Nat. Geo. has always been my favorite guide book, until I saw Sibley's Guide. I now use both. A Nat. Hist. supplement that I've had for years is The Birder's Handbook. I keep that in my car. I will try the apps you recommend. Thanks for the videos. I use them for my Biology and Ecology classes.
In print: The Stocks Field Guide, In App Form: the Audubon App. I also recently subscribed to the Birds of the World that’s just come out through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
I started bird watching this month. I first setup a backyard bird feeding station and so far I have had enough of a variety that I am still very entertained by it. Since I am not out in the field while trying to identify birds, I have found two guide books most enjoyable. The first is Birds of Okalhoma Field Guide. As a new birder, I find the color indicators on the pages give me a fast track to finding birds. However, if I am still questioning my identification, or want more info. then I open the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, Eastern Region. I really enjoy the details in the Other Behavior noted for each bird and the book is comfortable in my hands.
Currently using Nat. Geo. 7th edition. If I can't identify something right away in the field I take photos and then take my time with the ID at home. Field time is too valuable to be fusing with a phone or a book.
It's cool to see how apps are improving on the traditional book form. I spend 40 hours a week around birds, but it's in an aviary and I know what the birds are, so I have never used a field guide to try to identify birds. Those apps look really interesting though, especially the Audobon one with natural histories. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
I’ve been birding seriously for a while no, and have used apps for almost all my time in the field. my personal favorite guide is the Audubon bird guide app. great video Ed!
Found your channel last night! Really great stuff!!! Have always been interested in bird watching but never really got into it much. I have an old (1999) National Audubon Soc Field guide to the Southeastern States, and one of really old Golden Guide to birds. Believe it or not, it's pretty good for backyard use and for first timers. But I'll be very interested in checking out some of these you mention here. Now that I'm retired, I want to get out of the house more, so today I joined the Maryland Ornithological Society and will try to get to some of the events in my area with the Tri-County Bird Club. Thanks for all the great info you share! Happy Birding!
thanks so much for watching :) i have many more videos to come, and am happy to get any feedback and ideas on more stuff you would like to know about for birding and other things in nature. good luck birding! i think it is the most amazing hobby in the world!!
Good info. Agree on Sibley's - the best. I often use Audubon back at home to further research species or to confirm with photographs. I need to check out Raptor ID and Song Sleuth. Thank you!
Hi Ed! This is a great review and will help me add yet another birding App (Sibley) for my phone. I have a third printing (2005) version of his Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, which as been my goto until you introduced me to the best 5 Apps a couple weeks ago. Will be adding Sibley's version to my phone as he is my bird book hero. Thanks for sharing and cheers from BC!
Great information, thanks. I mostly use Sibley Birds West. Very fond of the Kaufman Guides, and shout out to a great pocket guide -Birds of the Los Angeles Region by Kimball Garrett, Jon Dunn, and Bob Morse. It is the App age, but I push field guide books, because I think you see a wider range of information. Doing my part to mentor new birders in my community!
Good work, Ed! When I was a beginner I found Petersen really helpful because of how he put illustrations of similar birds in with the subject bird and pointed out the differences. Once I gained more confidence in my own IDing ability, I switched to Sibley because his illustrations are so gorgeous. As for apps, I have only Sibley’s first edition and iBirdPro. As you mentioned, iBirdPro (or another edition of iBird) is great about giving lots of info, and they also have drawings and photos (some rarer birds have only drawings). Both have recordings of sounds, which is great for me since I’m a terrible spotter, but I’m really good at birding by ear.
Thanks for watching :) yeah The new Sibley app that came out this winter I found to be the best. Funny thing about iBird is there were so many versions that came out and got changed. The most complete latest version is iBird Ultimate I believe
Excellent work Ed! I really appreciate the thoroughness of this video, you really hit a lot of good points, and it’s really helpful even for advanced-interest birders such as Evan and me to have an expert opinion on these guides. Thanks man! - Harrison
I have the National Geographic guide in addition to a bird guide specific to Michigan where I live. I believe that it could be beneficial to get a bird guide specific to a region or state.
First field guide was a book handed down by my grandfather after he died. It was a Peterson’s, I couldn’t have been older than 9-10. Then a few years later I got my first iPhone (4) and downloaded the app. They were great back then but now there’s so many other options and they kinda don’t keep up to date.
