Basic Field Guides

A field guide (or bird book) is the basic reference book of birding. Using pictures and description, it helps you identify the birds you see.

It's OK to start with just one book, but soon you'll probably want more. Each one contains something special.

It's fun to compare the the same bird in several books. You might want to check out our overview of field guides.

Here are some of our favorites. Click the picture for a review. Click the name below it for price and purchasing info.