The Songs of Insects

One of the most well-done and enjoyable field ID guides I've ever purchased. as well as one of the most user-friendly insect-related field guides. The descriptions are simple, but not too simple, and very clear. With the sonograms and the CD, it's easy to compare and contrast between the many similar-looking and similar-sounding species, along with the authors' tips on understanding the quality and traits that distinguish one song from another.What worked for me in learning was to pick out one sound in the nightly din, try to pinpoint which sonograms matched, narrowing down by the range maps provided, then listening to the CD for the 2-3 candidates - and bingo! Then another and another. Then I could pick out these new friends as I went about my life in other towns and states - field or city. Then, as I traveled, would listen for "pockets" of new species I may not hear in my home town, looking at range maps ahead of time. Driving became a new adventure. And the fun is not just in being able to identify these creatures (and their interesting common names), it's the insights the book provides, so you know why and how the sounds are being made and understanding the drama unfolding around you, and in what meadow or wetland this might be happening - and on what branch tip or building.But the best part of the book is the extremely clear and striking photography (helpful for ID), with the insects mostly appearing to acknowledge the camera, endowing these little critters with personality not usually seen in field guides. The authors obviously love their work.

Wow! I never realized until I got this book how many different species of crickets, cicadas and katydids there are - and each with their own songs. Very well wrtten book and quality photographs. You can very easily follow the CD that comes with this book and the recordings are high quality. It's great to hear one and say "yes, that's one I have heard in my yard!I cannot rate this book/CD highly enough!!!

As other reviewers have stated, this is a remarkable resource for insect identification. I would like to comment on the quality of the images. I found that a remarkable effort and attention to detail that went into these images. In far too many books the conversion of images from digital to print looks like the author doesn't know or doesn't care how his images look. For Lang Elliott this was not the case. He meticulously ensured that the printed images have remarkable depth of field and colors. I found any number of them to be remarkable pieces of photographic art. I felt guilty for only paying $13.57 for this book.

This is a very thorough treatment of insect song for our region, but unfortunately the CD broke in transit.

Superb photographs, text, and audio in this book/CD package.I first found out about this book when I was utilizing the authors' superb website MUSICOFNATURE_DOT_COM.That website can be used as an excellent complimentary resource to this book.I have enjoyed this great reference so much that I asked for - and received; hooray! - THE SONGS OF WILD BIRDS by Mr. Elliot.

This is a wonderful resource and addition to my nature library. The photos almost jump off the page, and the recordings are equally as impressive. I'm now able to identify insect sounds that I have heard all my life, but never knew what they were.The only negative about this book is the cheap binding. A book this spectacular deserves a much more durable package.

I have always wondered what was making the noise one hears in the late summer and fall in the woods of the midwest. I purchased "Songs of Insects" to see if I could identify what was making those sounds. The book was better than I expected, each insect is photographed beautifully and the CD with the book has each insect clearly introduced with the recorded call of each insect that follows.

I've learned so much about the night sounds in my little suburban neighborhood from this book and CD. I live in Kentucky, and I also sent one to my son in Seattle. Now I enjoy the night chorus so much more, and I look forward to its height in late summer and fall.