Birds of California Field Guide

by Stan Tekiela

See a yellow bird; don't know what it is? No problem! This remarkable field guide features 170 bird species (only California birds!) organized by color. Full-page photos, detailed descriptions, Stan's Notes and range maps help to ensure correct I.D.

Genres: Reference

432 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2003

About the author

Author, naturalist and wildlife photographer Stan Tekiela is the originator of the popular state-specific field guide series and many easy-to-use identification guides for the U.S. Over the last 30 years he has authored around 200 field guides, quick guides, nature books, children's books, wildlife audio CDs, puzzles and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers and cacti found across the U.S. and in Canada.

Stan has a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota, and he has received national and regional awards for his books and photography. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

Stan leads instructional photo workshops and wildlife tours across the U.S. for both beginner and advanced photographers. He also gives detailed presentations about wildlife, complete with his award-winning photographs, to audiences of all sizes across the country.

Reviews

[Natasha Niethamer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough yet compact, well organized (by color which is incredibly helpful), and clear, bright colored pictures. Can't ask for more in a bird field guide. I've identified around 20 desert birds I've seen through this guide alone, and I thoroughly enjoy flipping through/reading the fun facts in Stan's notes.

[T Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

My goal is to learn birds of CA this summer as a wildlife biology major who is entering field work etc. I like how the book is organized by color, the clear crisp photos, and the written descriptions of all the features of said bird. I like the range picture and time of year you can find the birds as will.

[Maddy Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well organized. The maps of ranges in different time periods and the full-color images of the various plumage options make this book super useful. I wish there was more information about the actual birds but this is the way to go if you are trying to identify unknown birds.

[Tanja Nayak · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bird book is divided into bird colors for easy reference. It is not too heavy to use as a field guide. It has clear pictures and insightful text. A good bird guide for novices new to birding in California. Another great book by Stan Tekiela. Five stars!

[Euge Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I see a new bird I RUN to this book. It is amazingly insightful.

[Wendy Burch Steel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bird lovers of California will love this, recommended by a neighbor. I haven't actually finished because I pull it out all the time! I just identified a Phoebe, for instance. It's very well organized by color. Love it!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This small book has subtitled "Field Guide" and can definitely be hauled around with you in your daypack or backpack to aid in identification of bird species. It's about 4"x6" and less than 1" thick - easily held in the palm of your hand. In spite of the small size, it is jam-packed with useful information and high quality color images of ~170 species.

Each two-page spread consists of photographs on the left side and a bulleted list of facts on the right side. There is usually more than one photograph - perhaps the male and female, or a sitting bird and one in flight. The images are sharp close-ups and are really helpful in identifying a bird that you see in the field. The book is organized by color, with a color indicator tag on the edge of each page so that you can easily thumb through to find the section you need.

The fact page includes size, description of male, female and juvenile; nest, eggs, incubation period, fledging period, migration pattern, food and a comparison to other similar birds. At the bottom of the page you will find a paragraph of "Stan's Notes" that may describe the mating dance or some other distinctive behavior of the bird.

The preface includes useful information on how to use the guide, and tips for spotting birds. The last few pages are a check list/index so that you can keep track of the birds you've spotted.

Whether you're an avid birder or a neophyte in bird stalking, you will find this small field guide useful and enjoyable on your next bird outing.

[Brendan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is great, I use to all the time

[Carrie]

Great guide for beginners / novice birders because the birds are categorized by most prevalent colour. Easy to use and fun page picture is helpful.