Kansas Notable Book

Kansas is a bird-watcher's paradise, with its key location at the hub of the hemisphere's migration corridors and exceptional habitat diversity; 470 avian species have been documented within its borders. From spectacularly beautiful birds like Painted Buntings to elegant migrants like Hudsonian Godwits, birders can find abundant rewards every time they take to the field.

“An inspirational introduction to the wonderful natural history offered by midcontinental North America. . . . The outstanding color photographs by Gress are exceptionally sharp, colorful, and do well in depicting field marks with frame-filling views of each species profiled. . . . [This book] will prove a useful addition to your home or rolling library of Kansas’s natural history.”

—Great Plains Research

“Kansans developing an interest in their state's birdlife will benefit greatly from this handbook. Gress and Janzen review 300 species—those most commonly encountered in bird-rich Kansas, which has an amazing 470 species. . . . This handy, authoritative introduction will be appreciated by residents and tourists alike.”

—Choice

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“An excellent guide. Kansas’ location as a migratory corridor means that hundreds of bird species can be found in the state—though not all the time. The photographs are lovely, and the text tells you where and when you can expect to see specimens like the little blue heron and the American white pelican. . . . Perfect for a knapsack.”

—Texarkana Gazette

“For beginning and casual birders . . . , it’s hard to imagine a book more useful than this one. . . . The birding calendar, which gives a month-by-month prediction of what’s viewable, and where, sets this book apart from others.”

—Wichita Eagle

“A wonderful book. Gress and Janzen have national reputations and world-class skills, and you could not ask for better guides to introduce you to the birdlife of the great state of Kansas.”

—Kenn Kaufman, author of the Kaufman Focus Guides

“This is a veritable Baedeker for Kansas bird lovers—the text is jammed with useful information, and the color plates are spectacular.”

—Paul Johnsgard, author of Prairie Birds

“A delightful and authoritative introduction to Kansas birds with a wealth of information, on how and where to find them.”

—William H. Busby, coauthor of Kansas Breeding Bird Atlas

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The Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots focuses on 295 species that are most likely to be encountered in the state. It helps occasional day-trippers or backyard observers identify and learn about birds that regularly occur in Kansas, with stunning color photos that enable those new to the hobby to identify their discoveries, plus tips on where to search for these species with the greatest likelihood of success.

Gress and Janzen have produced an exceptionally well-organized guide that divides birds into 18 groups based on similarity in appearance, habitat, or behavior, following taxonomic order only partially to make identification easier for the beginner. The entry for each bird gives its size, identifying features (including sexual and seasonal distinctions), and where and when it can be found. And each account includes a brilliant color photo of an adult of the species, with additional views of selected birds to illustrate male, female, or juvenile plumages.

The authors point out the best birding locations in the state-more than two dozen hot spots of which they have intimate knowledge—that reflect utterly different bird communities thriving only a few hours apart. They also provide a checklist for all state birds, a calendar of Kansas bird activity, and recommendations for binoculars and other field guides.