Overview
The Sibley field guide serves birders of all ages and skill levels well. From the young beginner to the seasoned veteran, everyone can use this guide in the field with ease.
Organization
The guide is divided into sections by bird family. When a
user spots, for example, a duck in the wild, he/she may quickly flip to the
section containing all the ducks and compare what has been spotted to the
species within the section. This is a most useful feature, given how birds tend
to fly off soon after being spotted. The feature could be enhanced with the use
of color-coding. Another popular field guide assigns a color to each bird
family and prints the page edges to include the family color. Users can flip
more quickly to the section they need than in the Sibley. The Sibley requires
the use of bookmarks, sticky notes, or other extra material to mark the
sections for quick page turning. The Sibley receives an A- from me for its
user-friendly layout.
Pictures
Pictures abound within this carefully designed guide. The first double-page spread of each section contains side-by-side pictures of each member of the group. The details that separate the birds into the various species can be easily seen and compared. Following the comparison pages, each species in the section receives a half-page entry. Each entry provides multiple angles of the bird. Generally, the largest, most prominent picture depicts a side view of the bird when it is in full maturity during breeding season. This is when the bird would be in full color and have most of its identifying field marks. The guide also provides pictures of the bird in various stages and seasons as well as other angles, such as in flight. Lines point to the distinguishing field marks for the species and allow the user to easily compare the picture in the guide to what he/she notices in the wild. The Sibley receives an A+ for its picture content.
Other Content
Each bird entry also includes a useful range map. This
color-coded map allows the user to instantly know if the bird is typically seen
in the area where he/she is birding. The color coding communicates whether the
bird is a permanent resident or a seasonal visitor, whether it is a common bird
to spot or a rarity.
Written content provides further description of each bird including details about size, shape, habitat, and voice. Although the book cannot provide audio clips, it does offer detailed and helpful descriptions of the bird’s distinct song and call.
An introductory section offers detailed instructions in the
basics of birding as well as notes on how to use the guide. The index is thorough and helpful.
The Sibley receives an A+ for its additional content.
What’s Missing?
Every birder likes to keep a life life—a record of each bird
spotted over the years. Personally, I write the date and location for each
spotting within my Sibley on the entry page for the bird. This method works
well enough; however, I would appreciate a dedicated life list section.
Overall
All in all, the Sibley Field Guide to Birds is one of the best guides available. I highly recommend it for birders of all skill levels.
Overall Score: A
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels
