Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Another quick update while summer winds down and fall migration slowly begins (a post on Ontbirds has already listed some of the fall migrants that can be seen on the Toronto Islands...I plan to take a couple trips there mid-fall for the warblers).

So I went to Chapters to check out the new Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North American and I can say, with a slight touch of disappointment, that I will not be purchasing the guide (though it is tempting after seeing the beautiful cover art). If I get it for my birthday, that's fine, but it's not worth the purchase for me after looking through the guide. That's not to say it's not a good guide. For anyone starting birdwatching, this is the guide to buy! Peterson's plates and layouts are simple, easy to comprehend, and the arrow system is pivotal to learning. Since my first Peterson Guide, improvements have been made in various publications including simple maps next the plates rather than only in the back of the guide (where larger, more detailed maps appear). Also, up-to-date lumps and splits have always been included. However, while looking through the new guide, which combines Eastern and Western regions (whereas older publications had these two regions split into separate guides), I quickly realized that everything looked very familiar. This is not to say I wanted them to change Peterson's wonderful plates. That would be blasphemy. For me, however, an owner of 3 different versions of the Eastern Guide and 1 Western Guide, there was nothing more to get from the book.

It is handy though. Having a North American Guide versus splitting it into two versions is much more convenient for trips, as well as comparing species between regions. Also, many western birds appear out of range in the east so it's beneficial to have them all in the same guide anyway. I did not have a lot of time to look through the maps, but if I was ever to decide to purchase the book, it would be to compare the maps from the new publication to my older copies. I have my doubts that much would be different though. I also quickly skimmed some of the recent splits/lumps and subspecies and was surprised to see very little text on the potential (and daunting) 9 species of Red Crossbill, as well as Cackling Goose (which does have a separate plate and species account but nothing we haven't read from other guide books).

All in all, the merger of Peterson's Eastern and Western Guides was a good idea and an update on species account was in need, but for me, the $25 can be spent elsewhere (or at least put away in my new RBC spotting scope/iPod account).