Books About Birds A guide to books about birds and birdwatching Home | Index | Search | Links | Contact


On this page

Canada

This page lists a selection of books about birds that cover the whole, or a large part of, Canada. The books are listed by publication date with the most recent at the top.


North America

Many bird books cover the whole, or parts, of North America. These are listed on:

North America Bird Books


Provinces / territories

For province and territory specific books see:

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon

 

Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America

Stephen A. Shunk

Peterson Refernce Guides

Houghton Mifflin

2016

"From the iconic Woody Woodpecker to the ubiquitous Northern Flicker, woodpeckers have long captivated our attention. Their astonishing anatomy makes them one of the most specialized bird families in the world, and their keystone ecological roles in our forests and woodlands makes them some of the most important birds on the continent.This comprehensive and authoritative guide to the natural history, ecology, and conservation of North America s 23 woodpecker species goes far beyond identification. It explores their unique anatomy and their fascinating and often comical behaviors; it covers each species North American conservation status; and it showcases over 250 stunning photographs of woodpeckers in their natural habitats, plus easy-to-read figures and range maps."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Sibley Birds East

David Allen Sibley

Broadway Books

2nd edition

2016

"Compact and comprehensive, this guide features 650 bird species, plus regional populations, found east of the Rocky Mountains. Entries include stunningly accurate illustrations--more than 4,601 in total--with descriptive captions pointing out the most important field marks. Each entry has been updated to include the most current information concerning frequency, nesting, behavior, food and feeding, voice description, and key identification features. Here too are more than 601 updated maps drawn from information contributed by 110 regional experts across the continent, and showing winter, summer, year-round, migration, and rare ranges."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Sibley Birds West

David Allen Sibley

Broadway Books

2nd edition

2016

"Compact and comprehensive, this guide features 715 bird species, plus regional populations, found west of the Rocky Mountains. Entries include stunningly accurate illustrations--more than 5,046 in total--with descriptive captions pointing out the most important field marks. Each entry has been updated to include the most current information concerning frequency, nesting, behavior, food and feeding, voice description, and key identification features. Here too are more than 652 updated maps drawn from information contributed by 110 regional experts across the continent, and showing winter, summer, year-round, migration, and rare ranges."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Identifying Birds of Prey: Quick Reference Guide for Eastern North America

Laura Erickson

Stackpole Books

2016

"An engaging quick-reference guide to the basics of identifying hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures, and kites in flight. Includes color photos and simplified outlines showing key features of each species, as well as range maps and comparison spreads Perfect for the beginning hawk watcher or for any outdoors-lover who wants to know more about daytime birds of prey."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of North America

Editor: François Vuilleumier

American Museum of Natural History

Dorling Kindersley

2nd edition

2016

"Updated to reflect all the latest taxonomic data, American Museum of Natural History Birds of North America is the complete photographic guide to the 657 species of birds found in the United States and Canada. Ideal for the armchair bird enthusiast or dedicated bird watcher, this book includes stunning full-color photographs revealing 657 individual species with unrivaled clarity. The 550 most commonly seen birds are pictured with plumage variations, and images of subspecies and information on similar birds are provided to make differentiation easy, from game birds and waterfowl to shorebirds and swifts to owls, flycatchers, finches, and more. You can even discover which species to expect when and where with up-to-date, color-coded maps highlighting habitation and migratory patterns."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Eastern Canada

Editor: David M. Bird

Dorling Kindersley

2013

"Ideal for Canadian birdwatchers and bird lovers of every age! Each of these regional field guides are filled with page after page of magnificent close-up photographs and helpful full-page profiles of hundreds of commonly seen species. With an East / West division made at the 100th meridian (approximately Winnipeg) these handy books offer scientifically accurate and readable accounts of notable characteristics and information everything from behavior and habitat to nest construction and conservation status. Each profile also features diagrams of flight patterns and statistics of size, wingspan and lifespan. These invaluable reference guides are both detailed and accessible, with a user-friendly format that will make it easy for birders to enjoy either studying one species account at a time or browsing to make cross comparisons."

book cover

Birds of Western Canada

Editor: David M. Bird

Dorling Kindersley

2013

"Ideal for Canadian birdwatchers and bird lovers of every age! Each of these regional field guides are filled with page after page of magnificent close-up photographs and helpful full-page profiles of hundreds of commonly seen species. With an East / West division made at the 100th meridian (approximately Winnipeg) these handy books offer scientifically accurate and readable accounts of notable characteristics and information everything from behavior and habitat to nest construction and conservation status. Each profile also features diagrams of flight patterns and statistics of size, wingspan and lifespan. These invaluable reference guides are both detailed and accessible, with a user-friendly format that will make it easy for birders to enjoy either studying one species account at a time or browsing to make cross comparisons."

