Rare Birds of North America

There has been a guide to the rare birds of Europe for over 20 years, so it’s been a long wait for North America’s rare birds to receive similar treatment. However, it’s been well worth the wait, as the authors have delivered a work of considerable scholarship.

It’s also not a book just for North Americans! While the USA and Canada are naturally the primary focus, the opening chapters on the patterns and mechanisms of vagrancy and of moult and ageing should be of interest to any birder, while many of the tricky vagrant ID challenges encountered by European birders are experienced in reverse in North America.

The 262 species accounts which make up the majority of the book are beautifully crafted and Ian Lewington’s excellent paintings provide the icing on the cake. Each account details the past North American records, global distribution and status, taxonomy, habitat and behaviour as well as an insightful section on the likely causes of vagrancy. The accounts conclude with an informative section on the identification including comparisons with more common North American species. This book is a must-buy for anyone visiting the vagrant traps of North America and should appeal to any birder with an interest in vagrancy or simply with a desire to increase their knowledge or identification skills. 

Book reviewed by David Hodkinson