Angela Harrison Vinet

When I first saw this book, it instantly reminded me of my grandma and her love of birdwatching. Because of her influence, I’ve become more interested in the birds around me, although I’ve gotten nowhere near as experienced as she is at identifying the birds I see.

Country Bird is a beautiful blend of field guide and just plain delight in the varieties of birds out there. Although I was familiar with many of the birds in here, it was fun to get to know a little about them—their feeding habits, their courting habits, how they sing, or a variety of other fascinating topics relating to each bird.

If you’re looking for a traditional field guide, this isn’t it. But if you’re new to birding—or are curious about what birds you’re seeing outside—this could be an excellent companion. With full-page illustrations, whimsical Southernisms or other common sayings, and intriguing descriptions of each bird, you get a feel for what you’re seeing out in your front yard—without being overloaded with facts.

I had a lot of fun reading this lighthearted book. If you’re looking for a gift for a birdwatcher, this could be an excellent choice. I also think it would be popular with younger (and older!) children because of the vibrant illustrations. I hope this series will continue, and eventually include birds from other parts of the world besides the US—this was a delightful way to get to know common birds and some of their peculiar habits!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.… (altro)

*reviewed by uncorrected eARC via netgalley*

nonfiction/birding - a short ode to 100 or so common birds seen in the U.S. Organized alphabetically by name, each bird is treated with a lovely full-color illustrated portrait and a short, entertaining blurb that reveals a bit of its character. The map ("Where Y'at?") included on pages 64-65 shows that the book includes birds found throughout the continental US and Alaska, but does little to indicate the various ranges or migration patterns, functioning more as an index with page numbers.

A partial excerpt:
"Much like a flamingo, the House Finch gets its coloring from its diet, which for them includes thistle, sunflower, and nyjer. They are the colors that they eat. These birds travel in flocks, so they love a social gathering and are known to be the belles of any Country Bird ball." (p. 65)

Though not much help as a bird guide (not being organized in any useful way, and good luck identifying a lot of these hard-to-see species with only a brief description of habitat/habits and calls), this is an enjoyable book for bird enthusiasts of all ages. A few facts may bear checking: "[Purple martins] don't eat mosquitoes, they actually eat the the insects that eat mosquitoes, such as dragonflies and mosquito hawks." (p. 77) -- I don't think mosquito hawks actually eat mosquitoes either, at least not in great quantities, though apparently they will sometimes eat the larvae. Still, I found plenty of interesting info tidbits that I didn't know, and I wouldn't mind returning to this book for a re-read.… (altro)