book cover

A Field Guide to Wildlife of the Rocky Mountains

Halle Flygare

Harbour Publishing

2013

"Field Guide to Wildlife of the Rocky Mountains is a must have for any visitor to the Rocky Mountain region of British Columbia, Alberta, Montana and Idaho. Featuring over a hundred superb full-colour photos, this pamphlet provides an essential look at the variety of animals one is most likely to encounter on the area's park trails and roadsides. Information on the size of each animal, as well as the common and Latin names makes it easy to identify wildlife. Similar species are grouped by appearance for easy comparison. Handy on the trails, A Field Guide to Wildlife of the Rocky Mountains is also the perfect souvenir of the abundance of wildlife to be found in the Rocky Mountains."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Nature Guide to Atlantic Canada

Erin McCloskey & Gregory Kennedy

Lone Pine Publishing

2012

"This book features over 400 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, fish, inverterbrates, trees, shrubs and vines, as well as ferns and grasses with size, habitat, behaviour, range and natural history information and colour illustrations. Includes a full-colour map showing ecoregions, parks and natural areas."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Northern Rocky Mountains: A Guide to Common and Notable Species

Greg R. Homel

Quick Reference Publishing

2012

"Birds of the Northern Rockies is a quick and easy-to-use, lightweight, durable, all-weather field guide to the remarkable and varied birdlife inhabiting the northern Rocky Mountains region within the US states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, in addition to the adjacent Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Stunning digital photographs depict 125 species of common and notable birds, enabling users to identify nearly every commonly occurring bird and regional specialty they encounter - day or night - within the guide's remarkable area of coverage. Aimed at beginning and intermediate birders, the guide will easily fit into any daypack, pocket or glove compartment, facilitating spontaneous and easy field identification - whether in a backyard, on a family vacation, or on a serious birding trip to the best birding hot spots within Wyoming's Yellowstone N.P., Montana's Glacier N.P., Idaho's myriad national forests, or Canada's Jasper N.P and beyond, all within the beautiful northern Rocky Mountains region."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Arctic Shorebirds in North America

Editors: Jonathan Robert Bart and Victoria Helen Johnston

Studies In Avian Biology 44

Cooper Ornithological Society

2012

"Each year shorebirds from North and South America migrate thousands of miles to spend the summer in the Arctic. There they feed in shoreline marshes and estuaries along some of the most productive and pristine coasts anywhere. With so much available food they are able to reproduce almost explosively; and as winter approaches, they retreat south along with their offspring, to return to the Arctic the following spring. This remarkable pattern of movement and activity has been the object of intensive study by an international team of ornithologists who have spent a decade counting, surveying, and observing these shorebirds. In this important synthetic work, they address multiple questions about these migratory bird populations. How many birds occupy Arctic ecosystems each summer? How long do visiting shorebirds linger before heading south? How fecund are these birds? Where exactly do they migrate and where exactly do they return? Are their populations growing or shrinking? The results of this study are crucial for better understanding how environmental policies will influence Arctic habitats as well as the far-ranging winter habitats used by migratory shorebirds."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Wings over the Great Plains: Bird Migrations in the Central Flyway

Paul A. Johnsgard

Zea Books

2012

"The great North-South migratory pathway across the North American Great Plains-from the tropic wintering grounds to the high arctic breeding areas-is analyzed for the first time. Describes 114 U.S. and 21 Canadian localities of special importance to migrating birds. Discusses nearly 400 species of 50 avian families. Includes 7 maps, 49 figures and over 100 literature citations."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Rocky Mountain Birds: Birds and Birding in the Central and Northern Rockies

Paul A. Johnsgard

Zea Books

2011

"This book is in part based on the author's earlier Birds of the Rocky Moun­tains (1986, revised 2009), but over a third of the original text has been eliminated. The rest has been updated, expanded and modified to be less technical and more useful to birders in the field. Bird enthusiasts will find viewing loca­tions and updated contact information for hundreds of sites in Wy­oming, Colorado, Montana, Idaho, Alberta, and British Columbia. Part 1 outlines the habitats, ecology, and bird geography of the Rocky Mountains north of the New Mexico–Colorado border, including recent changes in the ecology and avifauna of the region. It provides detailed lists of major birding locations and guidance about where to search for specific Rocky Mountain birds. Part 2 considers all 328 regional species individually, with information on their status, habitats and ecology, suggested viewing locations, and population. Includes 3 maps and 11 drawings by the author."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Canada

