“For starters, the guide is bigger than any previous incarnations, though only modestly so and not so much that it would preclude carriage into the field like the enormous Sibley or Stokes or Crossley.”

“The concise and informative species accounts, the phenomenal maps by Paul Lehman, the quick-find tabs and focus on subspecific variation and especially, the illustrations by dozens of bird artist fitting somewhat hap-haphazardly between the covers of a single book.”

“The obvious question when faced with a new National Geographic guide is whether or not it is demonstrably better than the previous one, published just a few years ago.  Do you really need another?  While the differences between the 4th and 5th editions were largely negligible, the 6th edition is enough of a leap forward that you’ll want to make the additional purchase…”

Review: National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th
Dec. 2, 2011
Nate (The Drinking Bird)

---

National Geographic Field Guide to the Birds of North America, 6th Edition contains the most all-new material since the first edition was published more than 25 years ago. The latest edition will include 300 new art figures; unique subspecies maps never before seen in a field guide; extensive migration information overlaid on species maps; field-mark labels on all artwork; text updates to include new species; reorganization reflecting taxonomic changes in the bird community; organization, readability, and increased page count with a fresh new design.