Birds in Nature - images of wild birds by Richard Ditch

More Arizona Birding Books

Desert Critters - Plants and Animals of the Southwest, Millie Miller and Cyndi Nelson, Johnson Books, 1996.

This unassuming little booklet, only 64 small pages long, packs a surprising amount of information about desert flora and fauna. And, it's full of nice artwork!

We have many other booklets in this series (Pocket Nature Guides) and enjoy them all.

Hummers - Hummingbirds of North America, Millie Miller and Cyndi Nelson, Johnson Books, 1987.

Another unassuming little booklet, about the same length as the Desert Critters but with unnumbered pages, it also contains a lot amount of information. The artwork is also excellent. It won't replace Sheri Williamson's field guide, or Steve Howell's, but it is worth adding to your library or would make a nice gift.

If you can't find these books locally, try writing to Johnson Books at 1880 So. 57th Ct., Boulder, CO, 80301. Telephone: 303.443.9766

Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Arizona, Gale Monson and Allan R. Phillips, University of Arizona Press, 1981.

I don't know if this is still in print, but if you stumble on one in any bookstore I suggest you pick it up. It's a companion to The Birds of Arizona, and a lot more portable.

You'll need to get used to scientific names - each entry gives that first (in bold), before showing the common English name. At least there are Family headings with common names easy to see that help navigating through the book.

A Guide to Southern Arizona Bird Nests and Eggs, Volume 1 Desert Areas, Pinau Merlin, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press, Tucson, AZ, 2001.

A little strange, but interesting. Covers 54 nests, grouped by Ground Nests, Cup Nests, Adherent Nests, Pendant Nests, Crevice/Ledge Nests, Platform Nests, Cavity Nests, and Borrowers. Each entry describes a nest, by Shape and Material, Habitat and Location, and Eggs and Nesting, then provides the name of the probable species. It also gives natural history, diet and feeding information, and similar nests. There's a two page bar chart showing nesting periods for all covered species (something I've looked for elsewhere but not found so conveniently displayed), three pages of color paintings of eggs, some color photos, nice pen and ink drawings, and a sprinkling of random facts.

Check the museum web site for availability.

Grand Canyon Birds, Bryan T. Brown, Steven W. Carothers, and R. Roy Johnson, University of Arizona Press, 1987.

A combination of history, geology, and ornithology covering the Grand Canyon top to bottom. Some nice pen and ink artwork scattered throughout as well.

I don't know if this is still in print, but you might find it in local bookstores.

Birds of the Grand Canyon Region, An Annotated Checklist, Bryan T. Brown, Steven W. Carothers, Lois T. Haight, R. Roy Johnson, and Meribeth M. Riffey, Grand Canyon Natural History Association, 1984.

I assume this monograph is the basis for the previous entry in this list - it has essentially the same authors and provides species accounts for the same area. What I find of most value is the set of bar charts showing seasonal occurrences. There's also an extensive bibliography (so much to read; so little time).

I bought mine for $1 at a local Audubon chapter meeting; try contacting the publisher if you really want your own copy.

Arizona Wetlands and Waterfowl, David E. Brown, University of Arizona Press, 1985.

Written primarily for hunters, there is still good information for birders. Only 50 pages are devoted t species accounts; 20+ pages cover locations throughout the state; the rest of the book is divided up into History, Waterfowl Biology, Waterfowl Management, and References. There's also a section of full page color paintings, some good B&W line drawings, and some B&W photos of marginal quality.

Not something that I recommend for all AZ birders.

Birding Sedona & the Verde Valley, Virginia Gilmore, Northern Arizona Audubon Society, 1999.

There's lots more to birding in AZ than Mexican species along the southern border, and this slim guide helps fill an information void. Seven pages in the front of this booklet list all species seen in the area covered, and give location and date information for each. There are almost 50 pages of small but readable type devoted to site descriptions. Good maps are also provided. Any birder working on a state list, or summering away from the heat of the Phoenix metro area, should have this useful book.

Available directly from the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.

Arizona Game Birds, David E. Brown, University of Arizona Press, 1989
.
Another book targeted primarily at hunters, but with some information of value to birders.

Species covered (from the Table of Contents): Chukar, Pheasant, Blue Grouse, Merriam's Wild Turkey, Mearn's (Montezuma) Quail, Masked Bobwhite, Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Sandhill Crane, Band-tailed Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove.

Of value to birders for extensive life histories and ranges.

Birding Arizona, Bill McMillion, Falcon Press, 1995.

Warning: the worst book I've ever seen on the subject. Full of incorrect information - look at the range maps for example. Covers 45 locations throughout AZ. Mediocre photos.

Fortunately, Falcon Press has apparently withdrawn the book from the marketplace, so you'll have to search hard in out-of-the-way places if you really want your own copy.

