Sized for backpack or pocket, each 272-page volume highlights a single state or two and covers 125 species (each with a photograph and range map), with local expertise provided by experienced birders.

Even novice birders will make quick and confident identifications thanks to the uncluttered, easy-to-use format. An introductory locator map pinpoints top birding sites, and customized range maps detail each species' winter, breeding, migration, and resident ranges.

Maryland and Washington, D.C. offers seabirds, shorebirds, land birds, songbirds, and raptors aplenty, from Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Barred Owls, and Pileated Woodpeckers to multiple species of vireos and bitterns and an array of ducks. Hotspots include Assateague Island National Seashore, Swallow Falls State Park and the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.