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Following the lead of Alfred A. Knopf Publishers, Random House made the decision
to split the National Geographic Field Guide to North American Birds into two books,
a la the Sibley Guide. While many would consider this move little more
than an opportunity to double their field guide sales, these volumes appear to have
been worth it. Since the introduction of the National Geographic guide in the 1980s, there has
been little difference between the subsequent editions. We see several significant
changes in these regional guides however, besides the obvious...
The new regional format allows more space for the illustrations on the page,
making them less crowded and better organized. Brief annotations added to the plates
(a la Peterson) point out key field marks, and a few extra drawings have been added
for difficult identification problems. The range maps have also been updated.
Continuing a new trend began with the Fifth edition of the national version,
flaps inside the front and back covers act as placeholders and visual indices.
Thumb tabs separating the major sections are also holdovers from the Fifth edition.
The Eastern guide covers 619 species, plus separate illustrated accounts for 85
casual and accidental birds and an appendix listing 70 rarities. The Western
guide covers 750 regular species, 100 casual and accidental birds, and 55 rarities.
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