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Maryland

The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

USA

USA bird books

A Year across Maryland: A Week-by-Week Guide to Discovering Nature in the Chesapeake Region

Bryan MacKay

2013

"Written as an almanac, A Year across Maryland invites you to explore the natural world throughout the year, from watching bald eagles nesting in January to harvesting mistletoe in December. Entries identify the best time and place to experience such wonders as wildflowers blooming, birds in migration, amphibians singing, and morel mushrooms ready to be picked, sliced, sautéed, and devoured. Color photographs of more than seventy species enrich and illustrate the text. Every week of the year has a recommended "Trip of the Week." Personal essays that draw from MacKay's field notes provide an intimate glimpse into a biologist encounters with plants and animals over the years."

Mid-Atlantic Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

2013

"Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the Mid-Atlantic, complete with large color photos, gender-specific physical descriptions, nesting and feeding information, bird call particulars, and interesting stories about each species. Thompson also introduces the reader to the basics of bird watching: essential gear, bird-friendly food and plantings, housing tips, and observational techniques. This guide covers Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania."

Wildlife of the Mid-Atlantic: A Complete Reference Manual

John H. Rappole

2012: Paperback edition

2007: Hardback edition

"The Mid-Atlantic is a geographically and biologically diverse region, ranging from the sandy coastal beaches and blackwater swamps of southeastern Virginia to the boreal bogs and spruce-fir forests of northern Pennsylvania and the highest peaks of West Virginia's Appalachian Mountains. Scientists identify six distinct geologic provinces in the area, along with four climatic zones. As John H. Rappole explains, these varied landforms and climates create the environment for the variety of wildlife found in the region. This well-illustrated volume is the most comprehensive and up-to-date guide to the wildlife of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Approximately 550 species are described, including all birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians known to inhabit the area, excluding open ocean species. Each species is illustrated and a distribution map is included with every entry. The species accounts contain a physical description, data on habitat and distribution, habits, diet, reproduction, conservation status, and one or more key references. Sections cover the major habitat types in the region (including descriptions and photos), physical geography, climate, and conservation challenges. In addition, the book has a glossary of nearly 400 technical terms."

Paperback edition

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Hardback edition

2nd Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia

Editor: Walter G. Ellison

2010

"Despite their small sizes, Maryland and Washington, DC, possess a vast range of environments - from the high peaks of the Allegheny Ridges to the low marshes of the Chesapeake Bay. Home to 200 nesting bird species, these habitats are under constant threat from urban sprawl, changing farming practices, and the degradation of coastal wetlands. The Second Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia documents the impact of these environmental changes on the region's bird population and discusses the recovery of the endangered Bald Eagle and the new confirmation of breeding by three species - the Common Merganser, the Ruddy Duck, and the Double-crested Cormorant. Species accounts, each with a stunning color photograph, provide detailed coverage of the habitats, biology, and relative abundance of mid-Atlantic nesting birds. Up-to-date maps reflect changes in their breeding ranges and distributions over the past two decades. Of perhaps greatest value are the comparative analyses with data from the first statewide survey conducted in the 1980s."

Chesapeake Bay: Nature of the Estuary: A Field Guide

Christopher P. White

2009

"hesapeake Bay Nature of the Estuary has become the definitive field guide to the Chesapeake. Flora and fauna descriptions are arranged according to the bays nine major habitats – from freshwater wetlands to saltwater marshes. The most important field marks of more than 500 species are shown in 350 superb pen-and-ink drawings, which make this benchmark work as beautiful as it is useful. Chesapeake Bay Nature of the Estuary is designed as a user-friendly introduction to the natural history of the Chesapeake Bay. Scientific jargon is kept to a minimum. Illustrations and text are paired to present an easy-to-use primer on the estuarine system. The book takes an ecological approach to life above and below the Chesapeakes surface."

Chesapeake Wildlife: Stories of Survival and Loss

Pat Vojtech

2009

"In Chesapeake Wildlife: Stories of Survival and Loss, author/photographer Pat Vojtech uses historical data to recreate the story of wildlife of the Chesapeake region and reveal how close mankind came to eliminating forever many of the beautiful wildlife species taken so much for granted today. She relates how hard the struggle was to bring some Chesapeake wildlife species back from the brink of extinction. While this is a history of wildlife in the Chesapeake watershed, it mirrors societys impact on wildlife throughout North America and around the world more than the past four hundred years. Illustrated with more than 150 colour photographs, this is a book any lover of wildlife or student of history will cherish."

