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Washington D.C.

This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in Washington D.C.

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 the Natural World of Washington, D.C.

Howard Youth

Johns Hopkins University Press

2014

"In Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C., naturalist Howard Youth takes us on an urban safari, describing the wild side of the nation's capital. Beyond the abundant wildlife that can be seen in every neighborhood, Washington boasts a large park network rich in natural wonders. A hike along the trails of Rock Creek Park, one of the country’s largest and oldest urban forests, quickly reveals white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, and little brown bats. Mayapples, Virginia bluebells, and red mulberry trees are but a few of the treasures found growing at the National Arboretum. A stroll along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers might reveal stealthy denizens such as bullfrogs, largemouth bass, and common snapping turtles. Detailed drawings by Carnegie artist Mark A. Klingler and photography by Robert E. Mumford, Jr., reveal the rich color and stunning beauty of the flora and fauna awaiting every D.C. naturalist."

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

Editor: Walter G. Ellison

Johns Hopkins University Press

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."

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

Bill Fenimore

Gibbs Smith

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."

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

Jonathan Alderfer

National Geographic

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."

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

Charles Fergus

Stackpole Books

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."

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

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

University of Pittsburgh Press

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."

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Finding Birds in the National Capital Area

Claudia Wilds

Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press

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."

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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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Birds Of Maryland And The District Of Columbia

Robert E. Stewart and Chandler S. Robbins

1 b/w plate: Louis Agassiz Fuertes

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.
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Last updated December 2013