Field Guides reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 111 Reddit reviews across 34 subreddits and 46 posts to rank the best Field Guides brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/botany, r/CampingandHiking, r/ecology, r/AppalachianTrail, r/birding. Top-rated brands include Peterson (4.5/5), Sibley (4.4/5), Audubon (4.7/5).
Stats
Reviews111
Subreddits34
Posts46
Brands66
Products81
111 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Peterson
4.5
(11)
"Peterson’s has been the gold standard."
"It's mostly trees but does go into smaller shrubs and stuff as well."
"I have a couple of the peterson field guides which are awesome."
"I really like the Peterson field guides. Just make sure to get a guide that is more specific to your area."
"Peterson's field guide is recommended for mammals in North America."
"Great pictures, well organized, and lots of great info."
"I'm personally a fan of the Peterson field guides."
"Useful for identifying trees."
"A handy guide for identifying birds with seasonal plumage and juveniles."
"Peterson is preferred for its easy identification of field marks."
#2
Sibley
4.4
(8)
"Sibley's for birds."
"It fits nicely in your pocket and illustrations are exquisite."
"The quick trifold guides are good to have on hand."
"Is the best for birds."
"Sibley guides are outstanding for North American birds."
"I prefer Sibley."
"Sibley can be more challenging but sometimes essential for identification."
"Great pictures but way too big to lug around."
#3
Audubon
4.7
(7)
"I have about 6 or 8 Audubon guides, and they’re all great. The size makes it easy to bring, and they’re very comprehensive. Highly recommend."
"It’s surprisingly comprehensive and really easy to use."
"I like the Audubon guides."
"Great resource for bird identification."
"I personally use the Audubon guide because it's the whole of the US all in one volume."
"Audubon is used alongside Peterson for plants."
"Audubon NA Fish and the Peterson guide."
#4
Falcon Guides
4.8
(5)
"I have a bunch of the others including the ones for prairie states."
"I have a bunch of the others including the ones for the Florida Keys."
"Falcon Guides are very accessible for beginners."
"I have a bunch of the others including the ones for Arizona."
"Falcon Guides has books on plants and animal tracks."
#5
Collins
4.5
(4)
"Definetely Collins guides."
"Birds in the UK and Europe: Collins bird guide by lars svensson."
"I can second the above Collins Tree Guide recommendation if all you want it for is casual tree ID while hiking. It's solid."
"I recommend Collins Tree Guide ... And Field Guide to the Trees of Britain and Northern Europe ... I’ve used both around Europe and usually gotten on fine."
#6
iNaturalist
3.8
(4)
"Seek by iNaturalist is an app that does really good plant ID and works without an internet connection."
"There’s an app For that. It’s called iseek by inaturalist."
"I naturalist is a good app, the audobaun society makes good books."
"The seek app has been fun to play with."
#7
Lone Pine
5.0
(3)
"Highly recommend for its comprehensive coverage."
"Excellent resource for understanding local wildlife."
"Great for birdwatching enthusiasts."
#8
Merlin
4.7
(3)
"Merlin is a great tool for identifying birds with distinct pictures."
"Merlin is a very helpful bird app. It helps with sight and sound ID."
"Merlin bird ID is a useful tool."
#9
Audubon Society
5.0
(2)
"Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms is the best there is if you're in NA."
"I found the Audubon Society Eastern Forests, and Wetlands field guides today at Goodwill."
#10
Amazon
5.0
(2)
"I found one for plants [here] (https://www.amazon.com/Hikers-Guide-Trailside-Plants-Hawaii/dp/1566478723)"
"Http://www.amazon.com/Mushrooms-Northeastern-North-America-World/dp/0815603886"
#11
National Geographic
5.0
(2)
"The Nat Geo guide is great for intermediate/advanced birding."
"The recent National Geographic field guide is excellent."
#12
Jepson Manual
4.0
(2)
"In CA it is the jepson manual."
"Jepson Manual (California)"
#13
National Wildlife Federation
4.0
(2)
"The National Wildlife Federation and Audubon Society are the two I used most often."
"I am a big fan of the National Wildlife Federation's Field Guide to Insects and Spiders of North American."
#14
Apple
4.0
(2)
"I generally try to get pictures of the birds and look them up when I get home."
"I'll bring my old iPhone or iPad with me if I'm going to be looking up a lot of different birds."
#15
Stokes
4.0
(2)
"Good to keep in the car or if the hike isn't too far."
"Stokes is great for birds, especially for car use, and uses photos for identification."
#16
Petersen
3.5
(2)
"A really good all around portable woody plant field guide."
"Petersen is an ok field guide."
#17
National Audubon Society
5.0
(1)
"I like the National Audubon Society’s Field Guide to Shells. I would also recommend their guide for birds and 'Pure Sea Glass: Discovering Nature's Vanishing Gems.' Lots of great beaches for sea glass in Jersey if you're into that."
#18
Kaufman
5.0
(1)
"The Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America is my favorite field guide. I love it, it does a great job introducing beginners and seasoned bug hunters to the different groups of insects and is very easy to use."
#19
Falcon Guide
5.0
(1)
"Love the Falcon Guide. I see it was updated in 2024. I need to get it! The best thing about the falcon guide is that it is organized by flower color!"
