Rare Birds of North America

Howell, Steve N. G. (Author). Lewington, Ian, (author.).

Summary: Rare birds of North America is the first comprehensive illustrated guide to the vagrant birds that occur throughout the United States and Canada. Featuring 275 stunning color plates, this book covers 262 species originating from three very different regions--the Old World, the New World tropics, and the world's oceans. It explains the causes of avian vagrancy and breaks down patterns of occurrence by region and season, enabling readers to see where, when, and why each species occurs in North America. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, taxonomy, age, sex, distribution, and status. -- Review from press.princeton.edu.com website.

Record details

ISBN: 9780691117966
ISBN: 0691117969
Physical Description: print
428 p.: col., ill. ; 20 cm.
Publisher: Princeton : Princeton University Press, 2014.

Content descriptions

Formatted Contents Note:

Preface -- Acknowledgments -- How to use this book -- Abbreviations and terminology -- Geogrpahic terms -- Introduction -- What is a "rare bird"--and when and whence? -- Where do North American vegrants come from? -- Topography, molt, and aging -- Species accounts -- Waterfowl -- Sungrebes -- Alcids -- Pelagic seabirds -- Gulls and terns -- Shorebirds -- Wading birds -- Raptors and owls -- Larger landbirds -- Aerial landbirds -- Songbirds -- Appendices -- Appendix A. Species new to North America, Fall 2011-Summer 2012 -- Appendix B. Species of hypothetical occurence -- Appendix C. Birds new to North America, 1950-2011 -- Literature cited -- Index.