Birds of the Canadian Rockies

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

For the dedicated birder, there’s no such thing as too many field
guides: this one is a quality regional supplement to the standard North
American guides.

Unlike most traditional field guides, which use drawings to illustrate
bird species, this guide follows the Audubon lead and uses color photos,
an approach that may appeal slightly more to beginners than to
experienced birders. With a few minor exceptions, the photos are
good—clear, with good color, and without confusing clutter in the
background.

The book’s layout is ideal, with the descriptions and photos placed
side by side. This saves a lot of time in the field, and greatly
increases the chance of making an accurate identification. The
descriptions are both detailed and readable, with all essential
information included.

The guide follows the standard aou order. An index, a checklist, a
vocabulary list, a scientific-name list, maps, and charts make using the
book easy.

Approximately 200 species are included—all those one can reasonably
expect to spot in the Rockies.