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Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song | 
 enlarge | Author: Les Beletsky
Creator: Jon L. Dunn
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Category: Book
List Price: $45.00
Buy New: $29.70
You Save: $15.30 (34%)
New (23) Used (16) from $10.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  170 reviews
Sales Rank: 401
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 368
Shipping Weight (lbs): 3.8
Dimensions (in): 11 x 10.9 x 1.1
ISBN: 1932855416
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.1594
EAN: 9781932855418
Publication Date: September 21, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Drawing from the collection of the world-renowned Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Bird Songs presents the most notable North American birds including the rediscovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker in a stunning new format. Renowned bird biologist Les Beletsky provides a succinct description of each of the 250 birds profiled, with an emphasis on their distinctive songs. Lavish full-color illustrations accompany each account, while a sleek, built-in digital audio player holds 250 corresponding songs and calls. In his foreword, North American bird expert and distinguished natural historian Jon L. Dunn shares insights gained from a lifetime of passionate study. Complete with the most up-to-date and scientifically accurate information, Bird Songs is the first book to capture the enchantment of these beautiful birds in words, pictures, and song. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, located in Ithaca, New York, is a nonprofit institution focused on birds and whose mission is to interpret and conserve the earth's biological diversity through research. The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab is the major source of sound recordings of birds for research, education, conservation, the media, and commercial products. Listen here
Trumpeter Swan
Laughing Gull
Eastern Bluebird
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| Customer Reviews: Read 165 more reviews...
 What a cool book! November 16, 2006
70 out of 73 found this review helpful
As a (very) amateur birder, I am continually frustrated by hearing birds I can't see and not having a clue as to what that bird might be. This neat book links the description, the drawing AND the sound!
I think it would be an aid to more accomplished birders who try to describe bird calls to others, a joy to children just learning about birds and a help to the avian-challenged rest of us.
A great resource and a great gift December 8, 2006
24 out of 24 found this review helpful
I have been birding for a couple years now and I love it, but it is so confounding to hear a really interesting bird call and not know what on earth it could be. This book does for the ears what a regular field guide does for the eyes, and it helps an enthusiastic novice like me get into birding even more. Not to mention that it's just cool and very easy to use. My only wish is that they would have included more calls in each recording, as often the call in the book is a specialized mating or distress call and not necessarily the one you'd be most likely to hear in the field. But I guess they had to go with what they had, and it is quite amazing to get 250 bird calls in one volume, plus pictures and descriptions. I definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves birds or loves someone else who loves birds.
Editors pick as one of the top 50 books of 2006 June 12, 2007
18 out of 19 found this review helpful
I am an avid Birder,have over 1000 books on birding in my collection and several tapes and other bird song recordings and recently (May 24,2007) wrote a review on "The Singing Life of Birds" by Donald Kroodsma. That book is extremely complicated,but astute and definitely one for very experienced Birders with a lot of knowledge already learned from years of studying bird song.
However;this new book is something entirely different. It is excellent for anyone who is interested,and just wants to start learning the basic songs of birds.From this book you can quite quickly,and with very little effort,get to identify any bird around your home.cottage,park or anywhere else you hear birds calling or singing.
This book takes the concept that has been employed for years with childern's book;namely pictures along with recordings to go along with them. When I first came across it,I thought it was just a kid's book for that reason. I opened it ,played a few songs ,and was immediately impressed. It covers the songs of 250 birds. Hence, just about all that a person ,who wants to learn how to identify most of the birds they are,are ever going to find locally. This book is so well conceived and put together that kids as young as a few years ,can use it as well as adults. In other words, this GEM of a book is for anyone with a interest in bird songs.
To anyone who is new to birding,here is one thing you can count on when you are wondering which one of the multitude of bird books that are on the bookshelves,should you buy. If you see the name Jon Dunn associated with it,like this is,you can be sure you are making the right choice.
I can tell you how good I think this book really is. If you leave it laying around ,and someone who picks it up,and they hear birds calling in the area;they will immediately try to identify it with this book. Watch their excitement when they succeed. Now for the real good part;sitting outdoors ,with birds around,you'll soon discover ,if; say there are Chickadees around,by playing their song,they will come right in close to you.If you hear a bird ,but can't see it;but you have found its song;play it a few times,and the bird will pop up and show itself.
There are a lot of reviews here,with lots of good comments.Although most are from people who are just beginners or average birders,that is very good, because that is who this book is for. There is lots more "stuff" around for expert and very knowledgeable Birders,but nothing as simple and down to earth as this book.
There are several other reviews that make points that might make you wonder if this book is as good as I have said.Believe me; these points,while some can't be denied, are nitpicking ;and shouldn't discourage you from getting it.A book as good as this ,for someone who wants to get started learning bird song has been a long time coming.
While "playing" with this book in the store,a few people gathered around me,and were enthralled with what I showed them about this book.Two of them bought a copy;and they weren't even looking for a bird song book at the time. And not only that,the cost is terrific!
Enjoy listening to and knowing which bird you are hearing!
A must have book February 2, 2007
13 out of 13 found this review helpful
I purchased this book for my 3 year old grandson for Christmas. He can already recognize some of the birds just by their song. Others, he will ask for by name to hear the song. The best thing is when bedtime comes and he wants to stay awake, ten minutes listening to the birds and he is sound asleep. I hope he never figures out the correlation. Everyone who comes to the house likes this book. My 25 year old son wanted to know why I didn't buy him one!
Audible Song Bird book makes a lot of sense! January 23, 2007
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
Have you ever read those descriptions of bird songs in bird guides that say that "the male gives a squeaky whistle, the female, a low quack", or "a broken series: prrrrrp, prrp, prp, prp"? You can't tell very well what the bird in question may sound like, but with this book, you really get it. OK, the shortcoming is that there aren't hundreds and hundreds of songs, but there are enough to be worth the price and start to get a real appreciation for listening and remembering even the commonest birds. It was a really great gift for my birdwatching Dad.
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