Nova Scotia Birds: 120 Common Inland Birds

W.J. Keith is a retired professor of English at the University of Toronto and author A Sense of Style: Studies in the Art of Fiction in English-Speaking Canada.

First, the subtitle needs to be noted: “120 Common Inland Birds.”
This means no gulls, duck, geese, shorebirds, or alcids—which is fair
enough so long as the limitation is made clear (though a little odd for
a bird book devoted to a maritime province).

This book provides basic information about the birds included. Once the
method of organization is understood, it is easy to use, though some
decisions are puzzling. For example, birds are listed alphabetically
within families; as a result, similar birds (crow, raven; flycatcher,
phoebe) are not shown together, while the catbird is listed under
“thrushes.” This could be confusing for beginners. Also, although
nesting locations are indicated by visual symbols, we are not told
whether a species is more likely to be found in woods or fields, on
roadsides, etc.

The illustrations tend to be somewhat crude, and the limited color
system employed in the interests of cheap reproduction means that birds
sometimes look brighter and more garish than they really are. (Frankly,
I did not recognize the bay-breasted and palm warblers.)

Nova Scotia Birds has little to offer the expert birder. Still, it is a
decidedly useful book for beginners, who, if interest is sparked, can
then go on to a more detailed and more expensive bird book.