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New York

This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in the US state of New York.

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


USA

For bird books that cover all, or a large part of, the USA see the following page:

USA bird books

 

A Field Guide to Long Island Sound

Patrick J. Lynch

Yale University Press

2017

"Long Island Sound consists of a diverse collection of unique marine, estuarine, and terrestrial ecosystems located in one of the most densely populated regions in the United States. The Sound and its coastlines are home not only to myriad species of plants and animals—from shorebirds and turtles to whales, seals, and fish—but also to more than twenty million people. Until now there has been no one-stop reference for those interested in exploring the Sound’s rich natural history. Author, photographer, and scientific illustrator Patrick Lynch has filled this gap. Brimming with maps, photographs, and drawings, Lynch’s guide introduces readers to the full breadth of the Sound’s environs from shorelines to deepest waters. With coastal areas at particular risk from climate change and pollution, his timing couldn’t be better. Whether readers are interested in the area’s geology and meteorology, its history of human intervention, or simply locating nature reserves and bird sanctuaries, they’re sure to find Lynch’s compendium indispensable.

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Field Guide to Birds of New York

Corey Finger

Photographs: Brian E Small

American Birding Association

Scott & Nix Inc

2016

"Includes 285 species that birders are most likely to see in the state. Illustrated with over 550 crisp color photographs, it includes clearly written descriptions along with tips of when and where to see birds by an expert New York birder. It’s the perfect companion for anyone interested in the amazing diversity and beauty of New York’s bird life."

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Birdwatching in New York City and on Long Island

Deborah Rivel and Kellye Rosenheim

University Press of New England

2016

"This easy-to-use guide gives seasonal information for both popular birding sites and those off the beaten path. Precise directions to the best viewing locations within the region's diverse habitats enable birdwatchers to efficiently explore urban and wild birding hotspots. Over 400 species of birds can be seen in New York City's five boroughs and on Long Island, one of the most densely populated and urbanized regions in North America, which also happens to be situated directly on the Atlantic Flyway. .... Including the latest information on the seasonal status and distribution of more than 400 species, with 39 maps and over 50 photographs, this full-color guide features information essential to planning a birding visit. It will become the go-to book for both the region's longtime birders and those exploring the area for the first time."

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Field Guide to the Neighborhood Birds of New York City

Leslie Day

Photographs: Beth Bergman

Illustrations: Trudy Smoke

Johns Hopkins University Press

2015

"There is no better way to identify and learn about New York’s birds than with this comprehensive field guide from New York City naturalist Leslie Day. Her book will quickly teach you what each species looks like, where they build their nests, what they eat, the sounds of their songs, what time of year they appear in the city, the shapes and colors of their eggs, and where in the five boroughs you can find them—which is often in the neighborhood you call home. The hundreds of stunning photographs by Beth Bergman and gorgeous illustrations by Trudy Smoke will help you identify the ninety avian species commonly seen in New York. Once you enter the world of the city’s birds, life in the great metropolis will never look the same."

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Northeastern Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

Cool Springs Press

2013

"Inside, you'll find profiles of the 55 most common birds in the Northeast, 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 New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine."

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The Hudson Primer: The Ecology of an Iconic River

David L. Strayer

University of California Press

2012

"This succinct book gives an intimate view of the day-to-day functioning of a remarkable river that has figured prominently in history and culture - the Hudson, a main artery connecting New York, America, and the world. Writing for a wide audience, David Strayer distills the large body of scientific information about the river into a non-technical overview of its ecology. Strayer describes the geography and geology of the Hudson and its basin, the properties of water and its movements in the river, water chemistry, and the river's plants and animals. He then takes a more detailed look at the Hudson's ecosystems and each of its major habitats. Strayer also discusses important management challenges facing the river today, including pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, invasive species, and ecological restoration."

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The Nature of New York: An Environmental History of the Empire State

David Stradling

Cornell University Press

2010

"From the arrival of Henry Hudson's Half Moon in the estuarial waters of what would come to be called New York Harbor to the 2006 agreement that laid out plans for General Electric to clean up the PCBs it pumped into the river named after Hudson, this work offers a sweeping environmental history of New York State. David Stradling shows how New York's varied landscape and abundant natural resources have played a fundamental role in shaping the state's culture and economy. Simultaneously, he underscores the extent to which New Yorkers have, through such projects as the excavation of the Erie Canal and the construction of highways and reservoir systems, changed the landscape of their state."