Page 3 - More Books

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	Desert Critters - Plants and Animals of the Southwest, Millie Miller and Cyndi Nelson, Johnson Books, 1996. This unassuming little booklet, only 64 small pages long, packs a surprising amount of information about desert flora and fauna. And, it's full of nice artwork! We have many other booklets in this series (Pocket Nature Guides) and enjoy them all.
	Hummers - Hummingbirds of North America, Millie Miller and Cyndi Nelson, Johnson Books, 1987. Another unassuming little booklet, about the same length as the Desert Critters but with unnumbered pages, it also contains a lot amount of information. The artwork is also excellent. It won't replace Sheri Williamson's field guide, or Steve Howell's, but it is worth adding to your library or would make a nice gift. If you can't find these books locally, try writing to Johnson Books at 1880 So. 57th Ct., Boulder, CO, 80301. Telephone: 303.443.9766
	Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Arizona, Gale Monson and Allan R. Phillips, University of Arizona Press, 1981. I don't know if this is still in print, but if you stumble on one in any bookstore I suggest you pick it up. It's a companion to The Birds of Arizona, and a lot more portable. You'll need to get used to scientific names - each entry gives that first (in bold), before showing the common English name. At least there are Family headings with common names easy to see that help navigating through the book.
	A Guide to Southern Arizona Bird Nests and Eggs, Volume 1 Desert Areas, Pinau Merlin, Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Press, Tucson, AZ, 2001. A little strange, but interesting. Covers 54 nests, grouped by Ground Nests, Cup Nests, Adherent Nests, Pendant Nests, Crevice/Ledge Nests, Platform Nests, Cavity Nests, and Borrowers. Each entry describes a nest, by Shape and Material, Habitat and Location, and Eggs and Nesting, then provides the name of the probable species. It also gives natural history, diet and feeding information, and similar nests. There's a two page bar chart showing nesting periods for all covered species (something I've looked for elsewhere but not found so conveniently displayed), three pages of color paintings of eggs, some color photos, nice pen and ink drawings, and a sprinkling of random facts. Check the museum web site for availability.
	Grand Canyon Birds, Bryan T. Brown, Steven W. Carothers, and R. Roy Johnson, University of Arizona Press, 1987. A combination of history, geology, and ornithology covering the Grand Canyon top to bottom. Some nice pen and ink artwork scattered throughout as well. I don't know if this is still in print, but you might find it in local bookstores.
	Birds of the Grand Canyon Region, An Annotated Checklist, Bryan T. Brown, Steven W. Carothers, Lois T. Haight, R. Roy Johnson, and Meribeth M. Riffey, Grand Canyon Natural History Association, 1984. I assume this monograph is the basis for the previous entry in this list - it has essentially the same authors and provides species accounts for the same area. What I find of most value is the set of bar charts showing seasonal occurrences. There's also an extensive bibliography (so much to read; so little time). I bought mine for $1 at a local Audubon chapter meeting; try contacting the publisher if you really want your own copy.
	Arizona Wetlands and Waterfowl, David E. Brown, University of Arizona Press, 1985. Written primarily for hunters, there is still good information for birders. Only 50 pages are devoted t species accounts; 20+ pages cover locations throughout the state; the rest of the book is divided up into History, Waterfowl Biology, Waterfowl Management, and References. There's also a section of full page color paintings, some good B&W line drawings, and some B&W photos of marginal quality. Not something that I recommend for all AZ birders.
	Birding Sedona & the Verde Valley, Virginia Gilmore, Northern Arizona Audubon Society, 1999. There's lots more to birding in AZ than Mexican species along the southern border, and this slim guide helps fill an information void. Seven pages in the front of this booklet list all species seen in the area covered, and give location and date information for each. There are almost 50 pages of small but readable type devoted to site descriptions. Good maps are also provided. Any birder working on a state list, or summering away from the heat of the Phoenix metro area, should have this useful book. Available directly from the Northern Arizona Audubon Society.
	Arizona Game Birds, David E. Brown, University of Arizona Press, 1989 . Another book targeted primarily at hunters, but with some information of value to birders. Species covered (from the Table of Contents): Chukar, Pheasant, Blue Grouse, Merriam's Wild Turkey, Mearn's (Montezuma) Quail, Masked Bobwhite, Scaled Quail, Gambel's Quail, California Quail, Sandhill Crane, Band-tailed Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Mourning Dove. Of value to birders for extensive life histories and ranges.
	Birding Arizona, Bill McMillion, Falcon Press, 1995. *Warning:* the worst book I've ever seen on the subject. Full of incorrect information - look at the range maps for example. Covers 45 locations throughout AZ. Mediocre photos. Fortunately, Falcon Press has apparently withdrawn the book from the marketplace, so you'll have to search hard in out-of-the-way places if you really want your own copy.