Comments for Sibley Guides

Comment on The white eyelid of American Dipper by Cédric Duhalde

Cédric Duhalde — Sat, 18 May 2013 20:16:10 +0000

Hi David,
I was watching a french documentary not too long ago about the avifauna of France, and they showed a Common Shelduck that had the same white eyelid. The explanation they proposed was that when the birds are younger, and more vulnerable, this serves as a means of protection. Supposedly, the white eyelids would make a possible predator think they’re open, ruining the surprise attack. Perhaps this logic also applies to the American Dipper? To protect the younger birds from possible predators?
Cédric Duhalde (17),
Pacifica, California

Comment on The Sibley eGuide to Birds App by mydigitalearth.com development team

mydigitalearth.com development team — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:04:01 +0000

The Windows 8 version has been submitted to the App Store and is currently in the approval process. The App will run on a Surface Pro device running Windows 8.

Regards

mydigitalearth.com Development Team

Comment on The Sibley eGuide to Birds App by Mike Michaels

Mike Michaels — Wed, 15 May 2013 20:34:54 +0000

I see you are about ready to release to the Win 8 Surface. I have the Android version, but just got the new Surface Pro (not the RT). Will the new version support native Windows 8 on the Surface Pro? I really hope so as I’d be first in line to get a copy!

Comment on White-crowned Sparrow subspecies – Where? by Mark Robinson

Mark Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 12:53:10 +0000

Hi David…what an interesting bird.I have just seen and heard my first White Crowned Sparrow in my area.May 10 – 2013.
There have been Chipping Sparrows and others but never any of these that I know of.
I live in Huntsville Ontario not far from Algonquin Park.
Do you know if these birds are changing migration or maybe blown off course from some of these storms ? Or have I possibly been not noticing these birds ?

Comment on A Yellow Purple Finch in Ontario by Maxine Quinton

Maxine Quinton — Sat, 11 May 2013 15:14:28 +0000

Hi David,

The Purple Finches just started arriving for the season…late this year. Again, the flock is mixed with some quite yellow Purples and some very raspberry-coloured Purples. If you’d like photos of this year’s birds, please let me know. I’ll for sure keep track of them as the season progresses.

Comment on A Yellow Purple Finch in Ontario by David Sibley

David Sibley — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:13:17 +0000

Hi Maxine, Thanks for commenting. That’s fascinating that you have a group of Purple Finches that are consistently yellow – definitely worth more study to figure out what’s causing it.

Comment on The Sibley Guide to Birds by David Sibley

David Sibley — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:11:56 +0000

Hi Tom, You can use the big Sibley Guide to Birds anywhere north of Mexico. If you’re choosing between the smaller Eastern and Western Field Guides, then the Eastern Guide works in most of Texas, but if you’re birding “west of the Pecos” in Big Bend, then the Western Guide is the better choice.

Comment on Orange-throated Hummingbirds: more questions by David Sibley

David Sibley — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:09:51 +0000

Hi Cat, That’s great that you have a new hummer at your feeders. In your area the common species with a red throat is Anna’s Hummingbird, and a bird with orange throat and orange tail as you describe would be a male Rufous Hummingbird (or maybe Allen’s Hummingbird, which is nearly identical). Both of those species are small, and males are extremely territorial, trying to defend a group of feeders against all other hummingbirds. If it’s a Rufous Hummingbird it will migrate on to the north to nest in British Columbia or even Alaska, Allen’s Hummingbirds nest along the coast of California, and yours might be a male Allen’s that’s already finished nesting for this year.

Comment on Which bird book should I buy? by David Sibley

David Sibley — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:04:58 +0000

Hi Don, There is only one binding on the field guides, it’s a stiff paper cover that extends out a little farther than the pages and has big flaps that you can insert between pages to hold a place. The cover is flexible, so it’s not a “hard cover”, but it’s not like a typical “paperback” either, hence the confusion. Some sellers list it as “paperback” because they only have two categories of covers. Others call it flexibound.

Comment on Trilled Songs of Eastern Birds by David Sibley

David Sibley — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:01:20 +0000

Hi Alex, Thanks, I’m glad this was helpful. There isn;t any difference in the height of song perches in these species. Habitat can be helpful as a suggestive clue, especially in breeding season when they are more particular about the habitat, but there is still some overlap.