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Nature Guide to the Northern Forest: Exploring the Ecology of the Forests of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine

Peter J. Marchand

University Press of New England

2010

"Part field guide, part natural history narrative, Nature Guide to the Northern Forest will help you identify and understand the complex influences that shape the flora and fauna of northern New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine woods. Readable and enlightening, Nature Guide to the Northern Forest explores topics such as human's influence on the history of the wild, adaptation of species at high elevations, the turning of the seasons, winter, and climate change."

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Adirondack Wildlife: A Field Guide

James M. Ryan

University Press of New England

2009

"The book leads the reader on an intimate journey through the Adirondack Park, beginning with the alpine communities above timberline and descending through the conifer and hardwood forests to the wetlands, streams, and lakes. Ryan's crisp and authoritative species-by-species accounts of the park's fauna are fabulously illustrated in color and in black and white. The book is portable and geared towards use in the field. Each chapter concludes with"sources and additional readings;" back matter includes a glossary and species checklists. The park's hundreds of thousands of residents and millions of visitors will profit immeasurably by having the indispensable Adirondack Wildlife at hand."

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The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State

Editor: Kevin J. McGowan, Kimberley Corwin

Cornell University Press

2008

"Both an indispensable scientific work and a beautiful collection of art, The Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State documents and illustrates the current distribution of breeding birds within the state and the significant change in bird distribution that has occurred since the publication of The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State, edited by Robert F. Andrle and Janet R. Carroll, in 1988. Each species account features a black-and-white illustration of the bird, color maps of the current (2000-2005) breeding distribution and of the twenty-year change in distribution, and an overview of the species' breeding range, habitat preferences, history in the state, trends in distribution, and conservation implications. The book not only chronicles shifts in bird distribution but also celebrates the 244 species that breed within the state's borders by showcasing majestic landscape paintings of family groups and original artwork of each species."

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

Scott W. Shurnway

Falcon Press

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."

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Field Guide to Birds: New York

Editor: Jonathan Alderfer

National Geographic

2007

"Featuring 200 species, this guide groups birds by family rather than alphabetically, as approved by the American Ornithological Association. A quick-reference alphabetical guide on the inside cover provides an easy way to find a name quickly. Each entry has a vivid photograph showing the bird in its native habitat. On the facing page, a list of bulleted points confirms at a glance the bird's identity. These field ID clues note the bird's size, color, beak and wing shape, markings, song, flight pattern, habitat, and hotspots in which to find them. Special field facts highlighted at the bottom of each entry give additional information about what to look for in the bird's behavior, and detailed maps show the range of each bird's habitat."

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Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City

Leslie Day

Johns Hopkins University Press

2007

"There is a secret world within New York City, a universe of creatures great and small living side-by-side with the Big Apple's Homo sapiens. The five boroughs sit atop one of the most naturally rich sites in North America, directly under the Atlantic migratory flyway, at the mouth of a 300-mile-long river, and on three islands - Manhattan, Staten, and Long. New York just might be the most biologically diverse city in temperate America. Leslie Day, a New York City naturalist, reveals this amazing world in her "Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City". Combining the stunning paintings of Mark A. Klingler with a variety of photographs and maps, this book is both beautiful and informative. Conveniently divided into sections for animals, plants, mushrooms, and geology, this is a complete guide for the urban naturalist - from tips on identifying the city's flora and fauna to maps showing the nearest subway stop. Here is your personal guide to the real wild side of America's largest city."

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Birds of New York State

Bob Budliger and Gregory Kennedy

Lone Pine Publishing

2005

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The New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area

Marcia T Fowle and Paul Kerlinger

Cornell University Press

2001

"Positioned along the major East Coast migratory flyway, New York City and the surrounding areas offer some of the finest birding opportunities in North America. More than 355 species have been sighted there. Tapping the expertise of 47 metropolitan birders, Marcia T. Fowle and Paul Kerlinger provide residents, tourists and visiting birders with the information they need to make the most of the area's extraordinary birding sites. "The New York City Audubon Society Guide to Finding Birds in the Metropolitan Area" contains up-to-date descriptions of 40 birding sites within the metropolitan area, which includes the five boroughs of New York City and adjacent areas in New Jersey, Long Island and Westchester County. An additional section features 9 birding day-trips. Entries for each site include detailed maps, descriptions of the birds that can be seen, best season to visit, safety precautions and public transportation."

