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“yellow flowers," “red flowers,"
and so on. Once again, this is
good for the naturalist who is
relying on more obvious
characteristics to make the
identification, and can work well
if used during the blooming
season.
Other guides are grouped by
species which have similar
characteristics, and still others
by “families" which are arranged
alphabetically by their Latin
names.
Generally the common names
will also be listed in the index,
but these can be unreliable
since they often vary from
region to region in the country.
The Latin names, or “scientific
nomenclature," may seem
intimidating at first, but they
become more familiar with use
and can offer a surprising
amount of information on their
own about each species.
Using Latin names will also
make it easier to be sure that
you are looking up exactly the
same species in different books.
Another consideration is the
scope of the guide. You will find
that some books cover the
world, while others concentrate
on North America, and still
others narrow their view to a
specific state or region.
If you are fascinated by
butterflies and love seeing the
variety that nature has
provided, then you might enjoy a
guide that illustrates those
insects from all over the world.
If, however, you have decided
that you just want to identify
those species in your own area,
then a regional guide will simplify
your task by eliminating the
butterflies which aren’t likely to
be found in your backyard.
Seasonal guides may also be of
interest to you. Some books
specialize, for instance, in field
marks available in winter, such as
tree bark or animal tracks, while
others highlight autumn traits
like leaf color, seed pods, and
fruit. Habitat-based guides can
be helpful too, concentrating on
specific surroundings, such as
wetlands or deserts.
When choosing a field guide,
think about how you intend to
use it. If you are interested in
bird identification and will do
most of your bird watching from
your picture window, with the
same birds repeatedly visiting
your feeders, then you will be able
to study them in a more leisurely
manner, gradually absorbing the
details of their appearance.
On the other hand, if you’re
walking in the woods there is a
good chance that you will get
only a fleeting glimpse of a bird
in constant motion. In that
case you need a guide which is
small and portable but which
clearly indicates specific
identifying characteristics, plus
offers good information on
habitat and song.
Beginners will be more
concerned about general
appearance, while those who are
more experienced will look for in-
depth material such as
illustrations of alternate
plumage (on younger birds,
adults in different seasons,
etc.).
Obviously, the more
information on each species
that is included, the less
portable the book will be. As a
rule, the best time to identify
wildlife is in the field, while you
are looking at the specimen
and can check details, so at
least one of your guides
should be pocket-sized.
As you think about how you’ll
be using your guide, give each
Parts of a Bird
– Stokes, Field Guide to Birds
