Waterfowl of Eastern North America

by Chris G. Earley

Overview

A well-illustrated field guide to the ducks, geese and shorebirds of Eastern North America. Includes well organized species comparison pages, male-female, seasonal and immature plumage, distinctive markings. Appropriate for novice or experienced birders.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781554070572
Publisher:	Firefly Books, Limited
Publication date:	04/02/2005
Edition description:	Revised ed.
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

Chris G. Earley is the Interpretive Biologist of the Arboretum, University of Guelph, where he teaches bird identification workshops. He is the author of Hawks and Owls; Sparrows and Finches; and Warblers, all specific to the Great Lakes Region and Eastern North America region. His most recent book is Feed the Birds: Attract and Identify 196 Common North American Birds.

Table of Contents

	Wonderful waterfowl	7
	How to use this book	8
	A note to beginners	10
	The quotes	11
	Taxonomy	11
	Classification	12
	Waterfowl groups	13
	Identification features	14
	Waterfowl look-alikes	15
	Seasonal status of waterfowl for Point Pelee National Park	16
	Bird profiles
	Greater White-fronted Goos	18
	Snow Goose	20
	Ross's Goose	22
	Canada Goose & Cackling Goose	24
	Brant	26
	Mute Swan	28
	Trumpeter Swan	30
	Tundra Swan	32
	Wood Duck	34
	Gadwall	36
	Eurasian Wigeon	38
	American Wigeon	40
	American Black Duck	42
	Mallard	44
	Blue-winged Teal	46
	Cinnamon Teal	48
	Northern Shoveler	50
	Northern Pintail	52
	Green-winged Teal	54
	Canvasback	56
	Redhead	58
	Ring-necked Duck	60
	Tufted Duck	62
	Greater Scaup	64
	Lesser Scaup	66
	King Eider	68
	Common Eider	72
	Harlequin Duck	76
	Surf Scoter	78
	White-winged Scoter	80
	Black Scoter	82
	Long-tailed Duck	84
	Bufflehead	88
	Common Goldeneye	90
	Barrow's Goldeneye	92
	Hooded Merganser	94
	Common Merganser	96
	Red-breasted Merganser	98
	Ruddy Duck	100
	Red-throated Loon	102
	Common Loon	104
	Pied-billed Grebe	106
	Horned Grebe	108
	Red-necked Grebe	110
	Eared Grebe	112
	Western Grebe	114
	American White Pelican	116
	Double-crested Cormorant	118
	Common Moorhen	120
	American Coot	122
	Vagrants and southern and coastal specialties
	Black-bellied Whistling-Duck	124
	Fulvous Whistling-Duck	124
	Barnacle Goose	125
	Mottled Duck	125
	Garganey	125
	Steller's Eider	126
	Smew	126
	Masked Duck	126
	Pacific Loon	127
	Least Grebe	127
	Yellow-billed Loon	127
	Clark's Grebe	128
	Brown Pelican	128
	Neotropic Cormorant	128
	Great Cormorant	129
	Anhinga	129
	Purple Gallinule	129
	What can I do to help waterfowl?	130
	Comparison pages
	Female dabbling ducks	132
	Canvasback/Redhead	134
	Greater/Lesser Scaup	135
	King/Common Eiders	136
	Scoters	138
	Goldeneyes	140
	Female mergansers	141
	Winter loons	142
	Winter grebes	143
	Flight	144
	Female divers	148
	Male ducks	150
	References	154
	Author's notes	156
	Credits	156
	Index	157

Editorial Reviews

[Review of earlier edtion:] A beautiful photographic guide to ducks and other waterfowl found in the eastern U.S... A handy section in the back provides photos of similar waterfowl species for comparison.

Wildlife Activist

This new version, designed both for beginners and experienced birders, is suddenly a must-see-and-have for anyone interested in the 40 species of geese, swans and ducks expected in eastern Canada and the U.S... The new edition is graced with dozens of new images that provide readers with a higher quality display of plumages.

OFO News - Bruce Kirkland

This book is meant for all birders, be they novices or experts... A nice feature is that each species receives one or two two-page spreads. The spreads feature a paragraph focusing on something special about the species, and several photos (of generally excellent quality) that attempt to cover all the different plumages.

Canadian Field-Naturalist Journal - Robert Alvo

Chris Earley's book Waterfowl of Eastern North America is an excellent resource.

Toronto.com - Glenn Perrett

[Review of earlier edtion:] Filled with incredibly vibrant photographs of wildfowl in their natural habitat. Each bird and gender is described.

Ontario Sailor

Excellent photos of ducks, geese, swans, eiders, mergansers, grebes, loons, coot, gallinules, cormorants, and pelicans. Text is short and sweet, as are descriptive notes for seasonal plumage and distinctive markings. There are range maps, classifications, groups, look-alikes, and species status... A handsome, well-made book... This is the first bird ID book I've seen with maps using colors truly easily distinguished by people with color-perception deficiencies. Congratulations to Firefly! Other guide publishers please take note.

Minneapolis Star Tribune - Jim Williams

[Review of earlier edtion:] A very useful field guide and birding primer... In fact, since many waterfowl are common to both coasts, this guide is useful for west coast observation as well... excellent color photographs showing the bird swimming and flying.

Wave Length Magazine - Diana Mumford

[Review of earlier edtion:] For each species the format is two full-color pages with excellent photographs, notes on distinctive features, and range maps... This is an attractive handbook for novice birders, new hunters, and others wanting to name waterfowl. Summing Up: Recommended.

Choice - C. Leck

[Review of earlier edtion:] Each species enjoys a step-by-step profile to facilitate precise identification, while brilliant color photographs reveal birds in their natural habitat.

E-Streams - Sue Reyna

[Review of earlier edtion:] A must-have book if you love watching our feathered friends. While the 400 magnificent color photographs will catch your eye, it's the anecdotes that keep even non-birders flocking back for more.

Good Times - Liz Grogan

[Review of earlier edtion:] An excellent field guide... illustrated with excellent photographs of both male and females... useful comparison photographs complete the guide.

Ibis [British Ornithologists' Union]