Sibley Backyard Birding Flashcards

This week David Sibley released his Backyard Birding Flashcards: 100 Common Birds of Eastern and Western North America.   Included are 25 cards each of birds from Western and Eastern North America and 50 cards of birds found Across the Continent.  The cards come in this durable slide-out box and measure 2.75 inches by 4 inches.  The front of each card features David Sibley art work of the male and female bird and their field marks.  The back of each card includes the common and scientific names of the bird and its measurements.  There is also a great description of the bird's habitat and voice, along with a description of the bird itself.  A range map of each species is also included.  However, the map lacks a legend.  After inspecting a few maps I believe dark gray is the year round range, dark green is the breeding range, blue is the non-breeding range, light green is migration, and light gray the possible but rare range.

Western Bluebird card (front) and Western Kingbird card (back)

These are a great way for beginning birders to learn the different birds.  They're a nice change to studying a standard field guide.  I wish I would have had these when I was a kid or even when I was older and just starting out.  My first grade students love them!  This week I have begun each morning with a different set of cards at each table for them to explore.  I wish I could get them this excited about all the other subjects!

I highly recommend these flashcards to any beginning birder or anyone who may be interested in birds.  They are very inexpensive at around $10 and would make a great gift.  They are available on Amazon.com.


Thank you to David Sibley and Random House Inc. for providing me with a review copy of the flashcards.

  

<--- Mountain Bluebirds!

<--- Shoot Me Monday

<--- My First Grade Students 

<--- January posts