INTRODUCTION<br > ~，~T y most counts the~+e are more than 800 species Qflblt~/s tLwf<br > breed on the North America " "" " "" " <br > -- " n continenL or drop #~ ，fi om<br > abroad on a regular basis. It is an amazing nmnber， r*~re.~eni-<br > ing an equally amazing variety -from tiny bumminghh.d，r to<br > the endangered California condor， with its lO foot l，Sng<~i)an <br > from brilliantly colored warblers through waterfowl， herons，<br > woodpeckers and owls.<br > Many of these birds live in inaccessible locations -on the h4@<br > slopes of mountains， the arctic tundra， in swamps a~zd wi/der，vess<br >almost areas. But many of them make their homes near ours， in back-<br >chesand yards and shade trees. Some breed there， some visit only in /De<br > winter， otherspass through during migration. For lack of a better<br > term， they are "garden birds，" those species most like/3， to be see~z<br > by the average person.<br > This book is an introduction to 80 of those birds. It ~ by no<br > means a complete list， but is meant to give an overview of the<br > species that are most widespread， and most likely to be met with t<br > close to home. Each bird s life history is briefly d~gcussed， #t the<br > hope of engenden ng a greater appreciation for the role each plays<br > in the environment， for their beauty and for the vibrant， they<br > bring to the outdoors.<br >