Naturalist on the Nanticoke: The Natural History of a River on Maryland's Eastern Shore

Robert A. Hedeen

2009

"In Naturalist on the Nanticoke, Robert Hedeen concentrates on the natural history and ecology of the river area, but especially on those aspects that have given rise to fascinating stories and legends."

Life Along the Inner Coast: A Naturalist's Guide to the Sounds, Inlets, Rivers, and Intracoastal Waterway from Norfolk to Key West

Robert L. Lippson and Alice Jane Lippson

2009

"This dense system of waterways contains an incredible range of salinity levels, from fresh to brackish to oceanic, and is host to flora and fauna that have adapted to both specific and broad ranges of ecological habitats. The Lippsons explore each habitat, from wooded wetlands, broad marshes, and sandy beaches, to the hundreds of piers and pilings thrusting into the waters, to the vast shallow waters rich in populations of fish, crabs, mollusks, and myriad other marine creatures. They describe more than 800 species that are beautifully illustrated with meticulous ink drawings and photographs and organized according to habitat type and geographic region. Ranging from the busy commercial harbor at Norfolk through vast expanses of marshlands of the mid-Atlantic to the tropical mangrove islands of Florida, "Life along the Inner Coast" offers readers a rich understanding of the relationships between organisms and where they live. It is a valuable resource for naturalists, students, and anyone who lives or vacations along the Atlantic Inner Coast."

A Birders Guide to Montgomery County Maryland

Maryland Ornithological Society

2008

A guide to birdwatching sites plus an annotated checklist of all species that have been recorded.

Backyard Birds of Maryland: How to Identify and Attract the Top 25 Birds

Bill Fenimore

2008

"Backyard Birds is an exciting series of books that explores the top twenty-five backyard birds most commonly found in each state. It includes a profiled size scale that allows the reader to quickly identify the correct bird, and each bird entry is accompanied by a stunning color photograph and specific description, including identification marks, behavior, habitat, and nesting style-even the song the bird makes! As an added feature, author Bill Fenimore also provides expert tips for building the ultimate backyard bird sanctuary, from creating birdbaths and planting proper foliage to offering a bird's favorite foods."

The Naturalist's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: Beach Ecology from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras

Scott W. Shurnway

2008

"From the North Carolina's Outer Banks to Maine's rocky coast, this comprehensive guidebook covers the ecology, wildlife, plants and ocean creatures in full-colour photographs and vivid detail. No other book includes all of the plants, animals, and terrain along this stretch of coastline, making this a must-have for anyone who lives or recreates near the Atlantic. The diverse habitats of the seashore, from the Rocky Shores to Sandy Beaches, Estuaries, Tidal Flats, Salt Marshes, Seagrass Meadows, and the Open Ocean are explored in detail in this user-friendly guide and natural history. The easy-to-use layout, comprehensive index, water-resistant cover and guaranteed binding make this a beautiful volume of natural history and biodiversity."

Field Guide to Birds: Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Jonathan Alderfer

2006

"Sized for backpack or pocket, each 272-page volume highlights a single state or two and covers 125 species (each with a photograph and range map), with local expertise provided by experienced birders. Even novice birders will make quick and confident identifications thanks to the uncluttered, easy-to-use format. An introductory locator map pinpoints top birding sites, and customized range maps detail each species' winter, breeding, migration, and resident ranges. Maryland and Washington, D.C. offers seabirds, shorebirds, land birds, songbirds, and raptors aplenty, from Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Barred Owls, and Pileated Woodpeckers to multiple species of vireos and bitterns and an array of ducks. Hotspots include Assateague Island National Seashore, Swallow Falls State Park and the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge."

Life in the Chesapeake Bay

An Illustrated Guide to the Fishes, Invertebrates, Plants, Birds and other Animals of Bays and Inlets from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras

Alice J. Lippson and Robert L. Lippson

3rd edition

2006

"Life in the Chesapeake Bay is the most important book ever published on America's largest estuary. Since publication of the first edition in 1984, tens of thousands of naturalists, boaters, fishermen, and conservationists have relied on the book's descriptions of the Bay's plants, animals, and diverse habitats. Superbly illustrated and clearly written, this acclaimed guide describes hundreds of plants and animals and their habitats, from diamondback terrapins to blue crabs to hornshell snails. Now in its third edition, the book has been updated with a new gallery of thirty-nine color photographs and dozens of new species descriptions and illustrations. The new edition retains the charm of an engaging classic while adding a decade of new research."