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Wild Nights: The Nature of New York City

Anne Matthews

Flamingo

2001

"Though at first glance somewhat unlikely, it's a testament to the style and fizz of Matthews' writing that within pages of beginning her book on how the natural world is reclaiming the planet's megacities, focusing on New York, the reader is eating out of her palm like the tamest city sparrow…The book hums with refreshment and enlightenment at every turn and dances around its subject as gracefully and nimbly as a wild turkey (you don't think a turkey can be graceful? just read Wild Nights). Now, the book is not quite as terminally parochial as I've made out (and, anyway, anyone who has ever fallen for Manhattan is going to be thrilled by this revelation of another nightlife in that pulsating city) – after all, the dynamics of change within the great metropoli (London, Shanghai, Calcutta, Tokyo, Rio, LA, Mexico City, Lagos, Kuala Lumpur etc) are very similar, as are the tactics of the rodents, falcons, bears, birds, insects and amphibians who are finding new ways to thrive in each of these places. And it's worth stressing that the book is not non-human at all: the key players are the individuals who devote their lives to monitoring, intercepting and ameliorating the lives of their feathered, furry or fanged friends; and then there's the silent majority of humans who think too little, if at all, at the massive changes their species is inflicting on their immediate environment. It's a powerful book that becomes cumulatively political in the true sense because at no stage does it strike a single political pose or shoot a single politcal arrow. It's a liberating and mind-cleansing reading experience."

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Birds of Essex County, New York

Geoffrey Carleton

Editor: John M.C. Peterson

High Peaks Audubon Society

3rd edition

1999

"First published in 1976 and last revised in 1980, the new Third Edition lists all 310 species recorded in the county through April 1999. In addition to the species list, Carleton provides concise information on rarity, seasonality, abundance, and other history for each bird. All records are documented by place, date, and observer. Essex County includes both the High Peaks region of the Adirondacks and the lowlands of the Champlain Valley.The county holds the highest mountain in the state – Marcy (elev. 5,344 ft.), and borders the sixth largest lake in the United States – Champlain (95' above sea level). All of Essex County lies within the boundaries of the Adirondack Park. Geoffrey Carleton (1909-1998), past-President of both The Linnaean Society of New York and High Peaks Audubon Society, began gathering records of Essex County birds in 1930. This latest edition of his work was edited by John M.C. Peterson, Adirondack-Champlain regional editor of The Kingbird, the state ornithological journal."

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Field Guide to the Mid-Atlantic States

National Audubon Society

1999

"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."

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Birds of Essex County, New York

Geoffrey Carleton

Northern New York Audubon Society

3rd edition

1999

"A completely revised edition of Birds of Essex County, New York, by the late Geoffrey Carleton, is now available from Northern New York Audubon Society, Inc. First published in 1976 and last revised in 1980, the new Third Edition lists all 310 species recorded in the county through April 1999. In addition to the species list, Carleton provides concise information on rarity, seasonality, abundance, and other history for each bird. All records are documented by place, date, and observer."

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Bull's Birds of New York State

Editor: Emanuel Levine

Cornell University Press

1998

"The "bible" of the state's birders since its publication in 1974, John Bull's Birds of New York State has now been completely revised and updated by the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs. This eagerly awaited survey of bird life in the state today provides new and thorough accounts of all 451 species on the official New York State checklist. The book features 7 new maps - 4 in full color - and 30 striking sketches by bird artist Dale Dyer. Birders will find chapters covering topics from the prehistoric birds of the region to contemporary bird habitats and the ways in which current classification is being affected by DNA data and research. The species accounts themselves pay particular attention to date parameters and frequency of occurrence, details that are important to the active birder. Where applicable, full subspecies discussions are included."

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Birds of New York City: Western Long Island and NE New Jersey

Chris C. Fisher and Andy Bezener

Lone Pine Publishing

1998

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Birds of Clinton County

Charles W. Mitchell & William E. Krueger

High Peaks Audubon Society

2nd edition

1997

"All but consigned to the dustbin of birding by John Bull's characterization of it as ornithologically unknown, Clinton County, New York, has slowly but stunningly emerged as one of the premier birding hotspots in the East, a place where rarities elsewhere routinely appear. Confirmed nesting species include Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Merganser, Wilson's Phalarope, Northern Goshawk, Upland Sandpiper, Black Tern, Common Raven, Mourning Warbler, Bicknell's Thrush, Spruce Grouse and Gray Partridge. In winter, watch a Gyrfalcon feed on ice floes just off shore as a Rough-legged Hawk hovers over a nearby field. Clinton County embraces a wide range of habitats, from the beaches of Lake Champlain to the 3,836 foot summit of Lyon Mountain, and Charlie Mitchell and Bill Krueger are excellent guides to both habitats and their avian inhabitants. This completely revised and updated edition includes a section with detailed birding routes and five maps, descriptions of all 284 species recorded in the county, five beautiful photographs, a taxonomic index of breeding status and extreme dates, two annotated lists and a complete index."

