Seawatching is the challenging act of identifying waterbirds in flight. Since more than one hundred different species can fly past an observation point, often at great speed or in tightly packed, mixed-species flocks, identification of these distant shapes can be a mystery. The keys to the mystery—the subtle traits that unlock the identity of flying waterbirds, be it wingbeat cadence, individual structure, flock shape and behavior, or subtle flashes of color—are revealed in this guide. Though commonly called seawatching, this on-the-fly observation and identification method is by no means restricted to the coast. There are impressive waterbird migrations on the Great Lakes, the Gulf of Mexico, and many inland lakes and rivers. Nor is it restricted to migrating waterfowl, as the principles of flight identification apply as effectively to ducks flushed off a pond as to distant migrating flocks. Like Hawks in Flight and The Shorebird Guide, the Peterson Reference Guide to Seawatching breaks new ground, provides cutting-edge techniques, and pushes the envelope in bird identification even further.

Peterson Reference Guide To Seawatching: Eastern Waterbirds in Flight (Peterson Reference Guides)

Behrens, Ken

Cox, Cameron

Reference

Mariner Books

A full-color photographic guide to these captivating and challenging birds This is the essential identification guide to the terns, noddies, and skimmers of North America. Covering every species and featuring hundreds of high-quality color images, this book is the ideal companion for anyone interested in this charismatic but sometimes challenging group of seabirds. Detailed species accounts describe the size of each bird as it appears in the field along with structure, behavior, flight style, vocalizations, subspecies, and North American and worldwide ranges. An incisive introduction lays out a remarkably simple approach to identification that focuses on key elements and addresses how to avoid getting bogged down in the variability of appearance. This state-of-the-art guide also provides additional in-depth coverage of the two most challenging groups of terns, Sterna terns and crested terns, aiding field identification while also highlighting the beauty and elegance of these marvelous seabirds. <ul> <li>Features more than 325 stunning color photos, with side-by-side comparisons of similar species throughout</li> <li>Includes detailed captions for each image that describe age and key identification traits</li> <li>Covers 19 species found in North America, including the most frequent vagrants</li> <li>Presents a unique, simplified approach to field identification</li> <li>Explains the fundamentals of molts, plumages, and hybridization</li> <li>Provides in-depth coverage of Sterna terns and crested terns</li> </ul>

Terns of North America: A Photographic Guide

Science & Math

Nature & Ecology

Princeton University Press

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