What Bird is That

Here's a summary of "What Bird Is That?" by Frank M. Chapman:

Author: Frank M. Chapman (a prominent American ornithologist and author)

Publication Date: First published in 1920, with revised editions published later.

Target Audience: This book likely aimed to be a user-friendly guide for novice and intermediate birdwatchers in North America.

Focus:

• The book's primary focus is on identifying birds in the field based on their physical characteristics.
• It likely utilizes a combination of illustrations and descriptions to help readers narrow down possibilities.

Content:

• Bird Descriptions: The book likely features descriptions of a variety of North American bird species, potentially including:
  • Scientific names and common names.
  • Distinctive physical features, emphasizing details like size, plumage coloration, wing patterns, and beak shape.
  • Brief mentions of habitat preferences (depending on the edition).
• Illustrations: The book likely includes illustrations depicting the birds (more detailed illustrations in later editions).
  • These illustrations might be:
    • Black and white drawings highlighting key identification features.
    • Color plates showcasing the birds in their natural vibrancy (depending on the edition).
• Identification Tips:
  • The book might offer guidance on using the illustrations and descriptions to identify birds in the field.
  • This likely includes tips on:
    • Observing bird behavior for clues (e.g., feeding habits, calls).
    • Comparing birds to similar species and noting key differences.

Additional Content (possible):

• Maps highlighting the geographic ranges of birds in North America (depending on the edition).
• A section on basic birdwatching techniques, like using binoculars (depending on the edition).
• Simple bird songs or call descriptions to aid identification (depending on the edition).
• Appendices containing additional information on bird biology, terminology, or a checklist of North American birds (depending on the edition).

Overall Significance:

"What Bird Is That?" by Frank M. Chapman was a popular and influential guide in its time. The focus on illustrations and physical descriptions offered a straightforward way for birdwatchers to identify birds. While more modern field guides might incorporate additional information like behavior and range maps, Chapman's book serves as a historical treasure for understanding early bird identification practices in North America.