Birds of Maryland & Delaware: Field Guide

Stan Tekiela

2005

"Learn about and identify birds using Stan Tekiela's state-by-state field guides. The full-page, color photos are incomparable and include insets of winter plumage, color morphs and more. Plus, with the easy-to-use format, you don't need to know a bird's name or classification in order to easily find it in the book. Using this field guide is a real pleasure. It's a great way for anyone to learn about the birds in your state."

Wildlife of Virginia and Maryland and Washington, D.C.

Charles Fergus

2003

"Details the animals found in the remarkably diverse habitats throughout Virginia and Maryland: their life in the wild, what they look like, what and how they eat, and how they raise their young. Intended for a general audience with any level of knowledge, the material presented serves as an informative companion to a wide range of field guides. The introduction provides general information about the various types of landscape in these Mid-Atlantic states, and how they support wildlife populations."

Birds of the Mid-Atlantic Region and Where to Find Them

John H. Rappole

2002

"With its dramatic range of habitats, from the beaches of the Atlantic to the wetlands of the Chesapeake Bay and the alpine forests of the Appalachians, the Mid-Atlantic region is home to 346 species of birds. For amateur and experienced birders alike, few areas offer so many opportunities to see such a rich variety of avian life. Birds of the Mid-Atlantic Region and Where to Find Them is the only comprehensive field guide to bird life in the area (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) that also directs readers to public sites where each species can be found. Noted ornithologist John H. Rappole provides extensive information about every species: description, identification details for distinguishing similar species, habitat preference, vocalization, range, and Mid-Atlantic seasonal occurrence, abundance, and distribution. Each entry is accompanied by a color photograph, making identification easy for amateur bird watchers, and by a range of maps. A helpful guide to sites lists the best places to spot specific birds, from common species to rarities, and how to reach the sites by car."

Chesapeake Wildlife: Stories of Survival and Loss

Pat Vojtech

2001

"In this book, author/photographer Pat Vojtech uses historical data to recreate the story of wildlife of the Chesapeake region and reveal how close mankind came to eliminating forever many of the beautiful wildlife species taken so much for granted today. She relates how hard the struggle was to bring some Chesapeake wildlife species back from the brink of extinction. While this is a history of wildlife in the Chesapeake watershed, it mirrors society’s impact on wildlife throughout North America and around the world more than the past four hundred years. Illustrated with more than 150 color photographs, this is a book any lover of wildlife or student of history will cherish."

Field Guide to the Mid-Atlantic States

National Audubon Society

"Filled with concise descriptions and stunning photographs, the National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Mid-Atlantic States belongs in the home of every Mid-Atlantic resident and in the suitcase or backpack of every visitor. This compact volume contains: an easy-to-use field guide for identifying 1,000 of the state's wildflowers, trees, mushrooms, mosses, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, butterflies, mammals, and much more; a complete overview of the Mid-Atlantic region's natural history, covering geology, wildlife habitats, ecology, fossils, rocks and minerals, clouds and weather patterns, and the night sky; and an extensive sampling of the area's best parks, preserves, beaches, forests, islands, and wildlife sanctuaries, with detailed descriptions and visitor information for 50 sites and notes on dozens of others. The guide is packed with visual information - the 1,500 full-color images include more than 1,300 photographs, 18 maps, and 16 night-sky charts, as well as more than 100 drawings explaining everything from geological processes to the basic features of different plants and animals. For everyone who lives or spends time in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, or Washington, D.C."

Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Maryland and the District of Columbia

Editor: Chandler S. Robbins and Eirik A.T. Blom

1996

"The culmination of five years of intensive field work, this atlas presents data on 199 species of birds that breed in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Each species account contains information on habitat requirements, distribution, abundance, history, and nesting characteristics."

Birding Howard County, Maryland

Maryland Ornithological Society

A guide to birdwatching sites plus an annotated checklist of all species that have been recorded.

