Stan Tekiela - Birds of Arizona Field Guide

WHATS NEW?

It is hard to believe that its been more than 15 years since the debut of Birds of Arizona Field Guide . This critically acclaimed field guide has helped countless people identify and enjoy the birds that we love. Now, in this expanded second edition, Birds of Arizona Field Guide has many new and exciting changes and a fresh look, while retaining the same familiar, easy-to-use format.

To help you identify even more birds in Arizona, I have added 8 new species and more than 150 new color photographs. All of the range maps have been meticulously reviewed, and many updates have been made to reflect the ever-changing movements of the birds.

Everyones favorite section, Stans Notes, has been expanded to include even more natural history information. Compare sections have been updated to help ensure that you correctly identify your bird, and additional feeder information has been added to help with bird feeding. I hope you will enjoy this great new edition as you continue to learn about and appreciate our Arizona birds!

WHY WATCH BIRDS in arizona?

Millions of people have discovered bird feeding. Its a simple and enjoyable way to bring the beauty of birds closer to your home. Watching birds at your feeder often leads to a lifetime pursuit of bird identification. The Birds of Arizona Field Guide is for those who want to identify common birds of Arizona.

There are over 1,100 species of birds found in North America. In Arizona alone there have been more than 350 different kinds of birds recorded through the years. These bird sightings were diligently recorded by hundreds of bird watchers and became part of the official state record. From these valuable records, Ive chosen 153 of the most common birds of Arizona to include in this field guide.

Bird watching, or birding, is one of the most popular activities in America. Its outstanding appeal in Arizona is due, in part, to an unusually rich and abundant birdlife. Why are there so many birds? One reason is open space. Arizona is nearly 114,000 square miles (295,300 sq. km). Despite its size, only about 7 million people call Arizona home. On average, that is only 50 people per square mile (19 per sq. km). Most of these people are located in and around only two major cities located in southern Arizona.

Open space is not the only reason there is such an abundance of birds. Its also the diversity of habitat. Arizona can be broken into three distinct habitatsColorado Plateau, Transition Zone and the Basin and Range Regioneach of which supports different groups of birds.

The Colorado Plateau is located in the northern part of Arizona. It is a relatively flat, dry, semi-desert region with many rivers that have cut deep canyons. Elevation from the bottom of a canyon to its upper rim can change by as much as 5,000 feet (1,500 m).