North American Gull Books—suggestions? (1 Viewer)

[BAL Land]

Hi all,
Does anyone have any good recommendations for gull guides for North America? It’s ok if it has gulls form other parts of the world as well. I’ve been told that the Peterson Reference guide to the gulls of the Americas is very good, but I’m wondering if others feel the same way, and if they have any other suggestions.
Thanks!

 

[Fritz73]

I foudn these books for you:

Gulls of North America by Shaffer III, Fred

Buteo Books: Gulls of North America

Although they are familiar and amusing characters, gulls are frequently dismissed as common 'parking lot' birds or because their diverse species can be hard to identify. Both assumptions disregard the beauty and grace of gulls, which are among the most approachable of North America�s birds. This...

www.buteobooks.com

Gulls Simplified: A Comparative Approach to Identification by Dunne, Pete and Kevin T. Karlson

Buteo Books: Gulls Simplified: A Comparative Approach to Identification

A simpler and more user-friendly visual approach to gull identification <p>This unique photographic field guide to North America's gulls provides a comparative approach to identification that concentrates on the size, structure, and basic plumage features of gulls - gone are the often-confusing...

www.buteobooks.com

Gulls of the World: A Photographic Guide by Olsen, Klaus Malling

Buteo Books: Gulls of the World: A Photographic Guide

With more than 50 gull species in the world, this family of seabirds poses some of the greatest field identification challenges of any bird group: age-related plumage changes, extensive variations within species, frequent hybridization, and complex distribution. <P>Gulls of the World takes on...

www.buteobooks.com

Hope one of these is the right one.

 

[aeshna5]

I foudn these books for you:

Gulls of North America by Shaffer III, Fred

Buteo Books: Gulls of North America

Although they are familiar and amusing characters, gulls are frequently dismissed as common 'parking lot' birds or because their diverse species can be hard to identify. Both assumptions disregard the beauty and grace of gulls, which are among the most approachable of North America�s birds. This...

www.buteobooks.com

Gulls Simplified: A Comparative Approach to Identification by Dunne, Pete and Kevin T. Karlson

Buteo Books: Gulls Simplified: A Comparative Approach to Identification

A simpler and more user-friendly visual approach to gull identification <p>This unique photographic field guide to North America's gulls provides a comparative approach to identification that concentrates on the size, structure, and basic plumage features of gulls - gone are the often-confusing...

www.buteobooks.com

Gulls of the World: A Photographic Guide by Olsen, Klaus Malling

Buteo Books: Gulls of the World: A Photographic Guide

With more than 50 gull species in the world, this family of seabirds poses some of the greatest field identification challenges of any bird group: age-related plumage changes, extensive variations within species, frequent hybridization, and complex distribution. <P>Gulls of the World takes on...

www.buteobooks.com

Hope one of these is the right one.

I have the last of those & it is a good book.

 

[Jim M.]

Hi all,
Does anyone have any good recommendations for gull guides for North America? It’s ok if it has gulls form other parts of the world as well. I’ve been told that the Peterson Reference guide to the gulls of the Americas is very good, but I’m wondering if others feel the same way, and if they have any other suggestions.
Thanks!

Not sure what type of guide you are looking for. "Gulls of the Americas" by Howell & Jon Dunn – the Peterson Reference guide you mention – is very good and has a lot of detail. It is a large, heavy book with loads of photographs. Not something you would carry in the field. As the category "reference guide" suggests, it is more something you would consult as a reference for a particular problem bird, or to learn about a particular species after or before going into the field. It also covers all the South American gulls. The Shaffer and Pete Dunne/Karlson books are smaller and limited to North American gulls. I have not seen either book but I am familiar with all those authors. The descriptions indicate they are focused on the practical task of efficient gull identification Dunne and Karlson are known for what might be called non-technical approaches to bird identification, e.g. GISS and comparative approaches, i.e. identifying a bird by comparison to nearby birds.

Another resource to consider is the Jon Dunn Advanced Birding gull video DVDs. I believe these cover all the North American gulls and are broken down into two DVDs, one for the large and one for the small gulls. Nothing beats video for simulating the field experience.

 

[BAL Land]

Thanks all!!