article thumbnail

A review of the birdcentric novel “Accidentals” (the title of which is in the plural for a reason)

10,000 Birds

In Gaines’ first novel Carbon Dreams (2001) the science (there, geology) tended to overwhelm the story, but in Accidentals, she incorporates ornithology and microbiology skillfully into a well-woven whole. In the marshes of the estancia , he discovers what he comes to believe is a new species of rail – one of the “accidentals” of the title.

Uruguay 158
article thumbnail

Into the Nest: A Book Review in the Time of Nesting

10,000 Birds

I’m happy to say that Laura Erickson and Marie Read have written a book, Into the Nest: Intimate Views of the Courting, Parenting, and Family Lives of Familiar Birds , that is not too cute and that does not anthropomorphize. Some chapters focus on one species (Yellow Warbler), some on several related species (Chickadees and Nuthatches).

Eggs 263
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Trending Sources

article thumbnail

Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America: A Review by a Sparrow Fan

10,000 Birds

I like observing them, reading about them, grappling with species and subspecies identification, and even—on a good day—talking about sparrow taxonomy. Peterson Reference Guide to Sparrows of North America covers 61 species of the New World sparrow family Passerellidae that breed in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

article thumbnail

Peterson Field Guide to Moths of Southeastern North America and of Northeastern North America: A Review of Two Field Guides

10,000 Birds

There are over 11,000 species of moths in North America. I have a hard enough time with the 1,103 bird species on the ABA Checklist. The Southeastern guide doesn’t; I imagine this was to save space in a book with 300 additional species. This is the first thing we learn in the Introduction of each guide. Let that sink in.

article thumbnail

Raptors of Mexico and Central America: A Book Review

10,000 Birds

The guide presents 69 species and 1 subspecies, from “NEW WORLD VULTURES: Cathartiformes” to “OSPREY: Pandioninae” to “FAMILY: Accipitridae” (Kites, Hawks, Eagles, Hawk-Eagles), to “FALONIDS: Falconidae” (Falcons, Forest-Falcons, Caracaras, Kestrels, Merlin). That’s a lot of visual information!

Mexico 180
article thumbnail

The Birds of Trinidad and Tobago: Two Guides, One Book Review

10,000 Birds

First published in 1973 in association with the Asa Wright Center, the book focuses on species descriptions, with illustrations grouped together in plates positioned in the center of the book. It is organized taxonomically, with families identified by first scientific and then popular name. The AOU has not accepted that split.

Trinidad 214
article thumbnail

First Outbreak of Usutu Virus in Germany

10,000 Birds

But I have been sick with different kinds and forms of cold since the beginning of December with no interruption, and so has my entire family. This thrush is extremely common in urban and suburban Germany and one of the most conspicuous bird species here, comparable to the American Robin in North America. I honestly did.

Germany 162