Hi Ed, some typos in your graphics. The plurals don't have an apostrophe. My favorite is Peterson FG to Birds of Western North America. Second is Birds of Western NA - a photographic guide. I have a Stokes pocket guide in my glove box. My least favorites are Sibleys. Every time I've recieved one it's been disappointing and goes to the library book sale. They are difficult to use mostly because they are so poorly written and laid out. Sibley seems to do word barf rather than try to educate. I was disappointed with Kaufman's "focus" guides. I try to get only guides that are for the Western region. As for apps, BirdNet is great for analyzing sounds. Doesn't need internet connection. I also use Audubon and Merlin.
I started birding with the Peterson field guide and still like it, but have been on hiatus, so I very much appreciate this comparison to update my birding tools. I'd like your advice, too on updating binoculars. Had been challenged by having to wear glasses, but I'm in the process of cataract surgery, which will allow distance viewing without them. Kindly, if you can, suggest the binoculars best suited for my demographic in a middle price range. Your help is very much appreciated!
Thanks a lot for watching, and thanks a lot for the video idea. You are not the only one who wants a video in binocular advice. I will be sure to get working on a video about binoculars soon
Sibley is not the best. His illustrations are colorful, but not accurate for some similar species. This makes it hard to compare some birds. National Geographic is better in my opinion.
What is your favorite field guide? Let us know in the comments!
Nat. Geo. has always been my favorite guide book, until I saw Sibley's Guide. I now use both. A Nat. Hist. supplement that I've had for years is The Birder's Handbook. I keep that in my car. I will try the apps you recommend. Thanks for the videos. I use them for my Biology and Ecology classes.
In print: The Stocks Field Guide, In App Form: the Audubon App. I also recently subscribed to the Birds of the World that’s just come out through the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
I am so glad you like the Raptor ID app, it was a lot of work to acquire the video but also a lot of fun
National Geographic's Field Guide to the Birds of North America is my favorite!
i indeed have a soft spot in my heart for nat geo, it was my first field guide ever! :)
I started bird watching this month. I first setup a backyard bird feeding station and so far I have had enough of a variety that I am still very entertained by it. Since I am not out in the field while trying to identify birds, I have found two guide books most enjoyable. The first is Birds of Okalhoma Field Guide. As a new birder, I find the color indicators on the pages give me a fast track to finding birds. However, if I am still questioning my identification, or want more info. then I open the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, Eastern Region. I really enjoy the details in the Other Behavior noted for each bird and the book is comfortable in my hands.
Currently using Nat. Geo. 7th edition. If I can't identify something right away in the field I take photos and then take my time with the ID at home. Field time is too valuable to be fusing with a phone or a book.
I agree!
It's cool to see how apps are improving on the traditional book form. I spend 40 hours a week around birds, but it's in an aviary and I know what the birds are, so I have never used a field guide to try to identify birds. Those apps look really interesting though, especially the Audobon one with natural histories. Thanks for sharing your expertise!
Thanks a lot for watching, always glad to see you stop by! :) May the birds be with you!!
I’ve been birding seriously for a while no, and have used apps for almost all my time in the field. my personal favorite guide is the Audubon bird guide app. great video Ed!
Thanks a lot for watching :) can’t go wrong with the Audubon app!!
Found your channel last night! Really great stuff!!! Have always been interested in bird watching but never really got into it much. I have an old (1999) National Audubon Soc Field guide to the Southeastern States, and one of really old Golden Guide to birds. Believe it or not, it's pretty good for backyard use and for first timers. But I'll be very interested in checking out some of these you mention here. Now that I'm retired, I want to get out of the house more, so today I joined the Maryland Ornithological Society and will try to get to some of the events in my area with the Tri-County Bird Club. Thanks for all the great info you share! Happy Birding!
thanks so much for watching :) i have many more videos to come, and am happy to get any feedback and ideas on more stuff you would like to know about for birding and other things in nature. good luck birding! i think it is the most amazing hobby in the world!!
Good info. Agree on Sibley's - the best. I often use Audubon back at home to further research species or to confirm with photographs. I need to check out Raptor ID and Song Sleuth. Thank you!
Thanks for watching, really appreciate the support! And raptor ID is awesome I really love it! May the birds be with you!
Thank you for the info! I’m so excited to start bird watching ❤️ you’ve got a new subscriber 👏
Hi Ed! This is a great review and will help me add yet another birding App (Sibley) for my phone. I have a third printing (2005) version of his Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, which as been my goto until you introduced me to the best 5 Apps a couple weeks ago. Will be adding Sibley's version to my phone as he is my bird book hero. Thanks for sharing and cheers from BC!
