South Dakota Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species

With its mix of wetlands, grasslands, and dramatic badlands, South Dakota has an impressive diversity of birds. During migration, thousands of ducks, geese, and cranes pass through the many lakes, ponds, and marshes, often congregations in groups numbering too many to count. Iconic species like Western Meadowlark, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and state bird Ring-necked Pheasant are stand-outs in tallgrass prairies; the scenic Black Hills are home to American Dippers, Red-naped Sapsuckers, and Mountain Bluebirds. Over 440 bird species have been observed in the Mount Rushmore State, the majority of which are either permanent residents, regular breeders, or annual migrants. Sifting through so many species is a challenge, so it helps to start by getting acquainted with a smaller number of representative species to establish a solid foundation of knowledge on which to build. You can readily do this with the portable reference South Dakota Birds, which features beautiful illustrations of 140 common and familiar birds as well as an ecoregion map showing over 20 bird-finding hotspots and learning sites. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, 12-panel folding pocket guide is a terrific resource for educators, learners, naturalists, and birders to use for sharpening their bird identification skills and peering more closely into birds’ fascinating lives. Made in the USA.

Zoologist Jim Kavanagh has made a career out of introducing novices to plants, animals, the sciences and world cultures. In addition to creating over 500 simplified nature guides, he has also authored guides to languages, cities and outdoor skills. An avid traveler and backpacker, Kavanagh’s path has taken him around the world to many remote destinations including the upper Amazon, Africa, Australia, and the Arctic Circle (and this is just the As). He is also the author of a series of state-specific guides to common species and natural attractions and a children’s book on evolution.