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Pennsylvania

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

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

 

Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania

George L. Armistead

Photographs: Brian E Small

American Birding Association

Scott & Nix Inc

2016

"Written by expert birder GeorgeL. Armistead and filled with crisp, gorgeous color photography, the American Birding Association Field Guide to Birds of Pennsylvania is the perfect companion for anyone learning more about the natural history and diversity of the state’s birds and when and where to see them. 410 beautiful color photographs featuring 252 bird species in natural habitats. Clear and concise introduction, identification, and habitat text. Tips on when and where to see species. Organized by type of bird from waterfowl to finches. Table of birding sites and habitats. Complete state bird checklist, detailed state map, index, and quick index."

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Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania

Editor: Andrew M. Wilson, Daniel W. Brauning, Robert S. Mulvihill

Pennsylvania State University Press

2013

"Twenty years after the first Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania was published, the Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania brings our knowledge of the state's bird populations up to date, documenting current distribution and changes in status for nearly two hundred bird species. More than two thousand dedicated birdwatchers completed surveys of birds across the state from 2004 to 2009. The data amassed reveal the distribution of each species and show changes in distribution since Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania of the first Atlas. Additionally, a highly trained survey crew carried out bird counts at more than 34,000 locations statewide. These counts tabulated not just species but individual birds as well, in a manner that – for the very first time – enabled precise estimates of the actual statewide populations for more than half of the 190 breeding species detected. In all, more than 1.5 million sightings were compiled for the second Atlas, providing an unprecedented snapshot of the bird life of Pennsylvania -and perhaps of any comparably sized region in the world. The introductory chapters to the second Atlas describe and discuss recent changes in climate and bird habitats within Pennsylvania. The data gathered and summarized for Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania were used by the more than forty contributing authors to write comprehensive and authoritative accounts of each species. These accounts are illustrated by stunning photographs, usually taken somewhere within the state. Up to three maps per species show in fine detail their current distribution based on the second Atlas, changes in distribution since the first Atlas, and, for more than one hundred species, their abundance in Pennsylvania."

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Terrestrial Vertebrates of Pennsylvania: A Complete Guide to Species of Conservation Concern

Editor: M.A. Steele, M.C. Brittingham, T.J. Maret, J.F. Merritt

Johns Hopkins University Press

2011

"The 133 species of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals discussed in this book are Pennsylvania's most vulnerable terrestrial vertebrates. Each species is described in a full account that details basic biology and includes photographs and range maps. The accompanying narratives focus on conservation priorities, research needs, and management recommendations. Featuring information compiled from a broad array of sources and by contributors who are recognized authorities on their respective species, this volume is a model for wildlife conservation across much of the northeastern United States."

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Mid-Atlantic Birds: Backyard Guide

Bill Thompson III

Cool Springs Press

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."

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Wildlife of the Mid-Atlantic: A Complete Reference Manual

John H. Rappole

University of Pennsylvania Press

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."

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Paperback edition

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Hardback edition


Field Guide to Birds: Pennsylvania

Editor: Jonathan Alderfer

National Geographic

2006

"City and country birds populate this book. Some soar through the Poconos, but many can be seen in the shadow of bustling Philadelphia or Pittsburgh: Outside Philly, identify the Yellow-billed Cuckoo by its brilliant lower mandible and staccato kuk-kuk-kuk! The Snow Goose, with its pink bill and "grinning patch" migrates in spring and fall across the state's eastern border. The stunning Red-Tailed Hawk, with its unmistakably coloured tail and bloomer-like leg-feathers soars on thermals north of Reading. The whiskered, olive-hued Acadian Flycatcher is a common species; it darts from its perch to grab prey in woodlands and swamps throughout the state. Ironic that its call is a quiet Peace! "National Geographic Field Guide to Birds: Pennsylvania" is the 5th set in the series of pocket-size bird field guides. Each guide is 272 pages and features about 175 birds. The book's trim size fits in a backpack or pocket for easy access."

