Birds of Alberta (Lone Pine Field Guides) by Chris Fisher

by Chris Fisher

This illustrated field guide helps readers identify, understand and appreciate the birds of Alberta. It contains full-colour illustrations and detailed descriptions of 388 species, with each account including information * Size * Status * Habitat * Nesting * Feeding * Voice * Similar species cross-referenced * Best sites for viewing * Range maps showing seasonal occurrences of the bird and migration routes. * Colour-coded header bars and a quick reference guide make finding information fast and easy. Also includes a glossary of terms and a birder's checklist.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Nature, Birds, Animals

Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 1998

Reviews

[Debbie W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My go-to book for all my bird questions!

[Blair Stretch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's just say I didn't set out to read this cover to cover. After searching for an affordable used copy I was excited to have this on hand. I grew up with this same edition around my grandparents house, who passed on the love of birds to me at a young age. I can still remember the paintings from when I was little. Anyways, after enjoying the introduction, I browsed the first section, and found myself so enjoying the birds one by one that I was in too deep to stop. Very well-written, beautifully illustrated, and endlessly fascinating.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent book is especially helpful for birdwatchers in the province of Alberta, Canada. It is not sorted into alphabetical order, as expected; but instead is sorted by similar, closely related birds and color coded. At the beginning of the book is a reference guide that shows pictures and names of different groups of birds; i.e. Diving Birds, Heron-Like Birds, Waterfowl, etc. This is so helpful! A bit of a Coles-notes version.

Did you know that there are over 400 different birds in Alberta? I realize that I have only seen a small percentage of these and strive to see many more. Especially helpful for me was the section that tells you where the bird sanctuaries, Provincial Parks, and best places to see different birds are.

Although there are no actual photographs, the drawings of the birds are extremely lifelike, and beautifully done. There is so much great information packed into this book that can easily be carried in a person's backpack. Even though this book was published in 1998, it is still a valuable gem!

[BrownSugarSnickerDoodle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the best book i own.

[Ash Hu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because of Dr. John Acorn.
I had little interest in birds beyond their vague aesthetic value, until I took a class with Dr. John Acorn at the University of Alberta on North American Wildlife. While the course focus is taxonomy, life history, and identification methods- Acorn keeps students engaged and interested by way of his extensive and humorous storytelling abilities. Our first couple weeks were focused on birds, and between labs and lectures I found myself fascinated by and admiring of the numerous species that I've seen every day. As a Canadian, I often feel bored or disenchanted by boreal wildlife, as it's not as colourful and "fun" as the birds you would find in the tropics. I spent a summer of field work in South Africa, which held my introduction to bird diversity education. That comparative wherein North American birds I viewed as homogenous and boring was ultimately destroyed in this class after familiarizing myself with a handful of orders and families.

I ended up purchasing this book, so that I could get my prof to sign it, but also because I am enjoying learning about birds. I like being able to go back to old wildlife photography I've done and be able to learn something about that bird's range, lifehistory, etc. I also use it when recreationally walking/ hiking, on the prowl to find some new birds.
PROS:
- each bird has about a full page dedicated to information about them, so if I want to learn about a particular bird or group, I have all of that information in one convenient space.
- lovely illustrations in size, style, etc.
- range locations and common sightings (like provincial/ national parks. Reminds me at the sheer wealth of experiences in birding and Alberta as a biodiverse space that the authors collectively share)
- Handy checklist at the back to track your progress.
CONS:
- Outdated. This book was originally published in 1996, and my copy was a reprint in 2019. Publishers ought to allow for new editions because information has changed:
-Many birds' known ranges have shifted
- The common names of some birds have changed with a wide consensus
- Organization of the book has birds in various common clades. As a bird enthusiast with a biological sciences background, and values knowledge of taxonomy- I would have liked to see a more explicit usage of latin names, taxonomic orders and families. This can also really help with identification purposes!



For any keen Albertan/ Canadian bird enthusiasts, this book is a must have. Whether you keep it on your desk to update your checklist, for a post hike debrief, or a casual skim, this book can teach you something everytime. And all of the beautiful bird illustrations just make you want to smile.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
Absolute necessity for any birder/ wannabe birder/ curious bird enthusiast living or visiting Alberta.

• Hard to find in stock at new book stores, almost never found at used book stores, because it is THE Alberta bird book.
• Small enough to pack with you on your adventures, yet with enough information and illustrations of a large enough size that you can actually use it at least mostly efficiently.
• Organized and color coded by type of bird, with easy to find index (it is on the back cover!).
• Quick reference guide could be more useful if they included some kind of size comparison. (I would like to see more quick reference pages, such as a spread that shows undersides of birds of prey in flight, in proper proportion and size in relation to one another.)
• Actually entertaining to read, sometimes humorous (John Acorn's voice is found throughout), this book covers the basics, with the information necessary to identify most of the birds you will meet in the province of Alberta.
• Illustrations are actually better than photographs because they can really emphasize certain traits,ect., and Gary Ross & Co.'s are well done except for several species where I really wish they would have included additional drawing(s) of the animal from a different perspective (ie. underside, while flying), because of this, I docked them half a star. (I hope that they will add a few more illustrations if they update this book.)
• Checklist at the back of the book is great for using as a provincial life list.

Used in combination with Cornell's Merlin app (for ID-ing by sound), the eBird app (for reporting your bird sightings), and iNaturalist (for identification and reporting of all/any Earth species, with help from the nature loving community & scientists), you'll be well equipped to learn and become a Nature Nut, while contributing to science.
:)

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The go-to bird book for Alberta. The best size for carrying in an adventure bag but still informative.

[Chud Reddit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever

[Byrningbunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough detail. The line drawings don't provide enough information for identification.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

[Jennifer Quist · Rating 5 out of 5]

We open this book about every day during the summer. The drawings are excellent and it's written in a light, friendly, funny style.

[Emillyr]

I loved to look through all the amazing birds in this book especially the swans.