Editor: David M. Bird

Dorling Kindersley

2010

"Birds of Canada is the perfect guidebook to the extraordinary range of birds that can be found in this country. Detailed yet accessible, this profusely illustrated reference features more than 600 birds - accompanied by diagrams of flight patterns, information on bird calls, nesting habits, typical habitats and characteristic behaviors. Profiles of rare and vagrant species are included as well."

book cover

Birds of Canada

Tyler Hoar, Ken De Smet, Wayne Campbell, Gregory Kennedy

Lone Pine Publishing

2010

"This comprehensive book includes: ID, habitat, status, nesting, feeding, voice and similar species; notes on each species' natural history, name origins; specific behaviours and habits to watch for; mnemonics to help remember species; conservation activities underway in all provinces; beautiful full-colour illustrations and photos for each species; range maps; and birdwatching tips and best sites. Lone Pine Publishing has produced quality bird field guides for cities and provinces across Canada for many years. This book presents up-to-date, fascinating information to people of all ages interested in watching birds and learning about them."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of North America

Editor: François Vuilleumier

American Museum of Natural History

Dorling Kindersley

2010

"Birds of North America" is the ultimate family reference on the birds of the United States and Canada, in an accessible format that is perfect for field use. Written by a team of more than 30 birders and ornithologists, each an expert on certain species or family bird groups, "Birds of North America" brings a whole new level of expertise to the birder's library, all in one category-killing volume. Information on behavior, nesting, and habitat, omitted from many field guides, is included throughout, while books on behavior don't include the wealth of identification information, in as accessible a format, as does this book."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Interior BC and the Rockies

Richard Cannings with Harry Nehls, Mike Denny and Dave Trochlell

Heritage House

2009

"Covering the region north of the U.S. border, south of Prince George, east of Manning Park and west into the Rockies, this guide is for beginning and intermediate birders who wish to identify the birds they regularly spot in this area. However, the book will also appeal to more experienced local and visiting birders who want to learn more about the behaviour, habitat and seasonal occurrence of local birds. Packed with useful information, this handy, portable guide tells you how to identify local birds, find out where they live and what they eat, how to attract birds to your yard and how to select a pair of binoculars. Identification is made easy with more than 400 sharp, full-colour photos illustrating over 200 species of birds, in the plumages most likely seen in the region and colour-coded by species. There's even a checklist to record your sightings."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Rocky Mountains

Paul A. Johnsgard

University of Nebraska– Lincoln Libraries

2009

This is a revised, electronic edition of a book that was originally published in 1986. This electronic edition contains a new "Supplement" of approximately 12,000 words, updating the species accounts and the technical literature, including all those species that have undergone changes in their vernacular or Latin names, have had important changes in ranges, or have shown statistically significant population trends or conservation status warranting mention. The update also includes six additional species.

"This comprehensive reference work ...describes in detail 354 species found in a 353,000 square mile area, from the 40th parallel in Colorado north to the 52nd parallel in Canada; from the western border of Idaho to the eastern boundaries of Montana and Wyoming."

book cover

ABA Checklist: Birds of the Continental United States and Canada

American Birding Association

2008

"Complete revised seventh edition includes a total of 957 species, 33 species new to the checklist."

book cover

Owls of the United States and Canada: A Complete Guide to their Biology and Behavior

Wayne Lynch

Johns Hopkins University Press

2007

"In this gorgeous book, celebrated natural history writer and wildlife photographer Wayne Lynch reveals the secrets of this elusive species with stunning photographs, personal anecdotes, and accessible science. The photos alone are masterpieces. Unlike most published owl photos, which are portraits of birds in captivity, the majority of these were taken in the wild - a product of the author-photographer's incredible knowledge and patience. Lynch complements the photos with a wealth of facts about anatomy, habitat, diet, and family life. For each of the nineteen species that inhabit Canada and the United States, he provides a range map and a brief discussion of its distribution, population size, and status. Lynch debunks myths about owls' "supernatural" powers of sight and hearing, discusses courtship rituals, and offers personal tips for finding them in the wild. From the great horned to the tiny elf owl, this amazing volume captures the beauty and mystery of these charismatic birds of prey."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Tanagers, Cardinals, and Finches of the United States and Canada: The Photographic Guide

David Beadle and J.D. Rising

Princeton University Press

2006

"This is the first comprehensive photographic identification guide to tanagers, cardinals, and finches. Many of North America's finest bird and wildlife photographers have supplied a stunning collection of images, some of which depict plumages rarely available in other publications. The 200 photographs have been carefully selected to illustrate age, seasonal, and sexual variation in all of the species found north of Mexico, including introduced species and vagrants. The text is designed to introduce the reader to the biology, identification, molts, vocalization, and distribution of the forty-six species covered. Each photograph is accompanied by a caption outlining relevant identification features, and original range maps illustrate the distributions of all the species that regularly occur north of Mexico."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Canada: Field Guide