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Birds of Pennsylvania

Franklin Haas and Roger Burrows

Lone Pine Publishing

2005

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Birds of Pennsylvania: Field Guide

Stan Tekiela

Adventure Publications

2004

"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."

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

John H. Rappole

Johns Hopkins University Press

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."

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Natural Pennsylvania: Exploring the State Forest Natural Areas

Charles Fergus

Stackpole Books

2002

"Throughout Pennsylvania, within the state forest system, are 61 officially designated Natural Areas, each offering a bit of wildness deemed worthy of protection: rare-bird breeding sites, stands of old-growth trees, fragile wetlands, ice age remnants, mineral-rich mountainsides. To experience first-hand the unique features of each natural area, nature writer Charles Fergus spent a year visiting all 61. In this information-filled book, he reports on what he found, offering readers a guided tour of some of natural Pennsylvania's most distinctive places. He also provides information on how to visit the areas, each of which is open to the public."

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Pennsylvania Birds: An Introduction to Familiar Species

Waterford Press

2001

"Pennsylvania Birds is a pocket reference guide printed on laminate material and folded for easy storage and retrieval. It includes color illustrations of common bird species and an inset map of popular Pennsylvania bird sanctuaries."

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The Birds of Pennsylvania

Gerald M. McWilliams and Daniel W. Brauning

Foreword: Kenn Kauffmann

Cornell University Press

2000

"In the first comprehensive summary and analysis in over a century of the birds of that state, Gerald M. McWilliams and Daniel W. Brauning provide a wealth of information for both the professional ornithologist and the amateur birder. This book treats all 428 species seen in the state, including breeding and wintering birds, migrants, and vagrants. Each entry provides the general status of a species; the locations where it is most commonly found; its natural habitat, migratory patterns, breeding habits, and seasonal status and distribution; and a summary of the bird's history in Pennsylvania. With clear descriptions of physiographic regions as well as 44 breeding distribution maps for the most commonly seen birds and 67 photographs of many rare and hard-to-find species, this volume is an indispensable resource about Pennsylvania's bird life."

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Wildlife of Pennsylvania: And the Northeast

Charles Fergus

Stackpole Books

2000

"Natural history narratives for more than 300 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians found in Pennsylvania and throughout the northeastern United States -- written in an engaging, straightforward style. An invaluable addition to any nature-lover's library. Each narrative offers a species description as well as up-to-date information on habitat, breeding behaviour, feeding habits, biology, migration, and current population status, as well as the author's personal observations of the animal's life in the wild. Includes game and non-game mammals, birds of prey, songbirds, waterfowl, snakes, turtles, frogs, toads, and more."

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Great Natural Areas of Western Pennsylvania

Stephen J. Ostrander

Stackpole Books

2000

"This companion for ecotourists points out western Pennsylvania's best natural attractions and explains why they're special. Birding spots, wildflower preserves, scenic overlooks, geological sites, family recreation areas, forests, rivers, and winding trails are all fully explored. These are areas where visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, swimming, fishing, or just restful sightseeing. Details on special features, geology, wildlife, and history of each site are provided, as well as basic tourist information and locator maps."

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The View from Hawk Mountain: The Story of the Worlds First Raptor Sanctuary

Michael Harwood

Stackpole Books

2001

"For years the rocky north-facing slope of Hawk Mountain in eastern Pennsylvania attracted scores of hunters who would shoot hawks, falcons, and eagles out of the sky. In 1934, Maurice Broun came to Hawk Mountain to establish the world's first sanctuary for birds of prey. Today, the mountain's famous lookout attracts thousands of birders, nature-lovers, and scientists to marvel at the river of raptors that annually comes streaming by. The story of how Hawk Mountain went from hunting hotspot to a thriving research centre with an important role in raptor conservation is told in vivid prose."

