The Backyard Birdsong Guide Western 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 California QuailGrebes (Podicipedidae) Western and Clark's Grebes Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae) 34 Red-tailed HawkRails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) 36 American CootCranes (Gruidae) 38 Sandhill CranePlovers (Charadriidae) 40 KilldeerSandpipers and Phalaropes (Scolopacidae) 42 Wilson’s SnipePigeons and Doves (Columbidae) 44 Mourning DoveOwls (Strigidae) 46 Great Horned OwlGoatsuckers (Caprimulgidae) 48 Common NighthawkHummingbirds (Trochilidae) 50 Anna’s HummingbirdKingfishers (Alcedinidae) 52 Belted KingfisherWoodpeckers (Picidae) 54 Downy and Hairy WoodpeckersWoodpeckers (Picidae) 56 Northern FlickerSECTION 2: THE PASSERINE GROUPTyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 60 Western Wood-Pewee 62 Black PhoebeTyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) 64 Western KingbirdVireos (Vireonidae) 66 Hutton’s VireoJays and Crows (Corvidae) 68 Steller’s JayJays and Crows (Corvidae) 70 Western Scrub-JayJays and Crows (Corvidae) 72 American CrowJays and Crows (Corvidae) 74 Common RavenLarks (Alaudidae) 76 Horned LarkSwallows (Hirundinidae) 78 Violet-green SwallowChickadees and Titmice (Paridae) 80 Mountain ChickadeeChickadees and Titmice (Paridae)82 Chestnut-backed ChickadeeChickadees and Titmice (Paridae)84 Oak and Juniper TitmiceNuthatches (Sittidae) 86 White-breasted NuthatchWrens (Troglodytidae) 88 Bewick’s WrenWrens (Troglodytidae) 90 House WrenWrens (Troglodytidae) 92 Winter WrenWrens (Troglodytidae) 94 Marsh WrenKinglets (Regulidae) 96 Ruby-crowned KingletThrushes (Turdidae) 98 American RobinThrushes (Turdidae) 100 Western BluebirdThrushes (Turdidae) 102 Swainson’s ThrushThrushes (Turdidae) 104 Hermit ThrushBabblers (Timaliidae) 106 WrentitMockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) 108 Northern MockingbirdMockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) 110 California ThrasherStarlings (Sturnidae) 112 European StarlingWaxwings (Bombycillidae) 114 Cedar WaxwingWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 116 Orange-crowned WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 118 Yellow WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 120 MacGillivray’s WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 122 Common YellowthroatWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 124 Wilson’s WarblerWood-Warblers (Parulidae) 126 Yellow-breasted ChatTanagers (Thraupidae) 128 Western TanagerSparrows (Emberizidae) 130 Spotted TowheeSparrows (Emberizidae) 132 California TowheeSparrows (Emberizidae) 134 Chipping SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 136 Brewer’s SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 138 Lark SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 140 Lark BuntingSparrows (Emberizidae) 142 Savannah SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 144 Fox SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 146 Song SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 148 White-crowned SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 150 Golden-crowned SparrowSparrows (Emberizidae) 152 Dark-eyed JuncoCardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings (Cardinalidae) 154 Black-headed GrosbeakCardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings (Cardinalidae) 156 Lazuli BuntingBlackbirds (Icteridae) 158 Red-winged BlackbirdBlackbirds (Icteridae) 160 Western MeadowlarkBlackbirds (Icteridae) 162 Yellow-headed BlackbirdBlackbirds (Icteridae) 164 Great-tailed GrackleBlackbirds (Icteridae) 166 Brown-headed CowbirdBlackbirds (Icteridae) 168 Bullock’s OrioleFinches (Fringillidae) 170 House FinchFinches (Fringillidae) 172 American GoldfinchFinches (Fringillidae) 174 Lesser GoldfinchMore 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