Like many of you, I have bookshelves overflwing with all sorts of bird books—to the point where I have adopted a personal policy of buying a new one only if it replaces one I have, or if it represents a unique contribution. When Nathan Pieplow’s earlier eastern version of this guide appeared, there was no question that it met the second requirement. That book sits within arm’s reach of my desk. Living in the West, however, I have been eagerly awaiting the completion of the set with the publication of a western version.