Birders in western North America will be ecstatic to have this new edition. This book was last updated in 1990 and is woefully out of date. Based on changes made for the 2008 publication of the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of North America, this fourth edition of the Peterson Field Guide to Birds of Western North America is sure to be a valuable addition to any birder's pocket or daypack. At a trim size of 5 x 8, it's more portable than the North American guide, but just as beautiful and useful. A team of expert birders updated the text, the maps, and the art. The 176 plates show key field marks, using the Peterson Identification System to make bird identification accessible to beginning and intermediate bird watchers.