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

by James D. Rising, David Beadle (Illustrator)

Everything you ever wanted to know about identifying all 62 species of sparrows in North America is featured in this beautiful and authoritative book. Included are splendid illustrations, range maps, superb line drawings, and 27 color plates exhibiting the various plumages of each species. This book is a must for the library of all keen birders living in and visiting North America.

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

365 pages, Hardcover

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.