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The Smithsonian Guides to Natural America: The Mid-Atlantic States: New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey

Eugene Walters

Random House

1996

"Experience the natural wonders of the Mid-Atlantic region with The Smithsonian Guides' expert mix of information, history, and stunning photography. Here is the natural bounty of the region in full detail: the wind-blown dunes of Fire Island, over 800 plant species in New Jersey's Pine Barrens, hiking trails and whitewater rafting in Pennsylvania's state parks, and the high peaks and untouched wilderness of the Adirondacks."

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City Peregrines: A Ten-Year Saga of New York City Falcons

Saul Frank

Hancock House Publishers

1994

"This is more than a story of how the world's most spectacular aerial predator invaded and took over New York City. It offers more than an expansion of our understanding of nature's most ubiquitous bird. It is the personal story of how a retired business manager, Saul Frank, hiked, biked, and climbed around New York City pursuing peregrines, often at great risk to himself, but always gaining enjoyment for himself and his wife. It is the story of how our greater understanding of the world's most successful predator came from an amateur bird watcher."

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Birds of the Adirondacks: A Field Guide

Alan E. Bessette, William K. Chapman, Warren S. Greene, Douglas R. Pens

North Country Books Field Guide Series

Country Books

1993

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The Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State

Editor: Robert F. Andrle and Janet R. Carroll

Cornell University Press

1988

"For 6 years thousands of birders covered New York searching for breeding birds. The result of their efforts The Atlas of Breeding Birds of New York State, was published in 1988. The project was a cooperative effort of three organizations -- New York State Ornithological Association, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Maps are the main feature of a breeding bird atlas publication. A map for each bird shows where Atlasers found evidence of breeding. Blocks with confirmed breeding are represented by a black square. Probable breeding is shown with an cross in a square and possible with a slash in a square. Accompanying each map is a discussion of the bird's breeding status, habits and habitats. Each species account includes a pen-and-ink drawing depicting an aspect of its breeding activity. The publication comes with transparent pages that show various features like river systems, elevation, forest types, etc. Used with the species maps, they show how the breeding distribution relates to elevation, forest type, or mean temperature."

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Birds of New York State: Including the 1976 Supplement

John Bull

Cornell University Press

1986

"John Bull presents a detailed account of avian distribution and population, describing shifts and trends among both breeding and nonbreeding birds during the period 1914-1974. Family and species accounts, which include ranges, migratory patterns, frequency of occurrence, relative abundance, and breeding and banding records, make up the heart of the book, and are accompanied by 164 breeding-and-banding recovery maps and 86 bird and habitat photographs."

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Adirondack Wildguide: A Natural History of the Adirondack Park

Michael G. DiNunzio

Illustrations: Anne E. Lacy

Adirondack Mountain Club

1984

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Where to Find Birds in New York State: The Top 500 Sites

Susan Roney Drennan

Syracuse University Press

1981

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Birds of Essex County, New York

Geoffrey Carleton

High Peaks Audubon Society

1980

35 page booklet.

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Gulls on the Niagara Frontier

Robert F. Andrle

Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences

1977

Excerpt: "Bordered by two of the Great Lakes and crossed by a major river, the Niagara Frontier Region, which includes the western portion of New York State and part of the Niagara peninsula of Ontario, is an outstanding area for gulls. It is one of the very best areas in North America, and probably in the world, for viewing large numbers and a great variety of these fascinating birds. Sixteen species plus one subspecies have been recorded here so far, and keen observers have tallied 13 species in one day on the Niagara River. At times in fall, there have been over 100,000 gull present in the region, most of them on the Niagara."

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Birds Of The New York State

John Bull

Doubleday

1974

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Birds of the Niagara Frontier Region

George Stirrett

Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences

1965

An annotated checklist.

