David Allen Sibley, America's most gifted contemporary painter of birds, is the author and illustrator of this comprehensive guide. His beautifully detailed illustrations; more than 6,600 in all; and descriptions of 810 species and 350 regional populations will enrich every birder's experience. The Sibley Guide's innovative design makes it entirely user friendly. The illustrations are arranged to facilitate comparison, yet still capture the unique character of each species. The Sibley Guide to Birds provides a wealth of new information: Captioned illustrations show many previously unpublished field marks and revisions of known marks; Nearly every species is shown in flight; Measurements include length, wingspan, and weight for every species; Subspecies and geographic variants are covered thoroughly; Complete voice descriptions are included for every species; Maps show the complete distribution of every species: summer and winter ranges, migration routes, and rare occurrences. Both novice and experienced birders will appreciate these and other innovative features: An introductory page for each family or group of related families makes comparisons simple; Clear and concise labels with pointers identify field marks directly; Birds are illustrated in similar poses to make comparisons between species quick and easy; Illustrations emphasize the way birds look in the field. With The Sibley Guide to Birds, the National Audubon Society makes the art and expertise of David Sibley available to the world in a comprehensive, handsome, easy-to-use volume that will be the indispensable identification guide every birder must own. Not merely a guide to bird-watching, this book provides a vast array of information on birds, including detailed essays on anatomy and behavior, plus information on migration, nesting, and much more. The book is illustrated with nearly 800 paintings as well as with useful maps and charts, and it contains a glossary and a species checklist.