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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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Great Natural Areas of Eastern Pennsylvania

Stephen J. Ostrander

Stackpole Books

1996

"Includes helpful maps and information on activities, points of interest, and programs available at more than 65 natural areas."

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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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A Birder's Guide to Pennsylvania

Paula Ford

Gulf Publishing

1995

"This book takes the reader to almost 200 parks, refuges, and hot spots for migratory and resident birds throughout Pennsylvania. Details on 7 geographical regions include 34 maps make this the most comprehensive statewide guide available to Pennsylvania birding sites."

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Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania

Editor: Daniel W. Brauning

University of Pittsburgh Press

1992

"A reference that locates and profiles all 203 species of birds that are known to have nested in Pennsylvania. The atlas is the result of a statewide survey conducted from 1983 to 1989 by more than 2000 volunteer birders. Large easy-to-read maps form the core of the atlas. The maps are supplemented by a tabular summary of the results of the survey and, where sufficient data exists, a graph that shows population trends from 1966 to 1987. Seven acetate overlays showing the state's ecozones, elevations, mean temperatures, precipitation, forest types, land cover and river systems accompany the maps. A species account that describes historical changes in populations, habitat requirements and nesting biology faces each map page and summarizes and analyzes the survey results. The illustrations accompanying each account frequently depict one of the nesting behaviours associated with the species."

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

Scott Weidensaul

Fulcrum

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."

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The Birds of Western Pennsylvania and Adjacent Regions

Robert C. Leberman

Special publication 13

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

1988

A 50 page, pocket size, annotated checklist covering 368 species.

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Birding the Delaware Valley Region

A Comprehensive Guide to Birdwatching in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Central and Southern New Jersey and North Central Delaware

John J. Harding & Justin J. Harding

Temple University Press

1981

"For the thousands of local birdwatchers and the many hundreds of visitors, this glove compartment-sized book places all the excitement and opportunity of the Delaware Valley's 335 species of birds within convenient reach. Huge in coverage yet compact in size, "Birding the Delaware Valley Region" is the first comprehensive bird-finding guide available for the region. With detailed directions like "behind the airport," "follow the shabby road off to the left," and "lock the car and walk the railroad tracks," this exuberant handbook tells the birder exactly how to get to the best locations and what to do when he's there. In addition to providing maps showing topographical outlines, it surveys key areas (all within a two-hour drive of Philadelphia) where most of the region's birds can be found: Hawk Mountain, Cape May Point State Park, Ridley Creek State Park, Tinicum Marsh, Brigantine National Wildlife refuge, and Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge.Mini-chapters discuss additional birding "hot spots" famous for great numbers of migrants, and short references to another thirty "spots" round out the regions' bird refuges to more than seventy. Simple cross-checking can be done with the annotated list, the list of accidental or casual species, the bibliography, and the index located at the end of the guide."

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Birds of Western Pennsylvania

W.E. Clyde Todd

Color plates: George Miksch Sutton

University of Pittsburgh Press

1940

710 pages with 22 color plates illustrating 118 species.

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An Introduction To The Birds Of Pennsylvania

George Miksch Sutton

Color frontispiece and numerous pen-and-ing drawings by the author

J. Horace McFarlaned

1928

From the preface:

I have written this book for those who are beginning a study of birds in Pennsylvania; or for those who, after some study in a certain region, wish to know more about the birds in other sections of the Commonwealth. This book is not intended to be a complete reference work. The descriptions of the birds and statements of their status are as brief as I felt I could make them under the circum- stances. Many species of birds which have been recorded in Pennsylvania are not even mentioned. These are omitted so as to simplify the list for the beginner, who is confronted with a sufficiently formidable array of new and strange names as it is. All important species are, however, included. Colored illustrations throughout this hand manual would, of course, have been desirable, but their cost is great, and the pen drawings are adequate for field-work; perhaps, in fact, even better than fully colored drawings which often lead the beginner to expect too much from the glimpses he may have of birds in the field.
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Last updated December 2013