Dorling Kindersley

2005

"Now in paperback, this definitive reference to the birds of Canada includes authoritative text and hundreds of crystal-clear full-colour photographs as well as full-page profiles of more than 500 species – all the birds known to breed and visit in Canada! This vivid guide provides key identification tips for each species including fascinating information on feeding, behaviour, life histories, maps, breeding as well as nesting habits. The most comprehensive and reliable guide to the birds of this country."

book cover

Compact Guide to Atlantic Canada Birds

Roger Burrows, Krista Kaqume

Lone Pine Publishing

2005

"A handy introductory guide to the birds of the East Coast. Over 80 species are featured. Each account includes colour illustrations, a photograph of the bird's egg and detailed information such as common and scientific name, the bird's size and voice, a range map, a photograph of the bird's egg, along with information on nesting, size of the egg and incubation period."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Field Guide to North Atlantic Wildlife: Marine Mammals, Seabirds, Fish, and Other Sealife

Noble S. Proctor and Patrick J. Lynch

Yale University Press

2005

"This beautifully illustrated guide covers an unprecedented range of species that may be sighted along the coastline or offshore by the whale watcher, bird watcher, fisher, boating enthusiast, or natural history buff. Designed in a handy pocket size, the book provides concise information for identifying the invertebrates, mammals, birds, turtles, fish, sharks and rays, and even floating seaweeds and common algae that live along the Atlantic coast and offshore from North Carolina to the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. With range maps and text on pages directly opposite the full-colour illustrations, the book makes identification of more than two hundred species of offshore wildlife quick and easy. Special features include full-page spreads to compare similar species of seabirds, and inserts to help identify whales by their blowhole patterns, diving, and other behaviours. Those with an interest in ocean life know that surprises often appear at the end of a fishing line, floating beside the boat, washed up on the shore, or flying overhead. This is the ultimate guide for those who are curious about such creatures and the marine environment in which they dwell."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Canada

Fred J. Alsop III

Dorling Kindersley

2004

"Birds of Canada features over 1,000 photographs of birds known to regularly visit or breed in Canada. Each species receives its own full-page profile, in concise, jargon-free language, providing detailed information on song, behavior, nesting, population, birdhouses and conservation. Annotated color photographs highlight the distinct characteristics of both the male and the female. To make identification easier, there are illustrations of flight patterns, nest identification, range maps and similar birds, as well as special color tabs indicating length, wingspan, plumage, habitat, migration and life expectancy."

book cover

Boreal Forest of Canada and Russia

W.O. Pruitt and L.M. Baskin

Pensoft

2004

Bilingual parallel text: Russian and English

"Our planet's green halo is the circumpolar taiga or boreal forest. This forest is remarkably uniform in its climate, vegetation types and animal types. All life forms here have evolved adaptations to the long, cold and snowy winters, the short, hot and dry summers and the swiftly-changing seasons. The same genera and families of birds and mammals occur in this forest type in Eurasia and North America. Humans have invaded and exploited these northern coniferous forests differently in Canada and Russia. Although the history of human use has been different between the two countries the end results in both frequently have been catastrophic for vegetation, animals and some human groups. Such similarities and differences have been studied by biologists, human ecologists, anthropologists and other scientists at two research and teaching field stations in the taiga."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Atlantic Canada

Roger Burrows

Lone Pine Publishing

2002

"In Birds Of Atlantic Canada, 284 species of birds are grouped and colour coded for quick identification. An 11-page Comparative Reference Chart includes all the birds in the book. You'll find diving birds, heron-like birds, waterfowl, birds of prey, grouse-like birds, rails and coots, shorebirds, gulls, terns and alcids, doves and cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts and hummingbirds, woodpeckers, flycatchers, shrikes and vireos, jays and crows, larks and swallows, chickadees, nuthatches and wrens, kinglets, bluebirds and thrushes, mimics, starlings and waxwings, wood-warblers and tanagers, sparrows, grosbeaks and buntings, blackbirds and orioles and finch-like birds. Each account includes an accurate illustration, a range map and comprehensive information on identification and behavioural characteristics, size, status, habitat, nesting, feeding, voice, best sites for viewing and similar species."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Raptors of the Rockies

Kate Davis

Mountain Press

2002

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of Canada

Fred J. Alsop III

Dorling Kindersley

2002

"Birds of Canada features over 1,000 photographs of birds known to regularly visit or breed in Canada. Each species receives its own full-page profile, in concise, jargon-free language, providing detailed information on song, behavior, nesting, population, birdhouses and conservation. Annotated color photographs highlight the distinct characteristics of both the male and the female. To make identification easier, there are illustrations of flight patterns, nest identification, range maps and similar birds, as well as special color tabs indicating length, wingspan, plumage, habitat, migration and life expectancy."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Canada's Boreal Forest

