More an ornithological text than a field guide, it is the most comprehensive work yet published on bird life in the Basin. A field guide to the Natural History of North American Birds By Paul R. Ehrlich, David S. Dobkin, and Darryl Wheyi. It is a portable library of fascinating information not included in your identification guide for each of 646 species of birds that breed in North America. Neltje Blanchan Originally published in 1907, this book is a collection of story-like descriptions of more than 100 birds commonly found in the United States. Detailed descriptions, physical attributes, nesting and mating habits are outlined in this book.
Some chapters read like fairy tales.
The Distribution of the Birds of California Joseph Grinnell and Alden H. Miller Published in 1944 by the Cooper Ornithological Society, Grinnell and Miller's The Distribution of the Birds of California remains the definitive benchmark on California's avifauna. It summarizes a wealth of information on the seasonal status, abundance and geographic range of the 644 species and subspecies then recorded in the state. Its terse yet detailed descriptions of habitat and habitat requirements have yet to be bettered. It is an indispensable reference for anyone seriously interested in California's birds. This 1986 Artemisia Press edition is an exact reproduction of the original text.