat