p 143 – Pacific Golden-Plover: on adult male breeding the labels pointing to undertail coverts and flanks are reversed.
p. 252 – White-throated Swift: name is incorrect, Whited-throated Swift
p. 279 – Greater Pewee: map is a duplicate of Buff-breasted Flycatcher map. The summer range of this species should extend slightly farther north in Arizona, with rare records scattered west to the central California coast and east to coastal Texas.
p. 388 – Canada Warbler: text is wrong. Replace all text. “Uncommon in shaded deciduous undergrowth within mature forests, often along streams or in low areas. A relatively small warbler, with long thin tail. Plain gray upperside unique. Also note neat white eye-ring, yellow supraloral, and “necklace” of streaks on breast. Voice: Song a sputtery descending jumble of high, clear, liquid notes mixed with sharp chips. Call a sharp dry tyup. Flight call a relatively low, liquid plik.”
Download a printable pdf of the replacement text here: Canada_Warbler_SibleyWest_correction
Quick Index – Grosbeaks should be listed as pages 399-401 (not 339-401)
On many species the opening sentence giving status can be unclear. For example, Least Bittern (p. 55) begins with the sentence “Uncommon and local in marshes, where it hides among reeds” This could be read to mean that the species is uncommon specifically in those habitats (and may be more common in other habitats). It is meant to say that the species is “Uncommon and local; found in marshes, where it hides among reeds.”
Related posts and pages:
- Updates and Corrections to the Sibley Eastern Field Guide p. 76 – Northern Shoveler text in mid-paragraph says “with with” p 136 – Shorebirds...
Very useful to have corrections.
Are there several variants of Western Guide? I have 5th printing, Sep 2006.
Snowy Owl is on page 240. (227 is Eastern page).
Greater Pewee map seems correct (not same as BB).
If Townsend’s Warbler bill cut off in Eastern, isn’t it also in Western? seems like it.
Canada Warbler – could you format the text such that it could be printed from this page and come out exactly right size to cut out and paste over existing text? Maybe better, a hi-res photo or pdf of the Eastern text that could be printed to achieve that end? I don’t know exactly what would be simplest for the user.
Michael, Thanks for these comments and corrections. I’ve updated the page above. I guess the Greater Pewee map has been fixed in later printings. Now I’ll have to get the Canada Warbler text corrected, but in the meantime I’ve taken your suggestion and offer a pdf of the correct text that you can print and paste into your book.
David, I have the 6th printing, October 2007, of the Sibley Western Guide and am very happy with it. I especially like the overview pages at the beginning of each section. However, I am confused about the drawings of the Common Merganser on p.92 and p.73 (the overview page). Is it possible the “Adult female breeding” and the “Adult male nonbreeding” drawings have been reversed?
Good question. They are correct as shown, The two plumages are essentially identical but I can tell they are placed correctly because I left the paintings of nonbreeding males unfinished, without the tail ends.