Field Guide of all the Birds we found one year in the United States, written, illustrated and self-published by Quentin Reiser with help from Owen. Two or three weeks ago I published a 10,000 Birds post titled To List or Not to List. In that post I referenced a new documentary film titled Listers currently being viewed (I hope still) commercial-free on You Tube. In my post I remarked that the film was clever, funny, mildly profane and not your typical narrative documentary.
Then a week or so ago, I was again listening to the American Birding Podcast hosted by Nate Swick and where I had originally learned of the film. The ABA podcast is my go-to when I want to get away from American politics. In episode 09-38, dated Sept. 18, 2025, titled A Dirtbag Big Year with Owen Reiser, Nate interviews the filmmaker Owen Reiser. I recommend this interview. Still mildly profane, but I think what will surprise listeners is Owen Reiser’s complimentary views on what he and his brother, Quentin, experienced with the birding community during their dirtbag big year. At the close of the episode, Nate mentions the accompanying field guide. Nate describes the guide as in the style of the old Chandler Robbins field guide. Long ago I met Chandler Robbins. I think Chandler Robbins might roll over in his grave if he heard this, but I’m just repeating Nate’s words here.
Top photo – front cover. Bottom photo – back cover.
This book is hilarious. It is also astonishingly clever and, dare I say it, well-illustrated. It has all of the features of what we expect to find in a field guide—fitted to the brothers’ particular big year. It breaks down how they planned (googled “which States have the most birds” and used Google’s response as their travel guide) and, armed with that information, proceeded with their big year. The bird write-ups and illustrations are organized in the order in which the birds were seen, and in the area of the country where they were seen.
Quentin and Owen start in their home area, around St. Louis, Missouri (on the state line with Illinois) and from there travel to Florida where they spend twenty days. Quentin writes: “Later in the year, when we were much better birders, we realized we probably could’ve spent five days in Florida instead of twenty, and seen just as many birds” (p. 35). (They hated Florida.) So true, and as we all remember, you learn as you go.
I ordered my book from Barnes and Noble (also available on Amazon* for the same price) and it arrived about a week ago. It sat on my bedside table and a couple of nights ago, when I couldn’t sleep, I turned on the light and began reading. No, reading is not exactly the right word, although I did read. Really, I began laughing. Hard, good, belly laughs at 1:30 in the morning. As one example of the many to choose from: In Florida, they see their first Boat-tailed Grackle (p. 36). Quentin compares it with the Great-tailed Grackle (p.80), that they later see in Texas, with the comment “are less likely to be found at a gas station.” Still in Florida, and after seeing the Boat-tailed Grackle, they see the Common Grackle (p.36). His write-up is this: “Base model. If you want the fancy tail, it’s gonna cost a little extra.”
While most of the text is funny, occasionally it is also serious (Montezuma Quail, p. 110), and sad (Killdeer, p. 22). Birders will recognize both experiences. To the Killdeer, Owen adds, “This is right up there with 9/11.” Birders would agree.
As you may already have guessed, this is not David Allen Sibley or Nat Geo, but I found the illustrations to be completely charming and startlingly accurate. Some serious artistic talent and time went into drawing and coloring all of the images which, funny as they are, cannot be dismissed.
The illustration of the Wild Turkey** is circled.
This book could be read in a few hours by most readers. I’m reading slowly to enjoy it. I’m about half way through. I pick it up when I can’t sleep and/or want to laugh. The thing that I think brings the spoof full circle is this: truthfully, Quentin Reiser’s guide is especially for birders, even serious birders. Only birders will recognize the truth, accuracy and humor of what he writes and illustrates. Non-birders may not get it.
From the podcast interview I believe the brothers may still be doing a bit of birding here and there. They are receiving a good amount of attention for their big year endeavor; for the documentary film (Owen is the filmmaker), and now for Quentin’s field guide. Clearly, both Quentin and Owen are talented individuals. Hopefully, they will continue to bird and give us more humorous insights. With the success of this project, I suspect they will embark on other projects, too.
I’ll close with this anecdote. At 1:30 in the morning, I wanted to use my phone to open the QRC code to see the Red-shouldered Hawks’ “magical cloacal kiss” (p. 20). Suddenly, I realized that my phone was not in any of the places where it should have been. I finally went out to my back porch to find my phone, turned on and battery in the red zone. I credit this field guide and its use of QRC codes for helping me avoid phone disaster. The QRC code opens to a You Tube video of a cheering crowd, no doubt being spurred on by Owen, watching Red-shouldered Hawks mate. QRC codes are scattered throughout the book. Extra little surprises.
* I try to avoid free advertising for Amazon anywhere I write. However, it is possible that Quentin used Amazon’s self-publishing service to publish his book. Regardless, the book is attractive and sturdily printed. Price at Barnes and Noble and Amazon is the same at $24.99. I’ve ordered three more copies for gifts.
** I drew the circle around Quentin’s Wild Turkey illustration. As 10,000 Birds is an international site, some readers may not know that the turkey is the main course for our late November Thanksgiving holiday dinner. Sometimes, thanks to those inclined to hunt, dinner is a Wild Turkey.
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