West Coast Birds

David Allinson is the president of the Rocky Point Bird Observatory in Victoria, B.C.

This book, which is designed to serve as an introductory reference for
the novice birdwatcher (the large-print format makes it a suitable gift
for a child who is an aspiring naturalist), covers 91 species (for the
most part common) encountered on the coast of British Columbia. Most of
the book’s illustrations are excellent (e.g., Barrow’s goldeneye and
tufted puffin). But, a few of the drawings—such as those for the
red-tailed hawk and the black-bellied plover—are poorly rendered and
may cause identification problems for the beginning birdwatcher.
Although limited, the descriptions and natural history provided for each
species are accurate and interesting. Nevertheless, more-informative
guides exist on this subject; the book’s claim that “amateur birders
will find this an essential reference for our area” is an
exaggeration.