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Introduction
 Getting
the right I.D. on birds can be a daunting task. The internet is a big
help. However, reference books still provide the most complete
and detailed information available. You might find
some of them in your local library. However, if you are a bird fanatic
like me.... you will end up owning a stack of them.
The first three books
are classic texts for bird identification. Most researchers use
Sibley-Monroe classification. The other two major world bird lists are
Howard & Moore's 3rd Edition and Clements' 5th Edition. This book list is weighted towards the Asia-Pacific
Region, South America, and to a lesser extent Africa. Books on
North American and European birds are well-covered elsewhere.
You
can click on the book cover below to get more information or
use the 'Buy from Amazon' button to order.
The Howard and Moore
Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World: 3rd Edition
 This
is the most accurate and comprehensive checklist of birds ever
published in a single volume. First published over twenty years ago,
The Howard and Moore Checklist was the first such compact list to
include not only all the known species in the world but subspecies too.
This new edition of the highly respected reference volume has been
fully revised and updated throughout. Enlarged significantly, it has
benefited from the input of five regional consultants--one for each of
the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Palaearctic--who have
assisted with a thorough and rigorous reassessment of all taxonomic
data. This review has led to the inclusion of many valuable new
footnotes and references; there are some 4,000 footnotes explaining
taxonomic choices, and 3,000 references. All authorities for newly
described taxa (whether recognized now or not) are given with full
references, for the first time in any checklist....Amazon.
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Distribution
and Taxonomy of Birds of the World by Charles Sibley, Burt
Monroe
 Provides
the scientific and English names for the 9,672 species recognized by
the authors, indicates the superspecies groups, gives a brief statement
of habitats, outlines the geographic distribution of each species with
taxonomic comments and literature citations, and includes maps and a
gazetteer of the localities mentioned in the distributional accounts...Book
News, Inc.
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Birds of the
World: A Checklist by James F. Clements
 Here, in a single volume, is a current listing of
the almost 9800 species of birds recognized by the scientific
community. This completely revised fifth edition includes the
scientific name of each species, its best known English name, and a
description of the worldwide range of each species and subspecies. A
comprehensive index includes the genus, specific name and English name
of each of the species treated in the text. Each entry has a space to
record the location and date of individual sightings, providing the
user with a personalized ornithological journal...Ibis Publishing.
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The
Tanagers: Natural
History, Distribution & Identification by Morton L. Ilser, Phyllis, R. Isler
 The
tanagers of the Western Hemisphere, write ornithologists Morton and
Phyllis Isler, belong to a rather fluid category of birds known as the
"nine-primaried oscines," songbirds whose tiny outermost wing primary
is concealed. It takes in some 240 fructivorous and insectivorous
species distributed widely in space, from Alaska to southern Chile,
offering detailed notes on their habitat, behavior, range, breeding
habits, and vocalizations...Amazon.
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Storks,
Ibises and Spoonbills of the World by
James A. Hancock, James A. Kushan
 Some
of the world's largest and most spectacular birds are to be found among
this group of wading birds. Tragically, they also include many of the
world's most endangered species, as changes in land use erode their
wetland habitats. Some like the White Stork have lived alongside humans
for hundreds of years and are well known from numerous studies. Others,
like the Storm's stork and ibises of West Africa, South-East Asia and
South America live so secluded a life in the remote corners of the
globe that they will probably be extinct before even the most basic
details of their biology are known....Amazon.
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A Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo, Sumatra,
Java, and Bali by John Ramsay MacKinnon, Karen Phillipps
 The
islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Java, and Bali are ecologically one of the
richest, most biologically complex areas in the world, sought out by
thousands of knowledgeable nature lovers every year for the spectacular
variety of wildlife and beautiful vistas. This book provides the first
complete identification guides to the birds of this teeming tropical
paradise. It gives descriptions of 820 regional species, illustrated in
88 specially commissioned color plates accompanied by notes detailing
distinctive features and habitats. Entries cover nomenclature, plumage,
markings, voice, global range, distribution and regional status,
habits, and diet...Amazon.
