Birds of Kansas /

Thompson (formerly, Southwestern College) and fellow avian experts have roots deep in Great Plains birding, which becomes evident as soon as one opens this volume. In this superlative treatment of Kansas avifauna, each of the 473 included species is afforded only a single page. Accounts of extinct species are a welcome surprise. Each page provides one high-quality photograph depicting the species. In some cases, pairs are shown, but some show only a male, and a few, only a female. The accounts also contain notes concerning current status in the state, habitat preference, migration dates, and breeding activity in the state (if any). Banding records, along with recoveries, are an added bonus. The authors also mention population trajectories, not only for Kansas, but for the species in general. They includes notes indicating difficulty in identifying closely related species; however, they do not offer identification hints--just words of caution to birders. But this is not a field guide and is not intended to be. It is a beautifully executed state faunal account and is worthy of space in any library with significant ornithological holdings. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through professionals; general readers. P. K. Lago University of Mississippi