Was that flash of yellow an American goldfinch or a yellow-rumped warbler?
What's the difference between a garter and a gopher snake?
Was the one that got away a cutthroat trout or a brookie?
Snap open your laminated, folding Pocket Naturalist Guide and, rest assured, you'll never again mistake a marmot for a mink.
Each guide includes illustrations featuring mammals, birds, rocks, even bugs and invasive and medicinal plants.
Touted as "Cliff Notes for backpackers," this lightweight, durable series covers a lot of local outdoor territory, with entries on California birds, trees and wildflowers and seashore life.
High-rise denizens can tuck "Urban Wildlife" into a briefcase to illuminate inner-city sorties.
Safety-conscious outdoor lovers will find "Wilderness Survival" and "Emergency First Aid" well worth slipping into a rucksack.
The guides are advertised for novice naturalists, but they're handy for experts, too.
-- Susan Dworski
