Choosing the Right Field Guide

Let's say you want to get started in birding so you head out to the local bookstore. With so many field guides out there, it can be a daunting task to figure out which one will work best for you outdoors! While choosing a field guide has a lot to do with personal preference, here are a few things to look for as you decide what’s right for you.

Narrow the focus
If you do most of your birding close to home, choose a guide that specializes on your area of the country. Books that cover all of North America can get confusing.

Pictures or drawings?
A photograph gives you a sample of a real-life bird in the wild, but drawings
may capture variations in plumage better.

Organization
A guide that presents bird species by family (ducks, warblers, etc.) is easier to use than
one that organizes birds by color or size.

Our top picks
Guides preferred by CNC staff are The Sibley’s Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America by David Allen Sibley and Birds of Eastern and Central North America by Roger Tory Peterson.

You'll find a great selection of field guides right here at the Chippewa Nature Center store!