Field guide for texas birds?

[atxsweety]

I'm enrolled in a coastal ornithology course. its a field intensive course and I was wondering what are good field guides for begginers. My birding is gonna be exclusively in texas, so should I get one just on texas birds or one on north american birds? Are pictures better than drawn illustrations? I've also heard its good to look for something with inflight descriptions. Can anybody help me out?

[rawrdinoah]

I use this one a lot http://www.wildtexas.com/wildguides/

[sngcanary]

The best book available is David Sibley's guide to North American birds. Its beautifully illustrated and will cover everything you will see in Texas. There is a Peterson's Field Guide to Texas, but its almost useless it is so dated. The quality of the illustrations are not great. If you find Sibley too large, my second choice is the National Geographic guide.You do not want a book with photos. Illustrations are much better, as they represent the average bird, not a particular bird. Also, photographs are problematic due to light. I don't know any serious birders who use any of the photographic guides. Texas is an amazing place to go birding! I have been a serious birder here for the last 15 years and have seen over 540 species just in Texas. Good luck!