Reddit reviews The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America

I would also recommend the sibley guide to birds of eastern North America. It's nicely laid out and it's a convenient size for carrying with you in the field.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/067945120X

As for binoculars, my first pair are these Nikon monarch 8x42:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0033PRQB0/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=SL500_SS115

I paid less than this, in the $230-240 range, on eBay I believe. You definitely don't want to discourage yourself with substandard optics, which can be unreliable or fatiguing. I've had this model for well over a year now and they continue to be a pleasure to use.

The Eastern Sibley guide is exactly what you're looking for. His illustrations are very accurate and very clear, and since it only focuses on birds on the eastern half of the continent, it's much more portable than a guide for all of North America. It's sorted by taxonomic order, not by color, but as you become more familiar with birding you'll start to find that color isn't really the best way to ID anyway - location, shape, and behavior are necessary, too, and Sibley's illustrations and notes will really help to clue you in to things like that, in addition to the color patterns of the bird.

I like to use Sibley's Eastern or Western in the field - the smaller size makes it more manageable.

Go on some group walks (http://www.nvabc.org/trips.htm http://www.loudounwildlife.org/Programs_and_Field_Trips.htm) and meet some other birders - they'll have some thoughts on places to visit and can tell you about other local resources.

Woodend has some great classes for example.

Ditto what LigoRider says - As for guides to birds, having a good field guide is key (iBird pro is good for an app, but book can be handy too). Sibley is the generally recommended book.

For learning, I think specific guides can be helpful. For example:

• Waterfowl
  
• Sparrows
  
• Hawks
  
  

I agree with everyone else, Sibley is one of the best out there today.

I think we are on the same page but you don't realize it and I am not offended. Choosing to be offended is silly, you can use less energy and just not be.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Three_Christs_of_Ypsilanti

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_Set_a_Watchman

https://www.amazon.ca/Sibley-Field-Guide-Eastern-America/dp/067945120X

Though the third one is a work in progress.