The beginner's field guide to the birds of Canada and Alaska — organized by habitat, written for real life, and designed to go outside with you. Birdwatching begins closer than most people think. It begins at the kitchen window, at the backyard feeder, in the city park on a lunch break. And once it begins, it rarely stops. Backyard to Boreal: A Beginner's Field Guide to the Birds of Canada & Alaska covers 100 species across eight distinct habitats, from the familiar birds of the garden and the city to the seabirds of the northern coasts, the owls and warblers of the boreal forest, the shorebirds and ptarmigan of the Arctic tundra, and the rare visitors from Eurasia that cross oceans and appear without warning in places they were never expected. What makes this guide different: Rather than organizing birds by scientific family, as most field guides do, Backyard to Boreal organizes them by where you will actually find them. Open the chapter that matches your surroundings and the birds most likely to be in front of you are right there on the page. Each of the 100 species profiles combines two things that most field guides keep separate: a warm, readable narrative that brings the bird's behaviour, ecology, and character to life, and a practical Quick Look box that puts the essential identification information, field marks, size, habitat, season, voice, and a beginner tip, in a format fast enough to use in the field before the bird moves on. The book also includes: A full introduction to birdwatching gear, with honest advice on what you actually need and what you do not - A practical guide to reading field marks, from bill shape and eye patterns to wing bars and rump patches - A seasonal calendar covering what to expect from spring migration through winter irruptions - Guidance on keeping a life list and field journal, including how to use eBird - A chapter on birding ethics and how to watch birds without disturbing them - Recommendations for the best birdwatching apps, communities, and ten destinations across Canada and Alaska worth travelling to find The 100 species are organized across eight habitat chapters: Backyard & Garden · City Parks & Urban Areas · Forest & Boreal Woodland · Wetlands, Lakes & Rivers · Open Tundra & Arctic Plains · Coastlines, Bays & Sea Cliffs · Mountains & Alpine Zones · Rare & Surprise Visitors Whether you have just noticed birds for the first time or have been watching them casually for years and want to go further, Backyard to Boreal is the guide that meets you where you are and takes you somewhere better. The birds of northern North America are extraordinary. They are also, in most cases, closer than you think.