Excerpt
Veteran birders will know how to use this book. Beginners, however, should spend some time becoming familiar in a general way with the illustrations. They are not arranged in systematic or phylogenetic order as in most ornithological works but are grouped in 8 main visual categories:
(1) Swimmers and#151; Ducks and ducklike birds (2) Aerialists and#151; Gulls and gull-like birds (3) Long-legged Waders and#151; Herons, cranes, etc.
(4) Smaller Waders and#151; Plovers, sandpipers, etc.
(5) Fowl-like Birds and#151; Grouse, quail, etc.
(6) Birds of Prey and#151; Hawks, eagles, owls (7) Nonpasserine Land Birds (8) Passerine (Perching) Birds
Within these groupings it will be seen that ducks do not resemble loons; gulls are readily distinguishable from terns. The needlelike bills of warblers immediately differentiate them from the seed-cracking bills of sparrows. Birds that could be confused are grouped together when possible and are arranged in identical profile for direct comparison. The arrows point to outstanding and#147;field marksand#8221; which are explained opposite.