Bird Feathers & Eggs of the Midwest: Identify 40 Species of Common Backyard Birds

by Stan Tekiela

Overview

Identify bird eggs, feathers, and nests with this pocket-size booklet, organized by feather size for convenience of use.

Whether you’re a tracker who studies animal signs, a bird watcher, a gardener, or simply someone who appreciates nature and its curiosities, keep this handy guide close at hand. Written by award-winning author, photographer, and naturalist Stan Tekiela and designed for ease of use, the booklet is organized by birds’ typical feather sizes for quick identification. Narrow your choices by size, and browse through the spiral-bound booklet to identify your find.

The detailed photographs cover 40 species: backyard birds like the American Goldfinch, game birds like the Wild Turkey, and water birds like the Mallard. Each entry includes information about the bird’s eggs, nest, and feathers. Plus, you’ll appreciate basic information about egg anatomy, feather anatomy, and why it’s illegal to collect bird eggs, feathers, and nests.

Bring this lightweight quick guide along on your next hike, camping trip, or walk in the park, and discover which birds have been there and which birds you still might see. The content is applicable to the Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Quick Guide Features:

• Pocket-size format—easier than laminated foldouts
• Photographs and information about 40 common bird species
• Helpful details about egg and feather anatomy
• Tear-resistant pages that make the booklet durable

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781647555061
Publisher:	Adventure Publications, Incorporated
Publication date:	04/15/2025
Series:	Adventure Quick Guides
Pages:	28
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 7.30(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Naturalist, wildlife photographer, and writer Stan Tekiela is the author of more than 190 field guides, nature books, children’s books, and playing cards, presenting many species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, trees, wildflowers, and cacti in the United States. With a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural History from the University of Minnesota and as an active professional naturalist for more than 30 years, Stan studies and photographs wildlife throughout the United States and Canada. He has received various national and regional awards for his books and photographs. Also a well-known columnist and radio personality, his syndicated column appears in more than 25 newspapers and his wildlife programs are broadcast on a number of Midwest radio stations.

Read an Excerpt

The Impact of Feather and Egg Collecting on Wild Birds

Today, nearly all bird feathers, eggs, and nests are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, along with other similar federal laws, which means that possessing feathers, eggs, or nests is illegal unless you have a special permit issued by federal, state, or local governments. Note: There is not an exception for feathers that were molted or from birds found dead (say, from a vehicle or window strike). So please explore and examine feathers you find but return them to the wild.

These protections were put into place for a very good reason: many bird species, including some that are incredibly common today, were driven to the point of extirpation (being killed off from an area) or outright extinction in many parts of the US due to uncontrolled hunting for feathers and for egg collecting. Herons and egrets, geese, and wild turkeys are notable examples of species that suffered population crashes, and several—Canada Geese and Wild Turkeys are excellent case studies—had to be reintroduced to the wild entirely to many states.

Table of Contents

Adventure Quick Guides

How to Use This Guide

Feather Types

Bird Nests

Eggs

Identification Guide

Feather Anatomy

The Impact of Feather and Egg Collecting on Wild Birds

Frequently Asked Questions