Peterson Reference Guides: Gulls of the Americas
by Jon Dunn, Steve N.G. Howell
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Book Summary Information
Author: Jon Dunn, Steve N.G. HowellBrand: Peterson Books
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-06-13
ISBN: 0618726411
Number of pages: 528
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Book Reviews of Peterson Reference Guides: Gulls of the Americas
Book Review: Not What I Expected
Summary: 1 Stars
This book was not what I expected or hoped for. Admittedly, I did not realize the Book is a Peterson *Reference* Guide, not a field guide. It covers all the gulls found in north and south America, providing a detailed account of each species on the basis of taxonomy, range, and identification.
What don't I like? It is a photo guide, no illustrations, and is full of dense technical prose. If you like word pictures in dry, technical, language reminiscent of geo chemistry texts,(think regolith, xenolith) and photos as opposed to illustrations, this is the book for you. For everyone else interested in Gulls, Grant's descriptions are more useful, and Harrison's Seabirds: An Identification Guide has decent illustrations. The Sibley Guide to Birds is good but not perfect for the field identification of Gulls. One other thing I don't like is the size of the book. It is oversized compared to most of my bird books and references, requiring me to put it on an oversize shelf.
When it comes to guides, I feel illustrations a preferable to photos in all circumstances. This is because an illustration is a composite of many individuals, while photos depict only one individual. The brilliance of Roger Tory Peterson, was to distill each species down to its essentials. Prior to Peterson, descriptions were overly complex, technical and based on bird in hand. Peterson changed that with simple, elegant, prose and concise illustrations, that gave the field observer the essential elements or "field marks" needed to identify a bird. Howell and Dunn, abandon all of these principals in Gulls of the Americas. Unlike their previous works: A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America (Howell), A Field Guide to Warblers of North America (Peterson Field Guides(R)), and National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, Fifth Edition (National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America) (Dunn), this book has little value to a birder or bird watcher interested in field identification. Gulling is extreme birding, it appeals to a limited audience. But for instance: how does one separate a Little Gull, from several hundred Bonaparte's Gulls in a flotilla? I am certain the authors know what to look for, but they do not share that in a way I could easily understand. While there is useful information to be found, it is difficult to find. I think Roger Tory Peterson, might be rolling in his grave.
Summary of Peterson Reference Guides: Gulls of the Americas
This ambitious volume covers the 36 species of gulls that occur in North and South America, with detailed information to help you identify these fascinating but challenging birds in their many and varied plumages. With 1,160 carefully chosen color photographs, this new reference guide, written by two of North America's top gull experts, is the definitive new work on gulls of the Americas.
Peterson Reference Guides offer authoritative, comprehensive information, including detailed text, maps, and superior illustrations. Written by expert authors, the guides are an unparalleled resource for understanding specific groups of animals.
Peterson Reference Guides offer authoritative, comprehensive information, including detailed text, maps, and superior illustrations. Written by expert authors, the guides are an unparalleled resource for understanding specific groups of animals.
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