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Birds Of The New York Area

John Bull

Foreword: Roger Tory Peterson

Harper & Row

1964

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Birds Of The New York City Region

Ludlow Griscom

Illustrations: Louis Agassiz Fuertes, Courtenay Brandreth

Handbook Series, No. 9

The American Museum of Natural History

1923

From the preface:

Seventeen years have passed since the appearance of Dr. Chapman's pamphlet on The Birds of the Vicinity of New York City. This publication briefly summarized the information about our local birds available at that time, and was a veritable mine of inspiration and assistance to the modern generation of field ornithologists and amateur bird students, who were then just beginning work. It is difficult to conceive the change that has taken place in these seventeen years. For one person interested in birds then there are now hundreds, who cover almost every section of the area at every season of the year. When Dr. Chapman wrote, not only were many parts of his territory without a resident student, but many sections had never even been visited by anyone interested in birds, or had remained un- visited for many years. Twenty-five years ago an active field man went out collecting a few dozen times a year, or made two or three trips lasting a week or so apiece. Nowadays an active student will often be afield a hundred times in one year. The result is an enormous mass of data and notes of all kinds, which, when digested and arranged, greatly extend the knowledge of our birds, and modify many old conceptions of their status and distribution.
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Birds of New York

Part 2: General Chapters; Land Birds

Elon Howard Eaton

Color plates: Louis Agassiz Fuertes

Numerous line drawings, maps and photographs

New York State Museum, Memoir 12

University Of The State Of New York

1914

From the introductory note:

The first volume of this work was communicated for publication in 1908 and was distributed to the people of this State and to the general scientific public in 1910. It was the expectation that volume 1 would be immediately followed by another volume which would afford descriptive accounts, with necessary illustrations, of the land birds of New York, but this purpose has been obstructed by the regrettable illness of the author. Students of the birds interested in this work will, therefore, understand the reason for the apparent long delay in the completion of this undertaking. With the presentation of this volume 2, the entire field, as originally planned for the work, is covered, and there are excellent reasons for feeling that the unavoidable delay has, in some regards, increased the real value of the present book, as it has afforded opportunity for the preparation of chapters of a more general import, particularly bearing upon the relations of the bird life of the State to human concerns.
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Birds of New York

Part 1: Introductory Chapters; Water Birds And Game Birds

Elon Howard Eaton

Color plates: Louis Agassiz Fuertes

Numerous line drawings, maps and photographs

New York State Museum, Memoir 12

University Of The State Of New York

1910

From the preface:

During the 64 years which have elapsed since DeKay's account of New York ornithology was published, 100 species of birds have been added to our State list and material advancement has been made in our knowledge of the habits and distribution of the commoner species. The present report has been prepared with the double purpose of bringing together as completely as possible our knowledge of New York birds at the present time; bv affording the intelligent public an account of every species known to occur within the State, accompanied with the illustrations so successfully executed by Mr Fuertes, it is hoped that the rising generation will become sufficiently acquainted with the beauty, interest and value of our birds to appreciate and protect them more efficiently.
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A Guide To The Birds Of New England And Eastern New York

Containing A Key For Each Season And Short Descriptions Of Over Two Hundred And Fifty Species, With Particular Reference To Their Appearance In The Field

Ralph Hoffman

Four full page plates by Louis Agassiz Fuertes and nearly one hundred cuts in the text

Houghton Mifflin & Co

1904

From the introduction:

There is something infectious in the enthusiasm of a student of birds. To hear him talk about the excitement of seeing a new bird, to read his account of it, or, best of all, to go afield with him on a May morning, is often enough to awaken a new interest, which enriches life to a surprising degree. The study of birds presents plenty of difficulties, which add fuel to the flame of real enthusiasm; there are sloughs of despond beyond which the faint-hearted never get. A guide who knows the way, its pitfalls and short cuts, is always welcome, and almost necessary in these days when our only weapon is the opera-glass. In spite of the fact that many excellent books are now available, the author offers another, both in the belief that there can never be too many good guides, and in the hope that this book has been especially adapted to the growing class of beginners in bird study. The book is the result of experience with many field-classes. Every effort has been made to emphasize the aspect of birds as seen out of doors, to describe their general or most prominent colors rather than any mark difficult to see on the living bird, and to call attention to their characteristic habits and haunts, and thus to enable the conscientious student to answer, with as much certainty as possible, the question, "What is the bird that I have seen?" The keys and the illustrations have been prepared with this end in view. There has been no attempt to give a complete description of the plumage, as it would look if the bird were held in the hand, nor does the book contain anything like full biographies of each species. Minute descriptions of the plumage and full accounts of the lives of the birds are to be found in many excellent books, some one of which may well be used to supplement this Guide. Notes and songs have been carefully described, and as far as possible expressed in English syllables. The author is well aware that another listener might express the same sounds by very different syllables; he has not attempted to convey to any one unfamiliar with the song anything more than an idea of its length and accent, and perhaps a suggestion of the quality of its tone. It is hoped, however, that the songs as transcribed will be useful in identifying doubtful species, that any one comparing the transcripts in the book with his own field-notes, or, better still, with the songs themselves, will recognize their likeness to that of one species and their unlikeness to that of another.
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Last updated September 2017