Endangered and disappearing birds of the Midwest

In this colorful and easy-to-read book, Williams (director of conservation programs, Nature Conservancy) highlights 40 species of birds that winter, breed, or migrate in the Midwest and which are at risk due to small or quickly declining numbers. The species chosen are a representative sample of some of the most striking or unique vulnerable species. Each species account is about five pages in length and contains a handful of exquisite color photographs, along with a colored range map and a brief overview of habitat, ecology, identification, bird calls, nesting information, and reasons for the species' decline. A five-page works cited list is included at the back, but there are no references within the species descriptions. Much of the species information came from The Birds of North America and All about Birds, websites of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Because the work is fairly small and doesn't offer enough pictures to be quite a coffee-table book, and its coverage is not comprehensive enough to serve as an official guide to the endangered or disappearing birds of the Midwest, it seems most appropriate for public collections or for those individuals who enjoy watching birds at their backyard feeders. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers. --Kevin P McDonough, Northern Michigan University