Prior to writing this review, I asked a number of active banders whether they would be willing to review Part 2 of Peter Pyle’s vast ornithological fact-swamp. Each of them scuttled rapidly away muttering about being asked to review the Bible. A technical review of Part 2 from a bander’s perspective is neither appropriate nor feasible for Western Birds. Most of our readers are more interested in what aspects of the book are likely to be of use to them in the field, rather than for examining birds in the hand.