J. David Henry

Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press

2002

"In Canada alone, the boreal forest (also called the taiga) covers more that 1.5 million square miles, fully one-third of the country and 20 percent of the entire North American continent. Terminating to the north with the treeless tundra, this region is inhabited and utilized by indigenous people and is home to unique populations of plants and animals found nowhere else on the planet. J. David Henry challenges the perception of the boreal forest as an "economic wasteland" by explaining how economically and ecologically valuable it is. He begins by answering some common questions about the region and explains its intricate geology. An in-depth examination follows of three factors that play an enormous role in shaping the complex life of the boreal forest: snow, forest fires, and peatlands. Henry looks at the dynamics of the region's vegetation and the evolution of its animals, and discusses the fascinating ten-year predator-prey cycle of snowshoe hares and Canadian lynx, one of the most famous examples of ecological interconnection. In Canada's boreal forest, loggers have clear cut an area the size of Great Britain. The final portion of the book examines initiatives from Scandinavia and Finland in order to offer alternatives to large-scale logging and mining, suggesting how humans can live and work in the boreal forest in a sustainable and responsible manner."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Bird-Finding Guide to Canada

Editor: J. Cam Finlay

McClelland & Stewart

2001

"This extensively revised edition of A Bird-Finding Guide to Canada will have Canadian birdwatchers grabbing their binoculars and itching to get out to the birding "hot spots" described in its pages. Editor J. Cam Finlay has drawn on the expertise of birders from every region of the country to tell you what birds to look for and where to find them across each province and territory. Want to know, for instance, where Great Grey Owls, Sage Grouse, and Yellow Rails may be found in the prairie provinces? Are you travelling to Vancouver on business and eager to know what birds you might see in Stanley Park? Planning a trip to the Maritimes and need advice on the best spots along the Bay of Fundy to find masses of migrating shorebirds? Need suggestions for rewarding day-trips in the vicinity of Ottawa, Toronto, or Winnipeg?"

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Sparrows of the United States and Canada: The Photographic Guide

Editor: James D. Rising

Illustrations: David Beadle

Poyser / AP Natural World

2001

"This companion volume to the previous "Guide to the Identification and Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada" takes sparrow identification one step further. The authors have gathered a selection of over 350 photographs as a basis for the identification of all 64 taxa of emberizine sparrows found in the region. The supporting text gives detailed information on the identification of species, sexes, ages, races, and forms of all the sparrows, towhees, juncos, buntings and longspurs, grassquits and seedeaters, as well as information on their distribution, habits, habitats, molt, and voice. Particular attention is paid to the geographic variation found in many species and to comparisons with similar and confusing species. The conservation status of those that are threatened is also given due attention. The photographs have been chosen specifically to illustrate the identification pointers described in the text."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Canadian Rockies

George W. Scotter, Tom J. Ulrich, Edgar T. Jones

Fifth House Books

1999

"Birds of the Canadian Rockies is a comprehensive guide featuring birds from the entire Canadian Rocky Mountain region, including national and provincial parks, and wilderness areas. Perfect for nature lovers, backpackers, travellers, and backyard birders of all ages and skills, this conveniently-sized and easy-to-use book is a Rocky Mountain classic. Each of the more than 200 bird descriptions contains fascinating information about the bird's appearance, habits, and environment, and is accompanied by a beautiful and accurate colour photograph. It also contains maps, diagrams of bird parts, common and scientific names, a list of bird families covered, a glossary of terms, hints on where to look for birds, and a detailed bird checklist."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Biology and Conservation of Forest Birds

Editor: A.W. Diamond and D.N. Nettleship

Society Of Canadian ornithologists

1999

Contents:

  • Introduction to biology and conservation of forest birds - A.W. Diamond
  • Population trends of woodland and scrubland birds using data from the Canadian Breeding Bird Survey, 1966-1994 - C.M. Downes and B.T. Collins
  • Tracing diets and origins of migratory birds using stable isotope techniques - K.A. Hobson
  • Population studies of Marbled Murrelets in British Columbia - F. Cooke
  • Evaluating uncertainty in estimating population trends for research and conservation of Marbled Murrelets - J. Boulanger et al.
  • Studies of forestry and avian communities in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick - B. Freedman and G. Johnson
  • Breeding bird population studies at Hayward Brook: Fundy Model Forest - G.R. Parker et al
  • Bird responses to the first cut of the uniform shelterwood silvicultural system in white pine forest - A. Kingsley and E. Nol
  • Snag characteristics and their use as woodpecker drilling sites in harvested and non-harvested northern hardwood forests - F. Doyon et al
  • Strip-cutting: nest success and bird responses to strip regrowth - G. Falardeau et al
  • Effect of a large burn in the boreal forest on reproduction of American Kestrels and other birds - R. Dawson and G.R. Bortolotti
  • Concluding remarks: content versus context in forest bird research - A.W. Diamond
book cover