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Sunbirds: A Guide
to the Sunbirds, Spiderhunters, Sugarbirds and Flowerpeckers of the
World by Robert Cheke, Clive Mann, Richard
Allen
 The dazzling insect- and nectar-eating sunbirds in
Asia and Africa are among the most glamorous of all bird families. This
comprehensive book is the first guide to all sunbirds and to three
other closely related families: the spiderhunters and flowerpeckers of
Asia and the sugarbirds of southern Africa. This guide provides a full
account of each species, including a summary of identification
criteria, differences between similar species, descriptions of calls
and songs, habitat, status, movements, food, habits, and breeding
biology. There are also detailed distribution maps and forty-eight
beautiful color plates...Amazon.
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Parrots:
A Guide to Parrots of the World
by Tony Juniper, Mike Parr
 A
resource for identifying the 350 species of parrots in the wild,
including cockatoos, parakeets, lovebirds, and Budgerigar. Includes 88
color plates illustrating each species and most identifiable
subspecies, referenced to and from the corresponding text and range
map. Discusses the ecology, details of appearance emphasizing
distinguishing features, vocalizations, life cycle characteristics,
geographical variations, and the conservation status of those species
that are threatened or endangered...Amazon.
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Finches
and Sparrows by Peter Clement, Alan Harris
(Illustrator), John Davis (Illustrator)
 Among
the most familiar and colorful of birds, finches and sparrows occupy
almost every type of habitat throughout the world--from the environs of
the Dead Sea to agricultural lowlands to the tops of the Himalayas.
However, no comprehensive single-volume treatment of these families has
appeared until now. Finches and Sparrows, which
combines nearly 950 color portraits with detailed descriptions of every
species, is an easy-to-use identification guide for birdwatchers,
conservationists, and ornithologists, who, along with cagebird
enthusiasts, will find this book an invaluable reference...Amazon.
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Starlings and Mynas by
Chris Feare, Adrian Craig, Chris Shields
 The
starling family contains some of the world's most successful, and some
of the world's rarest, birds. Starlings and Mynas is the first
comprehensive, one-volume guide to all 114 members of the family. Every
species is described and illustrated, along with many distinctive
subspecies. The authors have also taken the opportunity to re-examine
starling classification in the light of up-to-date knowledge of the
birds' ecology and behaviour....Amazon.
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Pittas, Broadbills and
Asities by Frank Lambert,
Martin Woodcock
 This book covers two
widely-known groups of Old-World tropical birds. Pittas, broadbills and
asities include some of the most beautiful, elusive and sought-after
birds in the world.Pittas are a gound-dwelling insectivorous species.
Broadbills form a more diverse group - some being highly specialized
insectivores, others being fructivores. The asities of Madagascar were
formerly placed in their own family but are now considered to be
broadbills. The range of the 49 species covers South and East Asia,
Wallacea, New Guinea, Northern Australia and Africa...Gehan's
Wildlife Book Corner.
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Pigeons
and Doves : A Guide to Pigeons and Doves of the World by
David Gibbs, Eustace Barnes
 This
book is the first full-color illustrated guide to the field
identification of the pigeons and doves of the world. The authors
incorporate much recent information about this large family of birds
that includes specialist frugivores, seed-eaters, brightly colored
tropical species, gregarious migratory species, shy ground-dwellers,
tree inhabiters, and more...Amazon.
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Toucans, Barbets and Honeyguides: Ramphastidae,
Capitonidae and Indicatoridae by
Lester L. Short, Jennifer F. M. Horne
 This
book covers in unmatched detail the life history, relationships,
biology, and conservation of all the world's toucans, barbets, and
honeyguides. These number 133 species, found in tropical regions around
the world. The toucans are especially well-known because of their
dramatic bills and their association with the Amazon rainforest. The
authors have been working with these birds for over 20 years, and their
knowledge and expertise in these groups is unrivalled. Much of the
information in this book has never previously been published. The
colour plates, painted by well-known US artist Albert Earl Gilbert, are
probably the best paintings of these birds ever produced...Oxford
University Press.
