Nowadays I don’t actually carry a field guide into the, you know, field, as long as I’m birding in my home area. Sibley makes a good car guide, but it’s too big to be very handy for carrying around. The regional Sibleys are an alternative, but the compression of the material makes them a little difficult for me to use. I do keep both the National Geographic and Kaufman in my home library for reference purposes.

Greg: it’s worthwhile to have several. They all have strengths and weaknesses, and cross-checking is a valuable process. You can sign me up for painted plates as opposed to photographs (though I’m an obsessive photographer) for exactly the reasons Benton mentioned. Comparison is often a critical factor, especially for those subtle distinctions between two otherwise very similar species, but it’s virtually impossible to get comparable photographs. Artists can pose their subjects to emphasize the differences, and that problem disappears. BTW, if you ever think of branching out, Kenn has several excellent guides for other groups. I regularly refer to the Focus guides for insects and butterflies.

I’m still an amateur though, so I’ll check out these other guides. Thanks.