The Atlantic Canada Nature Guide

Harry Thurston

Key Porter Books

1999

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Habitat Characteristics of Some Passerine Birds in Western North American Taiga

Brina Kessel

University of Chicago Press

1998

"In this monograph the dean of Alaska ornithologists presents various features of taiga habitats that are associated with the presence (or absence) and the densities of some of the small land birds that live in the subarctic."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Watchable Birds of the Rocky Mountains

Mary Taylor Gray

Mountain Press

1997

"If you have been charmed or intrigued by birds, would like to know more about them, but don't consider yourself a 'birdwatcher,' then this book is for you. Designed for families, tourists, casual nature lovers, and anyone who enjoys birds and wildlife, 'Watchable Birds of the Rocky Mountains' goes beyond identification to reveal the 'private lives' of our feathered friends. This fun yet informative guide covers the Rocky Mountain region of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, British Columbia, and Alberta. Contents: How to Use this Book; How to Watch Birds; Wildlife Watching; Ethics and Etiquette; Birds of the Plains; Birds of the Wetlands;and Birds of the Mountains."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Rocky Mountains

Chris C. Fisher

Lone Pine Publishing

1997

"323 common and interesting species of birds found in the Rocky Mountains region are brought to life by colorful illustrations and detailed descriptive text. Species accounts include characteristics for quick identification."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover

book cover


A Guide to the Identification and Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada

Editor: James D. Rising

Illustrations: David Beadle

Princeton University Press

1996

"Comprehensive and up-to-date information on all the features that make possible identification of all 62 species of sparrows that occur in North America. The text gives detailed descriptions of the summer, winter, and juvenile plumages of each species, as well as comparisons with similar species. The species accounts are illustrated with range maps and superb line drawings showing behavioral postures and, where useful, fine features of tail feather patterns. The 27 color plates splendidly illustrate the various plumages of each species with the emphasis on the distinctive appearance of birds of different sex, age, and geographic regions."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Smithsonian Guides to Natural America: The Northern Rockies

Thomas Schmidt, Jeremy Schmidt

Random House

1995

"Covers the national parks, wilderness preserves, and public and private sanctuaries of the Northern Rockies, providing full-color maps, clear directions, addresses and phone numbers, and traveling advice."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Canadian Birds

Bruce Obee

Whitecap Books

1993

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds in Jeopardy: Imperiled and Extinct Birds of the United States and Canada

Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin, and Darryl Wheye

Stanford University Press

1992

"As the human population skyrockets and the toxic impact of human society spreads, the natural habitats of birds degrade and diminish and the bird populations decline. Two hundred years ago, when the United States and Canada were home to less than 5 million people, they were also home to some 650 species of birds. Today, more than 280 million people live there, and 33 bird species have already been driven to extinction and well over 150 are in danger of extinction in all or parts of their range. This book, organized and written by the authors of The Birder's Handbook, and enriched by 191 strikingly beautiful color paintings illustrating all of the birds treated, is the first concise, authoritative review of the status of the birds currently imperiled in the United States and Canada - those that are federally listed as Endangered or Threatened and those that are listed by the National Audubon Society as suffering local or regional or widespread decline. It also treats the birds that have been driven to extinction in the past two centuries, since the stories of their somber fates can help us learn how to save the other birds that are in jeopardy."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Canadian Nature Guides: Ducks

Trevor Boyer and John Gooders

Gallery Books

1990

book cover

The Compact Guide to Birds of the Rockies

Geoffrey Holroyd and Howard Coneybeare

Lone Pine Publishing

1989

"This habitat-based guide includes unusual and useful notes for more than 100 birds. Its convenient size and full-page color illustrations make this guide a must for your backpack."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birding in Atlantic Canada

Roger Burrows

Jesperson Press

1988-91

A set of 3 books each covering a specific region.

