Waterfowl of Eastern North America

I've used this book in conjunction with other more detailed resources as I've tried to master waterfowl ID. There are a number of features that are very useful, like the charts that show presence of specific species at Point Pelee at different times of year. I am further south of that reference point, but it has helped me to narrow down what waterfowl I am likely and unlikely to be seeing in my area in a given month. The quick comparison sections in the back are also very helpful. I took one star off because I have found more than a few errors in the volume--things that should have been caught by a good copy editor. Still a worthwhile aid for a novice birder.

Good, but not great. Overall, a nice book to show off waterfowl to the casual observer that wants some fun facts and pretty pictures, but not thorough enough to satisfy a serious birder or hunter.Pros: Pretty good quality photos from the basic angles for each bird. Overall quality, binding, and printing of the paperback is excellent. Comparison charts in the back are fairly useful. Concise format (2 pages per bird, basic information, pictures, range map) is nice for flipping through and helping a beginner understand waterfowl.Cons: (1) Not enough information on identification, and lack of a "compare to" section was disappointing, especially for the really similar species (e.g. scaup). Any field guide will probably be more helpful in terms of identification. (2) This will not give an experienced birder or waterfowl hunter any extra information (which is disappointing for a 158-page book on waterfowl)--for extra information, please do yourself a favor and invest in the latest edition of Ducks, Geese, and Swans of North America, by Baldassarre. (3) Not enough pictures or diagrams of essential characteristics. (4) The separation of the book into main entries and "vagrants and southern and coastal specialties" seemed somewhat arbitrary and at times nonsensical. For example, American White Pelican has its own full page but Brown Pelican gets only a paragraph. (5) On the "winter loon" comparison page, the Pacific Loon is not shown in winter plumage.

Excellent book for the identification of waterfowl the birds are pictured in color it shows the male and female and the areas where theymigrate to . Very easy to follow and study before you go out into the field. The book is small enough to take with you when you go andobserve the birds in the wild. Just a very well done book.

I bought this to help me identify ducks as a pretty new duck hunter. We keep it in our hunting shack in ND and every time we go I fi d myself flipping through this book. Lots of interesting information in here a d now I'm much better at identifying ducks.

Mr. Earley's bird guides are incredible. Rich, sharp photography that help so much in identifying waterfowl. Excellent verbal descriptions, good maps, and really love the pages at the end of the book where you have photograph collections of similiar birds and suggestions as to how to tell the birds apart. Not just sitting on the water either but also in flight and also by gender. Excellent guide.

I have 4 of his books. The photos are great and I really appreciate the seasonal & gender differences.

Very detailed and informative. Obviously well researched. The illustrations are extremely accurate and make identifying species easy. A great reference book.

This provides adequate detail on behaviors but is SUPER simple to navigate quickly. This is my go to waterfowl reference.

As with all the other books in this series, Earley has put together a very easy to use, informative and entertaining field guide, with fascinating tidbits that make you want to learn more. The signature photo comparison chart at the back is what makes these books more useful than just about any other field guide on the market.

This series is one of my favourites for bird identification! All of Earley's books are worth purchasing.

Extremely well done. Lots of images and it compares similar species. Highly recommended!!!

Fantastic book , great photos and good price !!!Thanks

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