Peterson Field Guides: Eastern Birds, 4th Edition

by Roger Tory Peterson

Paperback, 1984

Status

Available

Call number

598.297

Publication

Houghton Mifflin (P) (1984), Edition: 4th Revised edition, 380 pages

Description

"A new edition of the classic, best-selling field guide from Peterson Field Guides"--

User reviews

LibraryThing member LisaMaria_C

This book was owned by my mother--who was the nature lover and birder in the family. She found more to watch then you might expect living in New York City. We lived near Central Park, which is something of a bird sanctuary. This book taught her a lot that she passed on to me, Though I'm by no means

the naturist she was, I do appreciate the way this book made me more aware of the birds around me. I was oblivious before to all but the pigeons ("rock doves" in this book) and sparrows. After this I was more aware of the occasional American Robin, Cardinal and Blue Jays I'd see around the streets, let alone the Mourning Dove, Chickadees, Mockingbird, Oriole, Tufted Titmice among others I could spot in Central Park. Somehow it all made New York City a friendlier and more magical place.

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LibraryThing member JVioland

It's a excessively detailed book for the true birder. I'm one. Great.

LibraryThing member kwkslvr

Another excellent offering from the Peterson Field Guides series. This edituion has a plastic cover and heavy gloss pages which is useful when out in the field. This book is always at hand in our house. Highly recommended.

LibraryThing member drmarymccormack

I have so many bird guides but this is the one that I always go back to! When I started out, I didn't understand why the author used drawings, but now I know it's brilliant. Birds look different in every photograh but a drawing with an arrow pointing to a good ID feature is key! Wondrful book, my

only complaint is that I always want more information about a species than the small paragraph given. This book was designed to be carried on a birding trip so I guess it can't be a tome.

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LibraryThing member herebedragons

Not my favorite field guide. The illustrations are excellent, but I don't like having to look up maps in the back of the book. I consider this a good supplemental guide, but it's not one I often carry in the field.

LibraryThing member herebedragons

A duplicate copy of the 4th edition. This edition was signed by both Roger Tory and Virginia Marie Peterson, when I met them at a birding symposium.

LibraryThing member shawnd

I remember this book fondly as my father had and used a previous edition to identify birds around our house when I was a boy in Maine. As such a book is a tool in the field, perhaps some commentary is needed about its qualities as a tool. The pages are glossy and have a thick feel, and the format

between soft-back and hard-back is pliable and feels good in the hand. The other tools within the book are useful: a Latin species name index, regular index, and checklist for the species for the reader to tick off when they have seen a specific bird. The map section seems a little overkill as it takes up 20% or so of the pages and I do quite well using the thumbnail size maps listed alongside each species. And the similar, necessary posing of the birds from the side, could be augmented with some different poses: from time to time I see a bird head-on or under it and want the book to validate the girth or other qualities of the bird which can't be done with most of the pictures in the book. Overall, the book is fine, time-tested, and perfect for home use.

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LibraryThing member JBD1

The classic, and probably still the best, field guide.

LibraryThing member brose72

Well illustrated field guide for birdwatchng.

LibraryThing member arelenriel

This is the copy that belonged to my grandmother. It gives excellent descriptions of the birds of North American. Great for bird watchers.

LibraryThing member Sandydog1

A classic that has been surpassed. If you need something for your bird feeder window or car, this may be ok. Otherwise take the time to pore through the Sibley Guide.

LibraryThing member fuzzi

My mother gave me this book when my old one had gotten worn out.

Peterson's guide cannot be beat, imho. Not only was he an excellent artist/illustrator, but he developed a way of 'marking' certain characteristics of birds, to make a quick identification more possible.

LibraryThing member antiqueart

wonderful color plates to identify birds with

LibraryThing member ehines

Peterson's illustrations, organization and tips on how to distinguish similar species make identifying birds as easy as it can be for befuddled city folk like myself.

LibraryThing member waggoner

Single most-used field guide I own. Keep another paperback version in house, but this edition goes with me in car or backpack at all times.

LibraryThing member fuzzi

My mother's copy, which I kept when she passed away. The set up of this book is different from the more modern editions: it does not have the pictures and the descriptions on the same page, but it's still an excellent guide to the birds.

LibraryThing member SandyAMcPherson

An invaluable resource for bird watching and identification; works well for the prairie region; remains the gold standard for birders in our circle

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