Birding in Atlantic Canada: Acadia/L'Acadie, 1991

Birding in Atlantic Canada: Newfoundland, 1989

Birding in Atlantic Canada: Nova Scotia, 1988

book cover

book cover

book cover

Birds of Canada

W. Earl Godfrey

University of Chicago Press

2nd edition

1986

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Rocky Mountains

Paul A. Johnsgard

University of Colorado Press

1986

"This comprehensive reference work ...describes in detail 354 species found in a 353,000 square mile area, from the 40th parallel in Colorado north to the 52nd parallel in Canada; from the western border of Idaho to the eastern boundaries of Montana and Wyoming...Here a visitor to any of the major national parks in the Rocky Mountain region can have quick access to the abundance and seasonality of a given species. In addition, a comprehensive introduction describes the predominant life zones of the region, and over a dozen maps illustrate such significant features as precipitation patterns, vegetation community types, and major physiographic provinces.The book is well written and an essential guide for the birder who visits the Rockies."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover

book cover


Birds of Canada

Peter N. casey

Discovery Books

1984

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Birds of the Northern Rockies

Tom J. Ulrich

Mountain Press

1984

"For the hiker, traveler, or kitchen-window bird-watcher. This book covers the northern Rockies from Alberta to Wyoming. More than 220 color photographs illustrate descriptions of 170 bird species. Includes tips for observing and photographing birds."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Atlas of Eastern Canadian Seabirds

R.G.B. Brown, D.N. Nettleship, P. Germain, C.E. Tull, T. Davis

Canadian Wildlife Service

1975

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Birds Of The Beaufort Sea

Stephen R. Johnson and Dale R. Herter

Canadian Wildlife Service / LGL Ltd

1975

A second edition was published in 1989.

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


A Book of Canadian Birds

Charles Paul May

Illustrations: John Crosby

Macmillan

1967

book cover

Birds of Canada

W. Earl Godfrey

National Museum of Canada

1966

428 pages with colour illustrations by John A. Crosby and line drawings by S.D. MacDonald.

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Some Canadian Birds

W. Earl Godfrey

Queen's Printers

1966

(One of a number of editions)

book cover

Arctic Birds Of Canada

L.L.Snyder

Illustrations: T.M. Shortt

University Of Toronto Press

1957

310 page field guide with illustrations, maps, glossary and bibliography.

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Some Recent Bird Records From Canada's Eastern Arctic

T.M. Shortt, H.S. Peters

Contributions No. 22

Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology

1942

From the introduction:

"The list includes 82 species of birds from Canada's eastern Arctic. Opportunity for field observation was afforded the authors, separately, during two voyages of the Nascopie (1938 and 1939). Annotations concern numbers, dates of occurrences, habits, and distribution. Notable range extensions are recorded. Taxonomic notes are based on comparisons of a collection secured in 1938 and on additional unreported material recently acquired from the region by the Division of Birds, Royal Ontario Museum of Zoology."
book cover

Birds Of Eastern Canada

P.A. Tavener

No. 3 Biological Series

Department Of Mines / Geological Survey

1919

From the introduction:

"Of late years there has been a great awakening of interest in the subject of natural history. More and more people are beginning to realize the pleasure and profit that can be derived from observation of common natural objects. In this growing field of nature study, few subjects have attracted so much popular attention as birds and few forms of life appeal so strongly to the aesthetic sense. They are beautiful; they arouse curiosity; their elusiveness piques the imagination; and by presenting constantly new aspects they never become commonplace."
book cover

book cover

A Field Ornithology Of The Birds Of Eastern North America

C.J. Maynard

1916

From the preface:

"Among the many books written on birds it will be difficult to find one which deals wholly with these beautiful and interesting creatures as they are seen in the field. Professional ornithologists must, of course, study external and internal characters of birds from the specimens themselves in the hand, but today there is another class of ornithologists, who by far outnumber the professional, and who want to know living birds as they appear among the foliage of woodlands and shrubbery, on the shore, or upon the waters of lake, pond, and river, or upon the wide ocean. This class want a book that shall teach them how they can identify these birds as they perch, or fly, or swim. It is evident that such a book, in order to fulfill its mission, should be written by one who has had a wide experience with living birds."
book cover

book cover

book cover

The Canadian Bird Book

Illustrating In Natural Colors More Than Seven Hundred North American Birds; Also Several Hundred Photographs Of Their Nests And Eggs

Chester A. Reed

The Musson Book Company

1914

Published in the US by Doubleday as The Bird Book

Opening lines:

"Grebes are birds having a ducklike body, but with pointed bills. Their feet, too, are unlike those of the Ducks, each toe having its separate web, and having a broad flat nail. Their wings are very small for the size of the body, making it impossible for them to rise in flight from the land. They rise from the water by running a few yards along the surface until they have secured sufficient headway to allow them to launch themselves into the air. After having risen from the water their flight is very swift and strong. On land they are very awkward and can only progress by a series of awkward hops; they generally lie flat on their breasts, but occasionally stand up, supporting them- selves upon their whole tarsus. Grebes, together with the Loons, are the most expert aquatic birds that we have, diving like a flash and swimming for an incredible distance under water."
book cover

book cover

book cover

book cover

Catalogue of Canadian Birds

John Macoun and James M. Macoun

Department Of Mines, Geological Survey Branch

1909

From the introduction:

