Peterson Reference Guide To Woodpeckers Of North America

Peterson Reference Guide

by Stephen A. Shunk

A complete guide to the natural history, ecology, and conservation of North America’s 23 woodpecker species.

From the iconic Woody Woodpecker to the ubiquitous Northern Flicker, woodpeckers have long captivated our attention. Their astonishing anatomy makes them one of the most specialized bird families in the world, and their keystone ecological roles in our forests and woodlands makes them some of the most important birds on the continent.

This comprehensive and authoritative guide to the natural history, ecology, and conservation of North America’s 23 woodpecker species goes far beyond identification. It explores their unique anatomy and their fascinating and often comical behaviors; it covers each species’ North American conservation status; and it showcases over 250 stunning photographs of woodpeckers in their natural habitats, plus easy-to-read figures and range maps. This reference guide is an essential addition to every birder's library.

Genres: Nature, Birds, Science

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 10, 2016

Reviews

[Brad VanAuken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book with an average of nine pages dedicated to comprehensive information on each of the 23 woodpecker species covered in this book. It is richly illustrated with many photographs of each bird species. It covers distribution, habitat, detection, vocal sounds and behaviors, nonvocal sounds, visual identification, distinctive characteristics, subspecies, similar species, breeding behavior, nest site, courtship, parenting, young birds, dispersal, preferred foods, foraging behaviors, territory defense and sociability, interactions with other species, habitat and population history, current habitat threats, current population status and distribution, management activities and further references. If you are interested in woodpeckers, I highly recommend this book.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book on North American woodpeckers. The first 41 pages are devoted to the science of woodpeckers. Their unique skulls, beaks, drills. Their habitats and why fire is important to their conservation. The rest of the book is for the 23 individual species found in NA. Each bird is discussed in detail for pages with lots of photos at various stages of development. An excellent reference for naturalists.