Thanks a lot for watching Gord, always appreciate your support! Let us know which app or guide you end up liking best :)
Great information, thanks. I mostly use Sibley Birds West. Very fond of the Kaufman Guides, and shout out to a great pocket guide -Birds of the Los Angeles Region by Kimball Garrett, Jon Dunn, and Bob Morse. It is the App age, but I push field guide books, because I think you see a wider range of information. Doing my part to mentor new birders in my community!
Thanks for watching! I definitely get it that some people are more for guide books too!
My faves are crossley, srokes, and sibley 👍👍
great choices :)
Good work, Ed! When I was a beginner I found Petersen really helpful because of how he put illustrations of similar birds in with the subject bird and pointed out the differences. Once I gained more confidence in my own IDing ability, I switched to Sibley because his illustrations are so gorgeous. As for apps, I have only Sibley’s first edition and iBirdPro. As you mentioned, iBirdPro (or another edition of iBird) is great about giving lots of info, and they also have drawings and photos (some rarer birds have only drawings). Both have recordings of sounds, which is great for me since I’m a terrible spotter, but I’m really good at birding by ear.
Thanks for watching :) yeah The new Sibley app that came out this winter I found to be the best. Funny thing about iBird is there were so many versions that came out and got changed. The most complete latest version is iBird Ultimate I believe
thank you for posting
Thanks for watching :)
this was super helpful for me, because regretfully i'll admit I am not very good with guides (nor using them) aka I should download Sibley asap
Thanks so much for watching, GPLY 😘😘
Excellent work Ed! I really appreciate the thoroughness of this video, you really hit a lot of good points, and it’s really helpful even for advanced-interest birders such as Evan and me to have an expert opinion on these guides. Thanks man!
- Harrison
Thanks a lot for watching guys, really appreciate it! I’m excited for your Costa Rica videos to come out :)
Thanks man! The first video from the series is currently in production, and it’s a birding video!
I don't have good books or apps. Good info. Thanks
Thanks for watching :)
I have the National Geographic guide in addition to a bird guide specific to Michigan where I live. I believe that it could be beneficial to get a bird guide specific to a region or state.
i definitely agree, thanks for watching :)
First field guide was a book handed down by my grandfather after he died. It was a Peterson’s, I couldn’t have been older than 9-10. Then a few years later I got my first iPhone (4) and downloaded the app. They were great back then but now there’s so many other options and they kinda don’t keep up to date.
Nat Geo is my go to for in the field
Great video! You have a new subscriber in me!
thanks :) so are you into birding?
Paper back is always the way to go.
Hi Ed, some typos in your graphics. The plurals don't have an apostrophe.
My favorite is Peterson FG to Birds of Western North America. Second is Birds of Western NA - a photographic guide.
I have a Stokes pocket guide in my glove box.
My least favorites are Sibleys. Every time I've recieved one it's been disappointing and goes to the library book sale. They are difficult to use mostly because they are so poorly written and laid out. Sibley seems to do word barf rather than try to educate.
I was disappointed with Kaufman's "focus" guides.
I try to get only guides that are for the Western region.
As for apps, BirdNet is great for analyzing sounds. Doesn't need internet connection.
I also use Audubon and Merlin.
I started birding with the Peterson field guide and still like it, but have been on hiatus, so I very much appreciate this comparison to update my birding tools. I'd like your advice, too on updating binoculars. Had been challenged by having to wear glasses, but I'm in the process of cataract surgery, which will allow distance viewing without them. Kindly, if you can, suggest the binoculars best suited for my demographic in a middle price range. Your help is very much appreciated!
Thanks a lot for watching, and thanks a lot for the video idea. You are not the only one who wants a video in binocular advice. I will be sure to get working on a video about binoculars soon
I use ibird pro and merlin bird id
Yes, Merlin bird ID is great too. I put that app in another video I have for bi d apps that you can use for the whole world.
Do any of the apps have notes that I can write ... say if I wanted to write where I saw a particular woodpecker?
I have seen this guy out in the field somewhere. Don’t remember where. Pelagic?
Awesome Ed! Where are you from in Wisconsin?
Thanks! I grew up in whitefish bay! Are you from Wisconsin?
Adventure Ed Yep! I live about an hour west in a little city called Waterloo (you might see the sign for it headed to Madison on 94).
Im worried about global warming and the effects to bird migration, habitat, food sources.
Kaufman!!
Sibley is not the best. His illustrations are colorful, but not accurate for some similar species. This makes it hard to compare some birds.
National Geographic is better in my opinion.
Paper back is always the way to go.