A Guide to the Identification and Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada

by James D. Rising

While good general guides to North American birds are widely available, these days careful and avid birders require the most specialised information on bird identification, especially for the more complex species groups. A Guide to the Identification and Natural History of the Sparrows of the United States and Canada provides comprehensive and up to date information on all the features that make possible the identification of all 62 species of New World sparrows that occur in North America, north of Mexico, including vagrant Asiatic buntings and Latin American grassquits. The text gives detailed descriptions of the summer, winter and juvenile plumages of each species, as well as comparisons with similar species with which confusion may be possible.Although the major theme of the guide is identification, each species account also includes a discussion of its measurements, voice, habits, ecology, nesting biology, distribution, taxonomy and geographic variation, as well as notes on its historical and present status. Many of these additional features of course also serve to aid correct identification.The accounts are illustrated with range maps and superb line drawings showing behavioral postures and, where useful, fine features of fail feather patterns. The 27 colour plates splendidly illustrate the various plumages of each species with the emphasis on the distinctive appearance of birds of different sex, age and geographical regions.This beautiful and authoritative book will be a must for the library of all keen birders living in and visiting the United States and Canada.* SPECIES ACCOUNTS INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS OF SPECIES':* Identification* Measurements* Voice* Habitat* Ecology* Nesting biology* Distribution* Taxonomy* Geographic variations* Historical and present status

Genres: Birds, Nature, Reference, Field Guides, Biology

Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

James D. Rising was an ornithologist and professor whose work focused on the evolutionary biology and taxonomy of North American birds, particularly orioles and sparrows. A dedicated researcher and educator, he spent four decades at the University of Toronto, where he also served as a research associate at the Royal Ontario Museum. His contributions to the field included over 70 publications, species accounts for The Birds of North America series, and several identification guides, including Sparrows of the United States and Canada and Tanagers, Cardinals, and Finches of the United States and Canada. Rising was an active member of various ornithological societies, serving on the North American Classification Committee and as president of the Wilson Ornithological Society. His work in evolutionary ecology, geographic variation, and hybridization had a lasting impact on avian studies. In recognition of his contributions, the James D. Rising Scholarship in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology was established upon his retirement in 2009.

Reviews

[Scott Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excelent field guide to finding the locales of a difficult group of birds - the LBJ's ("Little Brown Jobs"). However it is best used in conjunction with the Sibley or National Geographic field guides as they provide better illustrations and identification tips than does this volume.