The National Geographic Guide to Birding in North America

Delving into the history of birdwatching in the U.S.; looking into the origins of birds; how they are linked evolutionarily to early reptiles; exploring bird taxonomy; how their scientific classification aids one in identifying them in the field.

Investigating the anatomy of birds; learning about the range of bird feathers and their different functions; observing how understanding the flight patterns of birds helps identify them in the field; comparing two common birds.

Three physical tools that help one become an effective birder; considering how familiarity with the shape or silhouette of bird families, as well as bird size, aid one in focusing on exact species; studying the color factors of pigment and keratin.

How charting birds' distribution or geographical range provides useful information about specific species; grasping the benefits of knowing a bird's status, or abundance versus rarity; studying endemism, where birds are limited to a specific region.

Exploring the North American habitats and distinguishing their specific features; the amazing birds that are native to each of these environments; investigating the roles of habitat specialization, the seasons and migration patterns.

Discussing the core optical tools that aid in observing birds in the field; studying binoculars and how to use them for birding, highlighting matters such as magnification, field of view and depth of field; taking account of spotting scopes.