Ever seen or heard of this (http://www.frontlist.com/detail/0789480018) book?
We have a book fair at work this week and this book available for $24. Looks like it's a few years old print wise, the book itself is brand new. Any thoughts on it? Would it be a good referance book to have around the house?

Take a look at "The Sibley Guide to Birds" Mike. He's not only a great illustrator, he shows variations of coloring that occur due to age and also in different areas of a birds range. He has a good introduction that explains how appearences vary and also teaches the different parts of birds that some of the birdnerds sometimes toss around. :)
I haven't seen the Alsop book. The description sounds good. Run into Barnes and Noble and compare.

Thanks for the advice Chunk. I don't think I'm going to have time to get to a real book store to do any comparisons before the book fair is gone from work, but that is a great idea. This book is huge. Note so great as a feild guide, but more of a desk referance.

I agree about the Sibley guides, but that book is good also from it's write up. I own the kaufman book, nat geo books, All sibley guides and a few specialized(hawks in flight and somewhere I have a warblers of ontario and sparrows book)