Birds of North America

DK's third edition of an esteemed reference book details 650 of North America's most common birds. Introductory chapters cover migration, courtship, nests, and more. In each species entry, readers will find descriptions of similar birds; information on voice, nesting, flight patterns, feeding, lifespan, size, wingspan, and endangered status; an explanation of the birds' habitats, which supplements a range map; and a helpful general essay, plus three to six photographs. There are also instructions for downloading a bird sounds app. Rare and vagrant species are covered in the last chapters; a helpful glossary is appended. The same 23 impressive contributors worked on earlier editions. A similar title, also from DK, is AMNH Birds of North America, with photographs. But the best of these heavyweight titles is the handier-sized National Geographic Complete Birds of North America (second edition) which covers more than 1,000 species, with superior range maps and paintings that, counterintuitively, best capture birds' appearances, plus some supplementary photographs. VERDICT Highly recommended, but not crucial for libraries that already have an earlier edition or the National Geographic title.--Henry T. Armistead, formerly with Free Lib. of Philadelphia