The Backyard Birdsong Guide Eastern and Central North America

Back by popular demand with more than 300,000 copies sold, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is proud to re-release the widely acclaimed and bestselling bird audio field guide series, Backyard Birdsongs, from award-winning Ornithologist and Author, Donald Kroodsma.Backyard Birdsongs is an interactive handbook of birds and their songs for beginning bird-watchers. With a touch-button electronic module housing common vocalizations of 75 species from across Eastern and Central North America, this volume offers a truly sensory way to identify and get to know local birds. Crisply detailed and scientifically accurate illustrations accompany each entry, and up-to-date range maps provide clear geographical reference points. Complete with an introduction to birdsongs that will inspire readers to look out their kitchen windows and venture out in the field, this unique book provides an exciting entryway into the subtle art of birding.This second edition includes a much-requested new Sound Track Index (to help make watching and listening to birds easier), and a download of the award-winning MERLIN™ Bird ID App available FREE on iTunes and Android stores (no code necessary).35% of the net proceeds from the sale of Backyard Birdsongs supports projects at the Cornell Lab, such as children’s educational and community programs.

Back by popular demand with more than 300,000 copies sold, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is proud to re-release the widely acclaimed and bestselling bird audio field guide series, Backyard Birdsongs, from award-winning Ornithologist and Author, Donald Kroodsma.Backyard Birdsongs is an interactive handbook of birds and their songs for beginning bird-watchers. With a touch-button electronic module housing common vocalizations of 75 species from across Eastern and Central North America, this volume offers a truly sensory way to identify and get to know local birds. Crisply detailed and scientifically accurate illustrations accompany each entry, and up-to-date range maps provide clear geographical reference points. Complete with an introduction to birdsongs that will inspire readers to look out their kitchen windows and venture out in the field, this unique book provides an exciting entryway into the subtle art of birding.This second edition includes a much-requested new Sound Track Index (to help make watching and listening to birds easier), and a download of the award-winning MERLIN™ Bird ID App available FREE on iTunes and Android stores (no code necessary).35% of the net proceeds from the sale of Backyard Birdsongs supports projects at the Cornell Lab, such as children’s educational and community programs.

CONTENTSNew Inside Cover SOUND TRACK INDEXINTRODUCTION: THE WORLD OF BIRDSONGWhy Birds Sing 10Where Each Bird Gets His Song 12Songs and Calls 14The Practice of Deep Listening 15Where to Begin 21How to Use the Audio Player 22SECTION 1: THE NON-PASSERINE GROUP Ducks and Geese (Anatidae) 26 Canada GooseDucks and Geese (Anatidae) 28 MallardNew World Quail (Odontophoridae) 30 Northern BobwhiteLoons (Gaviidae) 32 Common LoonGrebes (Podicipedidae) 34 Pied-billed GrebeHawks and Eagles (Accipitridae) 36 Red-tailed HawkRails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) 38 SoraPlovers (Charadriidae) 40 KilldeerSandpipers and Phalaropes (Scolopacidae) 42 American WoodcockPigeons and Doves (Columbidae) 44 Mourning DoveOwls (Strigidae) 46 Great Horned OwlOwls (Strigidae) 48 Barred OwlGoatsuckers (Caprimulgidae) 50 Whip-poor-willKingfishers (Alcedinidae) 52 Belted KingfisherWoodpeckers (Picidae) 54 Downy and Hairy WoodpeckersWoodpeckers (Picidae) 56 Northern FlickerSECTION 2: THE PASSERINE GROUPTyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 60 Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 62 Willow FlycatcherTyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 64 Eastern PhoebeTyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 66 Great Crested FlycatcherTyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 68 Eastern KingbirdVireos (Vireonidae) 70 White-eyed VireoVireos (Vireonidae) 72 Warbling VireoVireos (Vireonidae) 74 Red-eyed VireoJays and Crows (Corvidae) 76 Blue JayJays and Crows (Corvidae) 78 American CrowSwallows (Hirundinidae) 80 Purple MartinChickadees and Titmice (Paridae) 82 Black-capped ChickadeeChickadees and Titmice (Paridae)84 Carolina ChickadeeChickadees and Titmice (Paridae)86 Tufted TitmouseNuthatches (Sittidae) 88 White-breasted NuthatchWrens (Troglodytidae) 90 Carolina WrenWrens (Troglodytidae) 92 House WrenWrens (Troglodytidae) 94 Winter WrenWrens (Troglodytidae) 96 Marsh WrenThrushes (Turdidae) 98 American Robin Thrushes (Turdidae) 100 Eastern BluebirdThrushes (Turdidae) 102 Hermit ThrushThrushes (Turdidae) 104 Wood ThrushThrushes (Turdidae) 106 VeeryMockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) 108 Gray CatbirdMockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae)110 Northern MockingbirdMockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae)112 Brown ThrasherStarlings (Sturnidae) 114 European StarlingWaxwings (Bombycillidae) 116 Cedar WaxwingWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 118 Blue-winged WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 120 Northern ParulaWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 122 Yellow WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 124 Chestnut-sided WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 126 Black-throated Green WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 128 Prairie WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 130 Black-and-white WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 132 American RedstartWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 134 OvenbirdWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 136 Common YellowthroatTanagers (Thraupidae) 138 Scarlet TanagerSparrows (Emberizidae) 140 Eastern TowheeSparrows (Emberizidae) 142 Chipping SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 144 Field SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 146 Savannah SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 148 Song SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 150 White-throated SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 152 Dark-eyed JuncoCardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings (Cardinalidae) 154 Northern CardinalCardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings (Cardinalidae)156 Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings (Cardinalidae)158 Indigo BuntingBlackbirds (Icteridae) 160 BobolinkBlackbirds (Icteridae) 162 Red-winged BlackbirdBlackbirds (Icteridae) 164 Eastern MeadowlarkBlackbirds (Icteridae) 166 Common GrackleBlackbirds (Icteridae) 168 Brown-headed CowbirdBlackbirds (Icteridae) 170 Baltimore OrioleFinches (Fringillidae) 172 House FinchFinches (Fringillidae) 174 American GoldfinchOld World Sparrows (Passeridae) 176 House SparrowMore Fun with Birdsong 178Additional Listening and Reading Sources 180References 181Illustration Credits 182Recording Credits 182About the Cornell Lab of Ornithology 183About the Artists 184 About the Author 185Index 186Acknowledgments 192