Best Ornithology Books of 2025

The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America: Second Edition is a must-have for birders, featuring 650 bird species found east of the Rocky Mountains, with stunningly accurate illustrations and updated information on frequency, nesting, behavior, and more. The guide also includes over 600 updated maps and a new design for easy comparison. David Allen Sibley's expertise and attention to detail make this guide the most authoritative and comprehensive available. This book is perfect for both novice and experienced birders and will make a valuable addition to any collection.

Bird Songs: 250 North American Birds in Song is a comprehensive guide to North American birds. It features colorful illustrations and a digital audio player that provides each bird's distinctive song. The book is divided into four parts, each highlighting different types of birds. The profiles emphasize the birds' vocalizations, which can be heard on the audio component that comes with the book. This is a fascinating book that will aid bird-watchers in their passion. It is a significant new learning device for birdwatchers, and it is a valuable addition to ornithology books.

The National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 7th Edition, is the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide for birders of all levels. With over 2.75 million copies in print, it includes 37 new species, 250 fresh illustrations, and 80 new maps, making it an essential addition to any birder's library. The book's organization matches the latest American Ornithological Society taxonomy, and the text is vetted by birding experts, making it both accessible and detailed. The hand-painted illustrations by top nature artists are impressive and add to the book's overall value. It is the best field guide for most people, equally appealing to novices and experts alike.

The Sibley Guide to Birds, 2nd Edition is a comprehensive guide to North American birds that has become the standard by which natural history guides are measured. The second edition offers expanded and updated information, new paintings, new and rare species, and an elegant design. With nearly 7,000 paintings digitally remastered from original art for enhanced print quality, this guide provides better detail of illustrations. The book also includes more than 700 updated maps of ranges, showing winter, summer, year-round, migration, and rare ranges. Overall, this book is a must-have for every birder, and its expanded and updated content makes it a valuable addition to any nature lover's library.

Sibley Birds West: Field Guide to Birds of Western North America is a comprehensive guide to 715 bird species and regional populations found west of the Rocky Mountains. Renowned birder and illustrator David Sibley provides accurate illustrations and updated information on frequency, nesting, behavior, and key identification features. The book also includes revised maps and new illustrations of species and regional forms. The updated design allows for better comparison and more illustrations and text. Overall, this guide is a must-have for any bird enthusiast or nature lover looking to identify and learn about birds in Western North America.

National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 3rd Edition is a comprehensive source of knowledge on North American bird identification, distribution, behavior, habitat, and conservation concerns. This desk reference is an encyclopedia-like book that profiles every bird observable in the continental United States and Canada, featuring species accounts with details that include calls and songs, breeding behaviors, molting patterns, and migration. With over 4,000 annotated art pieces, precision maps, and illuminating photographs, this book is an excellent resource for bird lovers of all levels. This book review recommends National Geographic Complete Birds of North America, 3rd Edition, for its thoroughness and the wealth of information it provides.

The Chicken Encyclopedia: An Illustrated Reference by Gail Damerow is a comprehensive guide that covers everything about chickens, from breeds to medical concerns. It includes fun chicken trivia and answers to all chicken-related questions. The book is informative and entertaining, making it a great resource for both novice and experienced chicken farmers. The illustrations accompanying each topic make the book easy to understand. Overall, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in raising chickens and is a unique and valuable addition to any chicken enthusiast's library.

Birds of the Pacific Northwest is a comprehensive and easy-to-use field guide for bird enthusiasts of all levels. With detailed accounts and over 870 stunning photographs, the guide covers nearly 400 bird species commonly found in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and British Columbia. It also includes precise descriptions of voices, behaviors, habitats, and top birding sites in the region. The individual range maps provide valuable information for identification, showing seasonal and migratory patterns. Overall, this Timber Press guide is a must-have for birders looking to explore the Pacific Northwest and its diverse avian population.

Birds, by Tim Flach, is a stunning portrayal of the world's most beautiful and fascinating birds. Flach's exquisite photography captures the intricate feather patterns and subtle coloration of these creatures, from songbirds to birds of prey, water birds, and domestic breeds. The book is accompanied by the brilliant insights of ornithologist Richard O. Prum, who guides readers through this magical kingdom. Flach's mission as a photographer is to better connect people to the natural world, and this book certainly achieves that goal. Overall, Birds is a must-have for any nature lover or photography enthusiast.

The Hummingbirds' Gift by Sy Montgomery is a delightful and inspiring book that sheds light on the fascinating world of hummingbirds. Through the story of Brenda Sherburn, who rescues and nurtures these tiny creatures back to health, Montgomery showcases the incredible abilities and vulnerability of hummingbirds. The book is beautifully written and filled with stunning color photos that capture the wonder and beauty of these winged creatures. This book is a must-read for nature lovers and bird watchers, and it will leave readers with a renewed appreciation for the profound gift that hummingbirds are to our planet.