Field Guides
Field Guide to Animal Tracks and Scat of California, University of California Press, 2012, by M Elbroch. Even though it’s for California, it covers most New Mexico tracks. Useful because it includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Has life size examples of most tracks and scat. $37
Mammal Track and Sign: A Guide to North American Species, Second edition, Stackpole Books, 2019, by M. Elbroch. Extremely thorough, in-depth information about mammals, also has life-size tracks. $35
Bird Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species, Stackpole Books, 2001, by M. Elbroch and E. Marks. A good all-around guide, includes, tracks, sign, skulls, and feathers. $32
Tracks & Sign of Reptiles & Amphibians: A Guide to North American Species. Stackpole Books, 2015, by F. Tkaczyk. Covers many species, and includes some sign and scat information. $34
Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species. Stackpole Books, 2010, by D. Scott and C. McFarland. Exhaustive, loaded with photographs. $26
Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests, HMH Books, 2021, by C. McFarland, M. Monjello, & D. Moskowitz, Detailed examination of nest construction, includes photos of nest and eggs for dozens of species. $13
Animal Skulls; A Guide to North American Species, Stackpole Books, 2006, by M. Elbroch. Unbelievably detailed with drawings and measurements. Includes limited information on birds and reptiles. $39.
Field Guide to Tracking Animals in Snow, Stackpole Books, 1988, by L. Forrest. Good guide to snow tracks, a bit dated, but very detailed. $18
Less Expensive Alternatives
Bird Tracks; Includes 55 North American Species, (American Quick Guides), American Publications, 2023, by J. Poppele. Life-sized drawings of many of the more common bird tracks. $12
Animal Tracks of the Southwest, (American Quick Guides), American Publications, 2016, by J. Poppele. Over 150 species covered, includes drawings and gait information. $10
Animal Tracks of Arizona & New Mexico, Lone Pine Publishing, 1998, by I. Sheldon. Covers mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Excellent drawings and gait information. $9
Animal Tracks of the Midwest, 2nd edition, Adventure Publications, 2022, by J. Poppele. Very detailed, with significant overlap for New Mexico species. Includes information on reptiles, amphibians, and birds. $14
A Key-guide to Mammal Skulls and Lower Jaws, A nontechnical introduction for beginners, Mad River press, 1991, by A. Roest. Basically, a giant key, with two sections: one for skulls and one for lower jaws. Includes drawings and measurements. $13.00
Scat Finder: A guide to mammal scat of eastern North America, Nature Study Guide Publishers, 2022, by D. Miller. Small but detailed, includes diagrams of the digestive systems, drawings, and measurements. Covers many New Mexico mammals. $6
Animal Tracks of the Southwest, Chris Stall, The Mountaineers, 1990. A good small guide, organized by size of the track, with life-size tracks for comparison. $15
Scats and Tracks of the Desert Southwest: A Field Guide to Signs of 70 Wildlife Species, Falcon Guides, 2015. A good small guide, with mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. About $13
Pocket Guide to Animal Tracks, Ron Cordes, Pocket Guides Publishing, 2016. Small and concise, easy to use- also waterproof. $16
Local Tracks of North America, Local Birds Inc, 2006. A small fold out guide with a surprising number of tracks and a ruler on the edge. A good choice to toss in a pack for the occasional track identification. $9 (at Acorn Naturalist)
Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species, Wildlife and Nature Identification, 2018. by James Kavanagh. $8
Field Guides
Field Guide to Animal Tracks and Scat of California, University of California Press, 2012, by M Elbroch. Even though it’s for California, it covers most New Mexico tracks. Useful because it includes mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Has life size examples of most tracks and scat. $37
Mammal Track and Sign: A Guide to North American Species, Second edition, Stackpole Books, 2019, by M. Elbroch. Extremely thorough, in-depth information about mammals, also has life-size tracks. $35
Bird Tracks & Sign: A Guide to North American Species, Stackpole Books, 2001, by M. Elbroch and E. Marks. A good all-around guide, includes, tracks, sign, skulls, and feathers. $32
Tracks & Sign of Reptiles & Amphibians: A Guide to North American Species. Stackpole Books, 2015, by F. Tkaczyk. Covers many species, and includes some sign and scat information. $34
Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species. Stackpole Books, 2010, by D. Scott and C. McFarland. Exhaustive, loaded with photographs. $26
Peterson Field Guide to North American Bird Nests, HMH Books, 2021, by C. McFarland, M. Monjello, & D. Moskowitz, Detailed examination of nest construction, includes photos of nest and eggs for dozens of species. $13
Animal Skulls; A Guide to North American Species, Stackpole Books, 2006, by M. Elbroch. Unbelievably detailed with drawings and measurements. Includes limited information on birds and reptiles. $39.
Field Guide to Tracking Animals in Snow, Stackpole Books, 1988, by L. Forrest. Good guide to snow tracks, a bit dated, but very detailed. $18
Less Expensive Alternatives
Bird Tracks; Includes 55 North American Species, (American Quick Guides), American Publications, 2023, by J. Poppele. Life-sized drawings of many of the more common bird tracks. $12
Animal Tracks of the Southwest; Includes 53 Species, (Earth+Sky Guides), 2023, by M. Elbroch.
Includes excellent drawings of many of the more common tracks, and associated scat. $14
Animal Tracks of the Southwest, (American Quick Guides), American Publications, 2016, by J. Poppele. Over 150 species covered, includes drawings and gait information. $10
Animal Tracks of Arizona & New Mexico, Lone Pine Publishing, 1998, by I. Sheldon. Covers mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. Excellent drawings and gait information. $9
Animal Tracks of the Midwest, 2nd edition, Adventure Publications, 2022, by J. Poppele. Very detailed, with significant overlap for New Mexico species. Includes information on reptiles, amphibians, and birds. $14
A Key-guide to Mammal Skulls and Lower Jaws, A nontechnical introduction for beginners, Mad River press, 1991, by A. Roest. Basically, a giant key, with two sections: one for skulls and one for lower jaws. Includes drawings and measurements. $13.00
Scat Finder: A guide to mammal scat of eastern North America, Nature Study Guide Publishers, 2022, by D. Miller. Small but detailed, includes diagrams of the digestive systems, drawings, and measurements. Covers many New Mexico mammals. $6
Animal Tracks of the Southwest, Chris Stall, The Mountaineers, 1990. A good small guide, organized by size of the track, with life-size tracks for comparison. $15
Scats and Tracks of the Desert Southwest: A Field Guide to Signs of 70 Wildlife Species, Falcon Guides, 2015. A good small guide, with mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. About $13
Pocket Guide to Animal Tracks, Ron Cordes, Pocket Guides Publishing, 2016. Small and concise, easy to use- also waterproof. $16
Local Tracks of North America, Local Birds Inc, 2006. A small fold out guide with a surprising number of tracks and a ruler on the edge. A good choice to toss in a pack for the occasional track identification. $9 (at Acorn Naturalist)
Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species, Wildlife and Nature Identification, 2018. by James Kavanagh. $8