Birding by impression A different approach to knowing and identifying birds

Review by Booklist Review

This addition to the literature on bird identification will help novice and expert birders come to know what they see in the field as well as identify it. Birding by impression (BBI) uses physical characteristics beyond the feather field marks that Roger Tory Peterson introduced in his 1934 field guide (most guides have used similar field marks since). BBI seems to be a refinement on what naturalists and birders sometimes call jizz : the general characteristics of a group or species that help the observer to know what it probably is. Each group of similar birds is treated to the same discussion: a general description; a physical profile; BBI information, including size, structure, behavior, plumage, habitat; comparisons of similar species; and supplemental and unchanging characteristics of some species within the groups. Subtle differences, along with the obvious, are included. There are sets of side-view photographs of similar species as well as quiz sets for readers to test what they have just learned in the text. The text and photographs are supplemented with quick comparison-guide tables summarizing the salient features of birds within some of the groups. This is not a guide for use in the field but a work to study when readers want to have a broader understanding of the differences among similar species. Roger Tory Peterson would be pleased that the institute that bears his name sponsored this work. This reference belongs in all libraries with natural-history collections.--Scarth, Linda Copyright 2015 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Library Journal Review

This unusual guide has truly superb photography. It brings a fresh focus to bird identification based on general impression of size and shape, which birders refer to as GISS. In this manner a bird's gestalt or synthesized, holistic impression is emphasized, playing an important supporting role to conventional identification, which is based on colors and feather patterns. The authors, who say their method is but a supplement to conventional guides, include behavior and habitat as part of their approach, too, though they rely less on vocalizations and songs. The expert text is detailed beyond most guides, but the book makes abundant use of quiz photographs-103 of the 220 photographs are quiz ones, and the reader must go from text to photograph to an appendix to find answers. Some may find this clunky, but they will learn in the process. There is a helpful glossary and a brief bibliography. About 250 species are treated in detail, and the many birds that aren't do not represent identification challenges. Preceding the species accounts are useful general summaries of the qualities of bird groups (families). VERDICT Highly recommended for all birders and those interested in natural history.-Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia (c) Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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