A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America

by Peterson, Roger Tory

• ISBN13: 9780395740477
• ISBN10: 0395740479
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-04-04
• Publisher: HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY

Summary

Roger Tory Peterson had already made his mark with his innovative field guide when he conducted DDT research during World War II. His friend and fellow naturalist Rachel Carson built on these efforts and eventually wrote Silent Spring, a landmark text that, along with Peterson"s field guide, jump-started the modern environmental movement. By combining the tireless observation of a scientist with the imaginative skills of an artist and writer, Peterson created a field guide that Robert Bateman, in his foreword to the fifth edition, says was the doorway for millions of people into the wonderland of natural history. The Peterson Identification System has been used in the more than fifty books that make up the Peterson Field Guide series. Peterson"s magnum opus, now in its fifth edition, created the trail for countless field guides to follow. They are still following year by year, but his is the standard by which all other field guides are judged. On the morning of July 28, 1996, Roger Peterson was painting his final bird plate. He died peacefully in his sleep later that day. It is fitting that his final work-a culmination of more than sixty years of observing, painting, and writing-should be this one, a revision of the guide that started his legacy.

Table of Contents

Map of Area Covered by This Book	ii
Foreword	xi
Preface	xvii
Acknowledgments	xix
Introduction	1	(13)
Life List	14	(12)
Loons: Gaviidae	26	(2)
Grebes: Podicipedidae	28	(2)
Shearwaters: Procellariidae	30	(4)
Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae	34	(1)
Casual or Accidental Seabirds and Coastal Species	34	(4)
Pelicans: Pelecanidae	38	(1)
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae	38	(2)
Gannets, Boobies: Sulidae	40	(1)
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae	40	(2)
Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae	42	(1)
Anhingas: Anhingidae	42	(2)
Loons in Flight	44	(1)
Cormorants in Flight	44	(2)
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns: Ardeidae	46	(6)
Limpkins: Aramidae	52	(1)
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae	52	(2)
Flamingoes: Phoenicopteridae	54	(2)
Storks: Ciconiidae	56	(1)
Cranes: Gruidae	56	(2)
Accidental Long-legged Wading Birds	58	(2)
Swans, Geese, Ducks: Anatidae	60	(32)
Swans: Anserinae	60	(1)
Geese: Anserinae	60	(4)
Geese and Swans in Flight	64	(2)
Whistling-Ducks: Dendrocygninae	66	(1)
Dabbling Ducks: Anatinae	66	(6)
Diving Ducks: Aythyinae	72	(6)
Stiff-tailed Ducks: Oxyurinae	78	(2)
Merganser: Merginae	80	(2)
Flight Patterns of Ducks	82	(8)
Accidentals from Eurasia	90	(1)
Accidentals from the Tropics	90	(2)
New World Vultures: Cathartidae	92	(1)
Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae	92	(4)
Caracaras: Caracarinae	92	(4)
Hawks, Kites, Accipiters, Harriers, and Eagles: Accipitridae	96	(16)
Kites: Elaninae and Milvinae	96	(2)
Accipiters (Bird Hawks): Accipitrinae	98	(2)
Buteos (Buzzard Hawks): Buteoninae (in part)	100	(6)
Buteos Overhead	106	(2)
Harriers: Circinae	108	(2)
Blackish Birds of Prey Overhead	110	(2)
Eagles: Buteoninae (in part)	112	(1)
Ospreys: Pandionidae	112	(4)
Eagles, Osprey, and Vultures Overhead	114	(2)
Falcons: Falconidae	116	(4)
Accipiters and Falcons Overhead	118	(2)
