How to know the birds

by Roger Tory Peterson

More information to be announced soon on this forthcoming title from Penguin USA.

Genres: Reference, Nature, Birds, Nonfiction, Animals, Science

1 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 1949

About the author

Roger Tory Peterson was an American naturalist, ornithologist, artist, and educator, and held to be one of the founding inspirations for the 20th century environmental movement.

Reviews

[F.C. Shultz]

I like having a book that I can carry around and just read a few paragraphs at a time while I’m waiting in line or something, and this book is great for that. Tons of great snippets of bird information, beautiful illustrations, and a fun writing style made this book very enjoyable.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gets a high rating from me because I read it at the perfect time. I've had it forever. It was my grandfather's, so I felt nostalgic reading it at last. Published in 1949, I know that at least one fact has changed: Roger Tory Peterson wrote that there are 650 species of birds in North America. At present, Cornell Lab of Ornithology counts 2,059 species.
I appreciated the overview approach of this book. It gives a tiny introduction to major bird families, a bit of detail about the most common species, and an synopsis of one or two field marks to be aware of. The book is slanted toward eastern North America, so I compared birds from my National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America as I read. Peterson wrote, "Nearly half the birds of the United States can be found in both the east and west. Ducks are nearly identical, as are the majority of shorebirds, terns, and hawks. Songbirds differ more widely."
I even enjoyed testing myself with the bird silhouettes at the back.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy birds and bird-watching, so I enjoyed this little book. It gave me new ways to look at birds and try to identify them even when I can’t see their coloring. My copy is quite old, but I still found the information helpful and valuable.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a delight! published in 1949, it is a glimpse into the early days of birding. Some of the references are pretty amusing and the writing is lovely - very descriptive and almost poetic.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

my friend recommended this book to me with great sincerity and pomp and i didn't understand why until i read it. the writing is really amazing. like that matter of fact post victorian utterly sincere goofiness- j.m. barrie, ogen nash, aa milne, yknow? not a joke though. definitely bird knowledge to share in here.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter's eloquent phrases turn bird I.D. into prose poems.

[David R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an early work (1948) but the Peterson of legend shines through. The book is eminently readable and is still valuable to beginners many decades later.