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University of California Press

Birds of the Sierra Nevada

Their Natural History, Status, and Distribution
by Ted Beedy (Author), Ed Pandolfino (Author), Keith Hansen (Illustrator)
Hardcover Paperback eBook
Price: $75.00 / £63.00
Publication Date: Jun 2013
Edition: 1st Edition
Title Details:
Rights: World
Pages: 448
ISBN: 9780520274938
Trim Size: 7 x 10
Illustrations: 293 color illustrations, 1 b/w photograph, 1 line illustration, 3 tables
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About the Book

This beautifully illustrated and user-friendly book presents the most up-to-date information available about the natural histories of birds of the Sierra Nevada, the origins of their names, the habitats they prefer, how they communicate and interact with one another, their relative abundance, and where they occur within the region. Each species account features original illustrations by Keith Hansen.

In addition to characterizing individual species, Birds of the Sierra Nevada also describes ecological zones and bird habitats, recent trends in populations and ranges, conservation efforts, and more than 160 rare species. It also includes a glossary of terms, detailed maps, and an extensive bibliography with over 500 citations.

About the Author

Edward C. Beedy was a co-author of Discovering Sierra Birds and has authored numerous technical publications and articles on Sierra birds.
Edward R. Pandolfino is President of Western Field Ornithologists and a Regional Editor for Northern California for North American Birds.
Keith Hansen is a professional bird artist who illustrated Discovering Sierra Birds, Distributional Checklist of North American Birds, Birds of Yosemite and the East Slope, California Wild Lands, A Guide to the Nature Conservancy Preserves, and The Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula, among other books.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments

INTRODUCTION

ECOLOGICAL ZONES AND BIRD HABITATS
RECENT TRENDS IN SIERRA BIRD POPULATIONS AND RANGES
UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT SIERRA BIRDS
BIRD CONSERVATION IN THE SIERRA

Family and Species Accounts
WATERFOWL • Anatidae
QUAIL • Odontophoridae
FOWL-LIKE BIRDS • Phasianidae
LOONS • Gaviidae
GREBES • Podicipedidae
CORMORANTS • Phalacrocoracidae
PELICANS • Pelecanidae
HERONS AND RELATIVES • Ardeidae
IBIS • Threskiornithidae
NEW WORLD VULTURES • Cathartidae
OSPREY • Pandionidae
HAWKS AND RELATIVES • Accipitridae
FALCONS • Falconidae
RAILS AND RELATIVES • Rallidae
CRANES • Gruidae
PLOVERS • Charadriidae
STILTS AND AVOCETS • Recurvirostridae
SANDPIPERS AND RELATIVES • Scolopacidae
GULLS AND TERNS • Laridae
PIGEONS AND DOVES • Columbidae
CUCKOOS AND ROADRUNNERS • Cuculidae
BARN OWL • Tytonidae
TYPICAL OWLS • Strigidae
NIGHTHAWKS AND RELATIVES • Caprimulgidae
SWIFTS • Apodidae
HUMMINGBIRDS • Trochilidae
KINGFISHERS • Alcedinidae
WOODPECKERS • Picidae
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS • Tyrannidae
SHRIKES • Laniidae
VIREOS • Vireonidae
JAYS AND RELATIVES • Corvidae
LARKS • Alaudidae
SWALLOWS • Hirundinidae
CHICKADEES AND TITMICE • Paridae
VERDIN • Remizidae
BUSHTIT • Aegithalidae
NUTHATCHES • Sittidae
CREEPERS • Certhiidae
WRENS • Troglodytidae
GNATCATCHERS • Polioptilidae
DIPPERS • Cinclidae
KINGLETS • Regulidae
WRENTIT • Sylviidae
THRUSHES AND RELATIVES • Turdidae
MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS • Mimidae
STARLINGS • Sturnidae
PIPITS • Motacillidae
WAXWINGS • Bombycillidae
SILKY FLYCATCHERS • Ptilogonatidae
WOOD-WARBLERS • Parulidae
SPARROWS AND RELATIVES • Emberizidae
GROSBEAKS AND RELATIVES • Cardinalidae
BLACKBIRDS AND RELATIVES • Icteridae
FINCHES AND RELATIVES • Fringillidae
OLD WORLD SPARROWS • Passeridae

Appendices
1 Checklist of Sierra Birds
2 Rare, Casual, and Accidental Birds of the Sierra Nevada
3 Methods Used to Determine Population Trends
4 Common and Scientific Names of Plant Species

Glossary
Bibliography
Index of Common Names
Index of Scientific Names
About the Authors and Artist

Reviews

"A book like Birds of the Sierra Nevada reaffirms your faith in how birding can dovetail with conservation, and in what birding can do for our collective sense of meaningful communion with nature."
— Birding Magazine
"This book will deepen the experience of visits to the range for serious ornithologists and casual hikers alike."
— BirdWatching
"A thorough, accessible text embracing a massive and diverse region of California. . . . [The book] distills wisdom from many people who love both the avifauna and the high country and will inspire many of us to follow in their tracks."
— West Marin County
"Presents the most up-to-date information available about the natural histories of birds of the Sierra Nevada."
— The Union
"The Sierra Nevada has inspired a long history of outstanding science and art, and now it has a bird book that measures up on all counts. Avid birders will be more than satisfied with the 'when' and 'where' information about each species, while novices (and experts) will be drawn in by the 'how' and 'why' facts sprinkled throughout, as well as by Keith Hansen's lively and beautiful artwork. It is rare that a reference book invites you to simply sit down and read, and this is such a book."—David Allen Sibley, author and illustrator of The Sibley Guide to Birds

"If you are lucky enough to visit the mighty Sierra (or if you just dream of going there someday), this book will multiply your understanding and enjoyment of its birdlife. With deep insights into the natural history, seasonal occurrence, and changing status of all the birds in the range, enhanced by beautiful illustrations, this is a monumental work that will be consulted and admired for decades to come."—Kenn Kaufman, author of the Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding

"The delights and nuances of birding in the Sierra Nevada fly off the pages of this deeply researched and richly illustrated book. The illustrations capture the gestalt and details of each species, and the detailed descriptions are fun to read and packed with information that will help the reader see and understand more about birds. No other book combines these elements so successfully. The product of over fifteen years of research and painting, this is a magnificent resource for all who love the mountains and the biodiversity within them."—John Muir Laws, author and illustrator of The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada

"Birds of The Sierra Nevada presents valuable scientific information in an easy, eloquent style, fitting to the majestic and inspirational region covered by this guide. Keith Hansen's illustrations reflect absolute attention to accuracy and to each species' essence, what the observer sees in the field. I strongly recommend this book, not just for those visiting the Sierra Nevada, but for birders and ornithologists throughout North America."—Peter Pyle, author of the Identification Guide to North American Birds