The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western Written and
illustrated by David Allen Sibley. Published by Alfred A. Knopf,
2003. Flexi, 7-3/4 x 4-3/4 in. , 472 pages, 1 lbs. 5 oz. From
his 2000 The Sibley Guide to Birds, the author made an Eastern
and a Western selection to create these more pocketable volumes.
A few of the illustrations are somewhat reduced in size, and
judicious page layouts have further shrunk the books' size. In
certain ways this Western field guide improves on the original.
It retains the artistry and uncluttered feeling, while including
a new paragraph for each species to discuss abundance, habitat,
and diet. Maps have been updated and further refined. There’s
also, in addition to the normal index, a handy Quick Index on
the last two-page spread for speedy access into the book. has
done something wonderful here, for while all his pictures are
rich in information, each one is also a work of art. Each
account includes a good-sized map of where the bird is found in
all seasons and a detailed