How to Be a Better Birder

Field guides generally help to identify birds solely by looking at plumage patterns and colours. This book shows that there are several other things that can help you identify a bird: where you are, what habitat you are in, what time of year you are observing, as well as behaviour and even making allowances for the weather. In other words, what we on this side of the Atlantic often known as ‘jizz’ along with an understanding of ecology and natural history. The book also adds that identification of rarities is far from the ultimate ideal and goes on to suggest ways to enhance your birding such as how to collect data for conservation, develop patch lists and various other ‘more advanced’ techniques.

For the more experienced birdwatcher most of the contents will be stating the obvious but it will certainly open the eyes of some of the less experienced to some of the things that many of us take for granted and do almost subconsciously. It is an American book so all the examples and specifics are from the USA and specifically mostly Maine but the principles are applicable anywhere.

Book reviewed by Peter Lack