The Stokes Guide to Finches of The United States and Canada

Book by Lillian Stokes & Matthew A. Young

Little, Brown and Co.  2024.  329+ pages.  flexbound.  5.5” X 8.5”.  $21.99.

This is a thoroughly splendid guide with over 345 excellent color photos and a most attractive format that includes, for every species, “quick take” (but often > one page), identification, subspecies, similar species, distribution, vocalizations, habitat and diet, “at your feeder”, movements and irruptions, breeding behavior, molt, and conservation as well as a section called  “Fun Fact”.

The range maps are most attractive with varied colors and indications of out-of-range occurrences, geared to subspecies as well.  More than this description of the segments, there are anecdotes and expert humor, an abundant sense of wonder, and much to stimulate the reader’s imagination and interest.  There are even scenic photographs of such places as Denali, Attu, the Grand Tetons, Hawaii, et al., 26 Lawrence’s Goldfinches at a pond, and so on.

Full treatment is given to vagrant finches, especially Asian ones, the 17 Hawaiian honeycreepers, and there are separate chapters on feeding and attracting, movements and irruptions, and research and conservation.  Needless to say in a book of this high quality, there are easy-to-use indexes, and a list of 20 or more citations to relevant literature for each species.

There are separate chapters on Hoary and Common redpolls although most recently these two have been lumped.  The start of each account has a relevant quotation from classical literature, modern popular music, or notable naturalists.  The Nesting segment has information on timing, nest description, eggs description, incubation period, nestling period, and number of broods.

But this lovely title is much more than the sum of these disparate parts.  It is handy and inexpensive.  Young is the founder of the Finch Research Network, has worked with the Cornell Lab for 15 years, and is widely published, including papers on the Red Crossbill complex, here described in detail, including pp. 114-155 on these crossbills, with abundant spectograms of their (and other finches’) vocalizations.  Stokes, familiar as author or co-author, of innumerable books, is credited with 80 photographs here.  Get this book if you haven’t already.  If you think this rave review is unwarranted, I believe you’ll change your mind in a minute once the book is in your hands.