Bird Finder: Identifying Common Birds of Eastern North America

Identify birds of the eastern United States with this pocket-size guide.

Whether you're hiking with your family, on a camping trip, or gardening in your backyard, you're sure to notice a variety of birds. If you're curious about these feathered friends--from water birds like the Great Blue Heron to raptors like the Bald Eagle to backyard birds like the American Robin--then Bird Finder by Dr. Roger J. Lederer is just what you need. With the handy, easy-to-use format, you can identify common and noteworthy birds east of the Mississippi River.

Perfect for beginning birders, the booklet introduces 59 of the most frequently seen species of birds. They are presented in taxonomic order, and each entry includes such helpful information as size, distinguishing features, habitat, and behavior. Plus, the illustrations by Roger C. Franke and Carol E. Burr help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

Book Features:

• Beginner's guide to bird identification


• 59 species of common and important birds


• Professional illustrations with key markings for identification


• Small format that fits into a pocket or pack

This guide is applicable to eastern Canada and the US states of Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Dr. Roger J. Lederer is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, where his academic specialty is the field of ornithology. He has a PhD from the University of Illinois and has published more than 30 scientific research papers. He has written several books, including The Art of the Bird; Beaks, Bones, and Bird Songs; Bird Finder; Pacific Coast Bird Finder; and Latin for Bird Lovers.

Dr. Lederer has taught ornithology and ecology courses; has consulted for governmental agencies, environmental organizations, and schools; and has presented hundreds of times to a wide variety of audiences. He served as Chair of Biological Sciences, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, Endowed Professor of Environmental Literacy, and director of a 4,000-acre ecological reserve.

He has been contacted for authoritative information on wild birds by many organizations, such as the following: BBC, National Geographic, National Public Radio, National Canadian Television, Vanity Fair magazine, Guinness World Records, Real Simple magazine, Fox TV, ABC News, The New Yorker, and more.

Since 2000, Dr. Lederer has been a guest speaker on more than 20 cruises, speaking on the flora, fauna, ecology, and environment of the cruise destinations.

Roger C. Franke lived in Hamilton, Texas. An artist at heart, he found inspiration in nature. His illustrations appeared in the field guide Bird Finder, which helped thousands of people across the eastern United States learn to identify birds. Roger passed away in 2023.

Carole E. Burr is an author, an editor, and an illustrator, specializing in bird art. Her previous works include illustrations for Latin for Bird Lovers and The Birds of Bidwell Park, as well as Bird Finder and Pacific Coast Bird Finder, among other titles. A former faculty member at California State University, Chico, Carol helped to develop their Women's Studies program in the 1970s, as well as the University Honors Program. She chaired the English Department between 1985 and 1994, and she won several awards, including the Outstanding Faculty Service Award (1992) and a Women of Distinction Award from Soroptimist International (1999).