#20
Nils van Duivendijk
5.0
(1)
"Nils van Duivendijk is a great one. Pure ID guide."
#21
Pojar
5.0
(1)
"Pojar's is the best one I've found for general plant id."
#22
Desert Holes
5.0
(1)
"I recommend Desert Holes. A lot of our critters hide underground and all holes are unique in their own way."
#23
David
5.0
(1)
"I've been looking for good field guides for over a year now and his guides have been wonderfully useful."
#24
Pocket Field Guide for Korea
5.0
(1)
"I think it is likely the best pocket field guide for Korea."
#25
Leonard Adkins
5.0
(1)
"Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail."
#26
University of Washington Burke Museum
5.0
(1)
"There are two excellent apps I can recommend: Trees Pacific NW (free, with no ads) and Washington Wildflowers, by the UW Burke Museum."
#27
Virginia Tech
5.0
(1)
"Is a great, free resource."
#28
Samuel Thayer
5.0
(1)
"I have these two and recommend them both."
#29
Wilson and Swan
5.0
(1)
"Also get 'A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia' by Wilson and Swan"
#30
Tim Spira
5.0
(1)
"Wildflowers and plant communities of the southern Appalachian mountains and piedmont by Tim Spira"
#31
Newcomb's
5.0
(1)
"Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide !!"
#32
Simpson and Ogorzaly
5.0
(1)
"Could check out *Economic Botany* by Simpson and Ogorzaly."
#33
Capon
5.0
(1)
"Botany for Beginners by Capon"
#34
Flora of the Pacific Northwest
5.0
(1)
"...it's pretty much my favorite Flora, I think you are going to fall in love with it."
#35
Mark Brazil
5.0
(1)
"I think "Birds of East Asia" by Mark Brazil is usually considered the best field guide for your region."
#36
Kershaw
5.0
(1)
"It's a fantastic guide."
#37
A Field Guide to Moths in Britain and Ireland
5.0
(1)
"Moths in the UK: a field guide to moths in Britain and Ireland by Paul waring and Martin townsend."
#38
The Wildflower Key
5.0
(1)
"Wildflowers in the UK: the wildflower key by Francis rose."
#39
The Forager's Harvest
5.0
(1)
"Nice colour pictures. Must read."
#40
Sibley's
5.0
(1)
"Sibley's for birds, audubon for mammals."
#41
Mushrooms of the North East
5.0
(1)
"My favorite is Mushrooms of the North East."
#42
Pearson & Knisley
4.0
(1)
"I like the general Pearson & Knisley Tiger Beetle book."
#43
Stan Tekiela
4.0
(1)
"I think Stan Tekielas field guides are very beginner friendly, I have his bird guide for Florida (and a few other states) but he writes them for other flora and fauna as well."
#44
Cornell
4.0
(1)
"Cornell’s free Merlin app is a useful tool"
#45
Henry Nicholls
4.0
(1)
"I read *The Galápagos: A Natural History* by Henry Nicholls, which helped to understand the varies and changing geography."
#46
Flora Helvetica
4.0
(1)
"If you want some kind of bible of swiss plant with pictures (only available in french or german)"
#47
NASAR
4.0
(1)
"NASAR made a SAR version of the IRPG."
#48
Conterra Lipke Guide
4.0
(1)
"The Lipke Guide is also useful for technical rope rescue."
#49
American Geosciences
4.0
(1)
"He might like this one, it’s full of useful info."
#50
Field Guide to England Alpine Summits
4.0
(1)
"Also works for some of NY"
#51
General Field Guide
4.0
(1)
"Make sure your guide has a key, and to get multiple guides if you can."
#52
Pacific Northwest Field Guides
4.0
(1)
"The Pacific Northwest ones list are good."
#53
Vascular Flora of the Carolinas
4.0
(1)
"Is a pretty good reference which covers the piedmont, mountains, and coastal plain."
#54
Picture This
4.0
(1)
"I’m currently using the free version of the app Picture This."
#55
Compton
4.0
(1)
"Geology in the Field by Compton"
#56
Readers Digest
4.0
(1)
"I have a good old one from readers digest I think it’s called flora of the British isles."
#57
New York Botanical Garden
4.0
(1)
"Whole set is expensive but I would recommend it if you are serious."
#58
Beverly Gray
4.0
(1)
"I recently purchased a book call The Boreal Herbal: Wild Food and Medicinal Plants of the North by Beverly Gray."
#59
DK
4.0
(1)
"I thoroughly enjoy and read/look through frequently."
#60
Barron's
4.0
(1)
"I would go with Walt Stugeon and Barron's guides first."
#61
Slater
4.0
(1)
"The Slater field guide for birds is good, but not specific to Qld."
#62
Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles
4.0
(1)
"Here’s a field guide for reptiles and amphibians in Arizona."
#63
Wildlife of Greater Brisbane
4.0
(1)
""Wildlife of Greater Brisbane" is also good."
#64
Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies
4.0
(1)
"I just picked up Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies."
#65
Plant Life of Kentucky
4.0
(1)
"*Plant Life of Kentucky* is a newer one and has line drawings."
#66
Peterson's
2.0
(1)
"It seems like they dropped the ball on reptiles compared to their bird guides."
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