Pete Janzen

This definitive guide is an essential resource for Kansas birders of all kinds! Kansas is a bird-watcher’s paradise, boasting exceptional habitat diversity and a key location at the hub of the hemisphere’s migration corridors. An astounding 486 avian species have been documented in the state. In this greatly expanded edition of their award-winning guide, renowned experts Pete Janzen and Bob Gress have gathered a wealth of information on 321 species and 100 birding hotspots in Kansas. Janzen and Gress offer beautiful photographs, useful identification information, and field notes on habitat, seasonal occurrence, and more. The guides to birding hotspots throughout the state highlight the unique species and seasonal features of the most diverse and exciting places Kansas has to offer and will help you plan your next adventure. Additionally, Janzen and Gress have included essays on topics like birding basics and the geography and ecosystems of Kansas, along with a calendar of bird activity in Kansas and a complete species checklist of Kansas birds. This new edition is a must-have guide for every backyard enthusiast and day-tripping birder.

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.""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.