Pheasant, Grouse, Turkey, and Allies: Phasianidae	120	(2)
Grouse, etc.: Tetraoninae	122	(2)
New World Quails: Odontophoridae	124	(2)
Ducklike Swimmers (Coots, Gallinules): Rallidae (in part)	126	(2)
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae	128	(4)
Plovers: Charadriidae	132	(12)
Plovers and Turnstone in Flight	136	(8)
Large Shorebirds in Flight	144	(2)
Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae	146	(1)
Avocets and Stilts: Recurvirostridae	146	(4)
Sandpipers and Phalaropes: Scolopacidae	150	(16)
``Peeps''	158	(2)
Snipe, Sandpipers, etc., in Flight	160	(2)
Sandpipers, Phalaropes in Flight	162	(2)
Phalaropes: Phalaropodinae	164	(2)
Accidental Shorebirds from Eurasia	166	(4)
Jaegers: Stercorariidae	170	(2)
Gulls: Laridae	172	(14)
Small Hooded Gulls: Adults	180	(2)
Immature Gulls: Larger Species	182	(2)
Immature Gulls: Smaller Species	184	(2)
Terns: Sterninae	186	(4)
Skimmers: Rynchopinae	190	(2)
Auks, etc.: Alcidae	192	(4)
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae	196	(2)
Parrots, Parakeets: Psittacidae	198	(2)
Cuckoos: Cuculidae	200	(2)
Owls: Strigidae and Tytonidae	202	(6)
Nighthawks, Nightjars: Caprimulgidae	208	(2)
Nighthawks: Caprimulgidae	210	(2)
Hummingbirds: Trochilidae	212	(2)
Kingfishers Alcedinidae	214	(2)
Woodpeckers Picidae	216	(6)
Tyrant Flycatchers Tyrannidae	222	(6)
Accidental Flycatchers	228	(2)
Larks: Alaudidae	230	(1)
Pipits: Motacillidae	230	(2)
Swallows: Hirundinidae	232	(2)
Swifts: Apodidae	234	(2)
Chickadees and Titmice: Paridae	236	(2)
Nuthatches: Sittidae	238	(1)
Creepers: Certhiidae	238	(2)
Wrens: Troglodytidae	240	(2)
Gnatcatchers (Polioptilinae) and Kinglets (Regulidae)	242	(1)
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae	242	(2)
Thrushes: Turdidae	244	(4)
Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Mimidae	248	(4)
Crows, Jays, etc.: Corvidae	252	(2)
Shrikes: Laniidae	254	(1)
Waxwings: Bombycillidae	254	(2)
Vireos: Vireonidae	256	(4)
Wood-Warblers: Parulidae	260	(22)
Confusing Fall Warblers	278	(4)
Tangers: Thraupidae	282	(2)
Grosbeaks, Finches, Sparrows, Buntings: Fringillidae, Emberizidae, Cardinalidae	284	(26)
Blackbirds, Orioles, etc.: Icteridae	310	(2)
Starlings: Sturnidae	312	(6)
Orioles	316	(2)
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae	318	(1)
Miscellaneous Finchlike Birds	318	(2)
South Texas Specialties	320	(2)
More South Texas Specialties	322	(2)
Accidentals from the Tropics	324	(2)
Accidentals and Escapes from Eurasia	326	(2)
Exotics	328	(5)
Range Maps	333	(78)
Index of Scientific Names	411	(8)
Index of Common Names	419

Excerpts

CHIMNEY SWIFT Chaetura pelagica Common 551?2" (1214 cm) Like a cigar with wings. A blackish swallowlike bird with long, slightly curved, stiff wings and stubby tail. It appears to beat its wings not in unison but alternately (actually this is an illusion); effect is more batlike, unlike skimming of swallows. They seem to fairly twinkle, gliding between spurts, holding wings bowed in a crescent. Voice: Loud, rapid, ticking or twittering notes. Range: S. Canada to Gulf of Mexico. Winters in Peru. Habitat: Open sky, especially over cities, towns; nests and roosts in chimneys (originally in large hollow trees and cliff crevices). Copyright 2002 by the Marital Trust B u/a Roger Tory Peterson and the Estate of Virginia Peterson. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Excerpted from A Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America by Roger Tory Peterson, Virginia Marie Peterson
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.