This book is beautifully done, profiling over 150 birds common to the Great Lakes region. Each bird has a page of gorgeous pictures, along with field information and fun facts. It’s much more personable than the standard-issue field guide, and each page reflects the author’s love of birds and birding.

One caution for potential readers: please purchase a hard copy of this book. It is somewhat cumbersome to read as an ebook, as the images and text of each bird which in a book would appear in a face to face spread, are presented one at a time, causing the reader to have to go back and forth between the pages. My only other comment is that I would love to have seen silhouettes of the birds in flight.

Many thanks to Hachette Books and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A good overview book of Great Lakes birds but by no means a field guide. More an avid birders quick guide to the region. Each bird gets a page with 1 or more photos of good quality, a description, expected habitat, and an anecdote. Felt light at the end of the day, especially compared to some of the really fine regional guides Timber has produced. I would have it on my shelf or give as a gift.

As a bird nerd I cannot pass up the opportunity to read / review a field guide for birds of any sort. Being in Minnesota is just a bonus for "Birds of the Great Lakes" because many of these birds are in my backyard!
I love the design of this book and how it features the photos PLUS a bit of additional information about each type of bird - like where you might find it, what they typically eat, and some fun facts!
The photography is excellent, though I wish the author didn't skip the images of the female birds on some of the species. Even if it's a subtle difference the females do look a bit different. Also only a handful of species showed juvenile birds.
So it's not a comprehensive field guide, (it doesn't claim to be...) but it's a nicely put together book that would make a great gift and would be perfect on the shelf in any "up north" cabin!