This classic work, published in 1889, is one of the earliest field guides to American birds. Rather than focusing on hunting and collection, the book promotes birdwatching with minimal disturbance, observing birds with opera glasses and enjoying them alive.
Inside readers will find detailed descriptions of about seventy common bird species, including their appearances, habits, songs, nests, and behavior. The descriptions are accompanied by line drawings, making identification possible in the field.
The writing is richly descriptive, occasionally poetic, with Merriam referring to birds with personality, giving a lively sense of what it’s like to watch birds in nature.
Details:
- Format: Trade paperback in recent reprints; public-domain older editions may be in hardcover or facsimile formats
- Size: 5″ × 7″
- Author: Florence Augusta Merriam
- Includes illustrations: Line drawings of the birds
