One of the most comprehensive repositories of North American ornithology, published over 50 years, in a series of volumes in the United States National Museum Bulletin.  Bent used his own experiences traveling over the United States, the published literature, and contributions from hundreds of other people to create a series of works totalling over 9,000 pages with over 1,400 plates. The volumes appeared as follows:

• 1919 - Life Histories of North American Diving Birds (NMB 107)
• 1921 - Life Histories of North American Gulls and Terns (NMB 113)
• 1922 - Life Histories of North American Petrels and Pelicans and Their Allies (NMB 121)
• 1923 - Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl (part 1) (NMB 126)
• 1925 - Life Histories of North American Wild Fowl (part 2) (NMB 130)
• 1926 - Life Histories of North American Marsh Birds (NMB 135)
• 1927 - Life Histories of North American Shore Birds (part 1) (NMB 142)
• 1929 - Life Histories of North American Shore Birds (part 2) (NMB 146)
• 1932 - Life Histories of North American Gallinaceous Birds (NMB 162)
• 1937 - Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey (part 1) (NMB 167)
• 1938 - Life Histories of North American Birds of Prey (part 2) (NMB 170)
• 1939 - Life Histories of North American Woodpeckers (NMB 174)
• 1940 - Life Histories of North American Cuckoos, Goatsuckers, Hummingbirds, and Their Allies (NMB 176)
• 1942 - Life Histories of North American Flycatchers, Larks, Swallows, and Their Allies (NMB 179)
• 1946 - Life Histories of North American Jays, Crows, and Titmice (NMB 191)
• 1948 - Life Histories of North American Nuthatches, Wrens, Thrashers, and Their Allies (NMB 195)
• 1949 - Life Histories of North American Thrushes, Kinglets, and Their Allies (NMB 196)
• 1950 - Life Histories of North American Wagtails, Shrikes, Vireos, and Their Allies (NMB 197)
• 1953 - Life Histories of North American Wood Warblers (NMB 203)
• 1958 - Life Histories of North American Blackbirds, Orioles, Tanagers, and Allies (NMB 211)
• 1968 - Life Histories of North American Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, Towhees, Finches, Sparrows, and Allies (3 parts) (Arthur Cleveland Bent and Collaborators, compiled and edited by Oliver L. Austin, Jr.) (NMB 237)