The Shorebird Guide

mud flat full of grayish brown birds in various shapes and sizes and have no idea where to begin the identification process.

When advanced birders look at that same flock of shorebirds, they can identify the vast majority of birds with a quick binocular scan. Experts

use the simplest, most easily observed characteristics—size, structure,

behavior, and general color patterns—almost subconsciously, and can

identify most birds even before looking carefully at plumage details.

Now birders of all levels can learn how to identify these wildly popular birds quickly and with much less effort. This guide provides more than 870 stunning color photographs, sequenced to give a general impression of a species first and progressing to a more detailed image of the bird throughout its life cycle. Captions list characteristics in order of importance, reflecting the thought process that experts use to identify birds.

Join the experts in birding by impression, a revolutionary approach to bird identification. Experienced birders use the most easily observed characteristics — size, structure, behavior, and general color patterns — to identify birds even before looking carefully at plumage details. Now birders at all levels can learn how to identify shorebirds quickly and simply. This guide includes more than 870 stunning color photographs, starting with a general impression of the species and progressing to more detailed images of the bird throughout its life cycle. Quiz questions in the captions will engage and challenge all birders and help them benefit from this simplified, commonsense approach to identification.