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| Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion: A Comprehensive Resource for Identifying North American Birds | 
| Author: Peter Dunne
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
Buy New: $14.95
You Save: $15.00 (50%)
New (25) Collectible (2) from $14.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 49888
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 736
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.9
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 7.3 x 1.7
ISBN: 0618236481
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.072347
EAN: 9780618236480
ASIN: 0618236481
Publication Date: May 11, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: May have small remainder mark on bottom. 100% money back guarantee. All books shipped from Strand Bookstore, New York City, USA.
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Product Description
In this book, bursting with more information than any field guide could hold, the well-known author and birder Pete Dunne introduces readers to the "Cape May School of Birding." It's an approach to identification that gives equal or more weight to a bird's structure and shape and the observer's overall impression (often called GISS, for General Impression of Size and Shape) than to specific field marks.
After determining the most likely possibilities by considering such factors as habitat and season, the birder uses characteristics such as size, shape, color, behavior, flight pattern, and vocalizations to identify a bird. The book provides an arsenal of additional hints and helpful clues to guide a birder when, even after a review of a field guide, the identification still hangs in the balance.
This supplement to field guides shares the knowledge and skills that expert birders bring to identification challenges. Birding should be an enjoyable pursuit for beginners and experts alike, and Pete Dunne combines a unique playfulness with the work of identification. Readers will delight in his nicknames for birds, from the Grinning Loon and Clearly the Bathtub Duck to Bronx Petrel and Chicken Garnished with a Slice of Mango and a Dollop of Raspberry Sherbet.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 A Refreshing Primer for Bird ID June 4, 2008
When I bought this book, I thought it was an identification key. It is not nor does it need to be. Especially in the field where markings are difficult to see. I really enjoyed his emphasis on habitat and "vocalizations". Very thorough. It's not an exciting read but it sure is informative. Experienced birders could supplement their knowledge with this different approach. Novices would certainly benefit by having a fresh start with birding techniques. Using the "Cape May" approach might make a birder out of anybody.
Great companion guide... July 7, 2007
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is a wonderful addition to The Peterson Field Guide - greater in-depth information regarding habitat and plumage.
A good companion is hard to find February 23, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
This field guide companion looks stark at first, with no pictures, but that is part of the point. With many fine field guides available, this is meant to supplement them, and in no way replace them. The necessarily brief descriptions of a field guide are nicely fleshed out in this volume, which is best suited to browsing after returning from the field, or for thumbing through when you can't get out into the field. The best addition to my stay-at-home birding library since Ehrlich, Dobkin & Wheye's "The Birder's Handbook."
Poorly Cut Book February 22, 2007
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
Peter Dunnes unique comments, perspective & observations make this book interesting to read yet very informative. His approach to identification gives you additional yet simplistic help.
I did not look at the condition of the book until the return time had expired. I was disappointed that the last section of the Index was cut improperly. I could not find a contact email to complain. The book should be replaced. If you read this I hope you will arrange to replace the book.
It is Essential January 19, 2007
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
This companion to my field guides has no pictures other than word pictures. It uses GISS (General Impression of Size and Shape) style of birding. Why is this important I can give a recent example. Here in New York City we had a Common Loon on the Reservoir. One birder reported a male and a female Common Loon, but was incorrect. It turned out to be the Common Loon and a Double Crested Cormorant. The difference was very obvious by using GISS but the mistaken birder was using feather birding and the bird was far away. This is a very useful guide. I would ask readers to read a sample page and decide for themselfs
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