Staff Book and Media Recommendations

Birds of Oklahoma: Field Guide

Stan Tekiela

Did you ever wonder what bird you saw on the campus, or by a lake or pond, or flying overhead anywhere in Oklahoma? Then this field guide is a "must see" for anyone interested in birds and their identification. It’s unique because it’s color coded. Did you see a red bird in a tree and wonder what it was? Look in the "Birds that are mostly red" section where there are several birds listed.

Each entry is accompanied by a color photograph of the bird, with occasional accompanying photos of males and females, juveniles, and birds in flight. On the opposite page, the entries include a range map of Oklahoma and the location of the birds throughout the year, the size of the bird, a brief description of the male and female, information on the nest, the eggs and the incubation period, fledging, migration, food, and comparisons to birds that look similar.

The author has also included his own notes. For instance, did you know that the Indigo Bunting is a secretive bird, and that the Blue Jay will scream at other birds to make them leave the feeder? Or, did you know that crows can live up to 20 years, and collect and store bright and shiny objects in their nests? These are just a few of the fun facts you can discover.

There's a checklist/index in the back of the book which is a handy list of the described birds. There is also a list of helpful resources, and some recommended web pages. Make your weekend an exciting one and check out this book, then go "birding" and see what you can discover! ~ Mary Huffman

Reviewed December 2008