Field Guides

Probably the first question that every birder asked in the beginning was, "What kind of bird is that?" upon seeing something for the first time. In the early stages of interest, one might notice that certain birds be different colors, or have different body shapes, and noticing these might make one more interested to learn about birds. In Virginia Beach specifically, there are a lot species of birds, upwards of 300 in some years. Of these species, often times the males and females can look quite different from one another, and to make things often more difficult, the different age classes of a bird will look different as well. This makes for a seemingly neverending study to know what species we are actually seeing. But, this is what makes birding so exciting, there is always the chance at seeing something new on any given day, and this is most exciting in the beginner stage, when essentially everything is being seen for the first time. If you don't have a family member of close friend who is already knowledgeable to ask, the best way to learn about the birds around you is to consult Field Guides. Field Guides come in all sizes and formats, but essentially they exist for the same purpose: to assist birders in identifying the species of bird being observed and provide some additional information on each species, like how common it is, what types of habitat it prefers, and if it occurs year-round or seasonally. Some field guides make use of photographs, while others use drawings and sketches. Once an individual becomes interested in birds, getting access to a field guide is the next crucial step. With that in mind, here is a listing of my personal recommendations on introductory field guides:

The Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America 

National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Birds of North America

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition

These guides cover all species found in North America north of Mexico. As such, each covers every single species that has been observed in Virginia Beach. While many of the species have never been seen locally, it will get the reader excited about the possibility of seeing some of the species while on vacations out of the area.