Birds of the Chesapeake Bay: Paintings by John W. Taylor

John W. Taylor

1992

"Birds of the Chesapeake Bay" collects 40 of Taylor's recent paintings. Reproduced in full colour, they depict many of the Chesapeake's most important and best-loved birds. One of the world's largest and richest estuaries, the Chesapeake Bay attracts millions of birds to its marshes and waterways. For 30 years, the artist John Taylor has lived and worked along its shores - walking the woods and beaches, looking for birds, and recording the extraordinary life of the Chesapeake in his paintings, drawings, and journals. Some of his subjects - the Canada goose, laughing gull, and osprey - are familiar sights to those who live near the Bay. Others - the snowy egret, sora rail, and peregrine falcon - are more rarely seen. All are rendered with exceptional attention to physical detail and subtlety of form, whether treated in portraits or landscapes. This book looks at the Bay's wildlife and habitat through the eyes of a talented artist and experienced naturalist. Accompanying each painting is an account of the bird's natural history, including details of its life in the Chesapeake region and how that life has changed because of increasing development and more energetic conservation efforts."

Finding Birds in the National Capital Area

Claudia Wilds

2nd edition

1992

"In the second edition of Finding Birds in the National Capital Area, Claudia Wilds updates her classic guide with new maps, directions, and descriptions, providing information on birding from Delaware to North Carolina accessible to the notice and detailed enough for the experienced birder."

Seasonal Guide to the Natural Year: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, West Virginia and Washington, D.C

Scott Weidensaul

1992

"These comprehensive guides offer a unique approach to travel for naturalists of all stripes, providing information on where to go and when to go. Month-by-month listings enable nature lovers to explore and behold the spectacular natural events that occur in these regions through the seasons. Whether birder, photographer, wildflower buff, or eco-traveler, you will find the Seasonal Guides essential resources for viewing nature's best shows."

Chesapeake Bay Nature of the Estuary: A Field Guide

Christopher P. White

Schiffer Publishing

1989

"This book has become the definitive field guide to the Chesapeake. Flora and fauna descriptions are arranged according to the bay’s nine major habitats—from freshwater wetlands to saltwater marshes. The most important field marks of more than 500 species are shown in 350 superb pen-and-ink drawings, which make this benchmark work as beautiful as it is useful.The book is designed as a user-friendly introduction to the natural history of the Chesapeake Bay. Scientific jargon is kept to a minimum. Illustrations and text are paired to present an easy-to-use primer on the estuarine system. The book takes an ecological approach to life above and below the Chesapeake’s surface. Wetland and aquatic communities are emphasized."

Waterfowl of the Chesapeake Bay Country

Brooke Meanley

1982

Birds and Marshes of the Chesapeake Bay Country

Brooke Meanley

1975

Birds Of Maryland And The District Of Columbia

Robert E. Stewart and Chandler S. Robbins

69 Distribution maps

North American Fauna, Number 62

Fish And Wildlife Service

US Department Of The Interior

1959

From the introduction:

Birds hold an important position in our economy and culture, their recreational value is shared by the gunner, the photographer, and an increasing number of bird students who both singly and in organized parties take frequent trips to make Christmas-season or spring counts, to record the progress of migration, or to seek rare species. If the amount of money spent anually for such items as field clothes, gasoline, food, lodging, guns, shells, boats, binoculars, telescopes, cameras, film, and bridge tolls by persons in quest of birds for one purpose or another were known, the total would doubtless surprise even the most ardent participants. Aside from their recreational and direct economic value, birds have aesthetic appeal to most of our citizens. Countless thousands of people derive daily enjoyment from the sight of birds on their feeding shelves, in their birdbaths, or on their lawns, from hearing their varied songs, or from watching distant flocks of waterfowl by day or hearing their calls by night. The majestic Bald Eagle, which nests throughout our tidewater area, so inspired our ancestors that it was selected as our national emblem, frequent references to other birds in prose and poetry attest to the more subtle influences these creatures have upon our civilization.

Birds Of A Maryland Farm: A Local Study Of Economic Ornithology

Sylvester D. Judd

B/W photographs

Division Of Biological Survey Bulletin No. 17

US Department of Agriculture

Government Printing Office

1902

From the introduction:

With a view to ascertaining how far local conditions might modify the details of general conclusions based on data from widely separated regions, a study of the food habits of the birds on a particular farm was undertaken. From July 30, 1895, to July 24, 1902, visits were made at frequent intervals and including every month of the year except January. To obtain an idea of the available food supply, the insects, berries, and seeds found on the place were collected; the condition of the crops and the insects infesting them were noted; detailed observations of the birds' food habits were made in the field, and the stomachs of 698 birds were collected and examined, 53 being those of English sparrows and the remainder (615) those of native species.