"The Catalogue of Canadian Birds was published in three parts, the first appearing in 1900 and the last in 1904. In it were enumerated systematically all the known birds of Canada together with the principal facts in regard to their distribution, migrating and breeding habits. The interest taken in this subject by the public was evinced by the reception accorded the catalogue, the stock being exhausted almost immediately after publication. In the present edition much of the matter has been re-written and many additional facts recorded and the whole combined into one volume."
book cover

book cover

Directory To The Birds Of Eastern North America

C.J. Maynard

1907

From the introduction:

"This manual is intended to aid students in identifying birds in the field; hence external characters are chiefly used and, as far as possible, those only which are conspicuous enough to be seen by the aid of a bird glass at a reasonable distance; while the author has endeavored to avoid using any characters not absolutely necessary for identification. Characteristic habits and the manner of flight are mentioned; the song, and other notes and cries are also given."
book cover

book cover

book cover

Catalogue of Canadian Birds

Part I: Water Birds, Gallinceous Birds and Pigeons

John Macoun

Geological Survey of Canada

1900

From the introduction:

"In the Catalogue of Canadian Birds, of which this is the first part (pp. 1-218) it is intended to enumerate all the birds of the Dominion systematically and to bring together the principal known facts in regard to their distribution, migrations and breeding habits. It is intended to complete the Catalogue in a second part, which will be prepared and published as soon as possible."
book cover

book cover

The Birds Of Eastern North America

With Original Descriptions Of All The Species Which Occur East Of The Mississippi River Between The Arctic Circle And The Gulf Of Mexico

C.J. Maynard

1881

From the preface:

"In June, 1879, the publication of THE BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA was commenced. This work is remodeled on the old 'Birds of Florida' but, as it includes all the birds which occur between the Arctic Circle and Gulf the of Mexico, east of the Mississippi River, its scope is very much enlarged. An entirely new edition of plates has been prepared for this book, all of which have been drawn on stone by the author. Some few changes have been made in the text but, as it has not been thought expedient to repage the hook, the reader will find that the first 128 pages treat, with some few exceptions, solely of the birds which occur in Florida, but descriptions of the few which have been omitted are to be found in the appendix. Some species which are only stragglers in the region of which I write which are not given in their proper places, are also described in that portion of the work; therefore it will be well for the reader to consult the index when he wishes to find the account of any particular species."
book cover

book cover

book cover

A Catalogue Of Canadian Birds

Montague Chamberlain

J. & A. McMillan

1876

From the preface:

"The object of this Catalogue is to bring together the names of all the birds that have been discovered within the boundaries of the Dominion, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific, and north to the Arctic; to present these in the system of nomenclature and in the sequence now generally adopted by American Ornithologists, and to give the geographical distribution of each species."
book cover

book cover

Our Birds Of Prey; Or The Eagles, Hawks, And Owls Of Canada

Henry G. Vennor

Dawson Brothers

1876

From the introduction:

"The Natural History of Canada has received a very fair share of attention from Naturalists both at home and abroad, but in no one department of this fascinating study can the ground yet be said to be well trodden. In commencing work in this field some thirteen years ago, I chose as a special object of investigation our Birds of Prey, as affording a field perhaps less trodden than others."
book cover

book cover

The Birds Of Canada

With Descriptions Of Their Habits, Food, Nests, Eggs, Times Of Arrival And Departure

Alexander Milton Ross

Eight plates and thirt-eight woodcuts expressly engraved for this work

Henry Rowsell, Toronto

1871

Preface:

"My object in presenting this volume to the public is in some measure to supply a want long felt by those interested in the study of Canadian Ornithology. This work is simply, as the title page states, a description of the habits, food, nests, eggs, times of arrival and departure of the birds of Canada. The birds described consist of the permanent and summer residents, and also such birds as regularly or accidentally stop in Canada during the spring and autumn migrations, I have in my collection (which has been made in Ontario) a specimen of each bird described, except a few of the sea birds that frequent the coasts of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. The information given as to the food and habits of our birds may probably interest and benefit the agriculturist. The great majority of our feathered visitors are insectivorous, and consequently good friends of the farmer, who should extend his protecting care to these little insect-destroyers. Many of our Canadian birds are extremely interesting, and in beauty of plumage and sweetness and variety of song equal, if they do not surpass, the birds of any other country. The arrangement and classification, and the names that are given in this work, are those which have been sanctioned by modern ornithologists."
book cover

book cover

book cover



Last updated January 2014