Stokes Guide to Bird Behavior, Volume 1

by Donald W. Stokes, Lillian Q. Stokes

Describes the courtship, nest-building, social behavior, and seasonal movement of twenty-five common species of birds.

Genres: Birds, Nature, Reference, Field Guides, Nonfiction, Animals

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 30, 1983

About the author

Donald W. Stokes and Lillian Q. Stokes are widely recognized as America's foremost authorities on birds and nature. Their books include the bestselling Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, the Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds, the Stokes Nature Guides, and the Stokes Backyard Nature Books. They live in New Hampshire and Florida.

Reviews

[Alexander Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be the book I throw at people when they say birds are boring.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I reach for this, and the other 2 books in the series, again and again. Recently, someone asked me, "Have all the Red-winged Black Birds migrated?" Here is the answer I found, "Sometime in late July or early August you will suddenly realize that the Red-winged Blackbirds are no longer on their breeding ground. In fact, the chances are that you will not see a Redwing for the last month of the summer, for this is the time when they join other Redwings in secluded marshes and go through their molt. In September you will see them again, for their molt is finished, and they now feed and roost together in large flocks. In a few weeks they start their migration south."

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and found it fascinating. I have developed a love of backyard birds and can't read enough about them. Watching their behaviors while making their nests, raising their little ones and parenting the juveniles has been so interesting. It is amazing that any birds survive with so many odds stacked against them and so many predators. This book gave me so much extra knowledge that I was yearning for about specific breeds of birds. Can't wait to read Volume II.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stokes' three volumes on bird behavior are limited in the number of birds they cover but extremely detailed in the coverage of those birds. All three are extremely highly recommended to anyone who wants to understand some common North American birds' behavior better.

[nae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this little book second hand and was drawn to the detailed drawings at each section. Wonderful guide to common birds throughout north america, with highlights of feeding, territory, courtship, and nesting behavior. I hope to use this on hikes to understand bird behavior of the birds I see very often!

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference with much more detailed knowledge than a standard field guide.

- lent to me by Bob