In these 24 highly enjoyable lectures, National Geographic takes you into the multifaceted world of birding, focusing on the astonishing range of bird species in North America. With its wide spectrum of wildlife habitats, North America is an endless region of interest for birders from around the world. Within the course, you'll make an in-depth study of bird identification, covering bird size, shape, and color, flight patterns, geographic range, habitats, and much more. You'll also explore core elements of birding such as - The functions and dazzling variety of bird plumage; - The remarkable phenomenon of birdsong; - Understanding avian migration; - The marvel of bird behavior; - Exciting tactics for locating, observing and approaching birds in the field. Mr. Currie brings a depth of experience of birding and his encyclopedic knowledge of the bird world to this course, opening doors to every aspect of this fascinating activity, using filmed demonstrations, field videos, and recordings of birdsong, as well as a huge wealth of visual images. After learning the basics of birding, you'll devote six lectures to a broad view of the bird species of North America, using vivid color photos of our incredible range of birdlife. Beginning with ocean birds, you'll encounter waterfowl and shorebirds, raptors, forest and desert dwellers, and bird families containing the cuckoos, woodpeckers, hummingbirds, kingfishers, and many others, before taking a three-segment tour of the Passerine order, the perching or songbirds. Finally, you'll visit 23 of the top North American birding spots, locations which host hundreds of species. The National Geographic Guide to Birding in North America is your doorway to the delightful world of birds and birding--in your own backyard as well as across the continent; an endlessly varied and rewarding pursuit which offers you a lifetime of enjoyment and discovery.