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Owls: A Guide to the Owls of the World by Claus Konig, Friedhelm Weick
 A
stunning and fresh look at the Owls of the world. Each of the 212
species recognised by the Authors is described in detail, including
Habits, vocalisations, distribution and current status. 64 colour
plates add visual credence to the descriptions. This is all preceded by
a general overview of Owl anatomy, behaviour, vocalisations, and
breeding and nesting habits. Evidence is also presented to support the
Authors' views on taxonomy. If you only ever buy one book about Owls,
make it this one!...owlpages-com.
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Pheasants,
Partridges, and Grouse
: A Guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl,
Buttonquails, and Sandgrouse of the World by
Steve Madge, Phil McGowan, Guy M. Kirwan
 This
guide brings together, for the first time within a single volume, a
comprehensive review of all the world's pheasants, partridges, quails,
grouse, turkeys, guineafowl, buttonquails, sandgrouse, and the
enigmatic Plains-wanderer--over 250 species in all. The group includes
some of the world's most familiar and beautiful birds, such as the
Indian peafowl and the stunning tragopans, as well as some of the
rarest and most threatened. This book concentrates on detailed
identification and distribution, but also highlights conservation
issues where relevant. The seventy-two color plates, by leading bird
illustrators, show male, female, juvenile, and subspecies plumages, and
form the finest set of illustrations of these birds to date. There is
also a color distribution map for each species...Princeton
University Press.
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Raptors
of the World by James Ferguson-Lees
 Prepared
with the same grace that raptors possess, this is an impressive
opus. All 313 species of diurnal raptors (excluded are the
nocturnal owls) are illustrated in color and black and white, perched
and in flight. As with any field guide, information is provided for
identification, including brief descriptive text next to the color
plate, illustrations of juvenile and adult plumage, and a range map.
Reference text about each species describes distribution (with a larger
map), movements, habitat, field characters, perched and flight
characteristics, confusion species, voice, food, sociosexual behavior,
breeding, population, variations, size measurements, and references. An
index and a colossal 50-page bibliography conclude the work. The plate
color is good, and the images are clear. A required purchase for every
ornithology collection, academic or public, this book is highly
recommended...Library Journal.
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Kingfishers,
Bee-Eaters, & Rollers: A Handbook by
C. Hilary Fry, Kathie Fry
 Few
birds can match the dazzling beauty of kingfishers, bee-eaters, and
rollers. Until now no comprehensive treatment of these families has
appeared in a single volume. This authoritative guide provides an
up-to-the-minute review of all that is known about the world's 123
species. The forty magnificient plates by Alan Harris show every
species, all main subspecies, and most sex and age variations--350
portraits in all. For easy reference, color maps showing breeding and
wintering ranges appear opposite the plates. Text and plates are
carefully coordinated, with emphasis on behavior, field characters, and
identification; and the species accounts, which form the bulk of the
book, are liberally illustrated with line drawings...Princeton
University Press.
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Rails of the World: A Monograph of the Family
Rallidae by S. Dillon Ripley, Fenwick
Lansdowne
 Pairing S. Dillon Ripley’s quarter
century of study with over 70 color and black and white illustrations
by J. Fenwick Lansdowne, this book marks a memorable ornithological
publishing event. Both the book’s subject matter and its
manner of production—lavishly illustrated, printed on special
paper with relentless attention to every detail—represent
worthy objects of celebration and preservation.
Among
the least known and most elusive of any major bird species, rails
manage to colonize remote islands, impenetrable jungles and desolate
shorelines in almost all regions of the world. Particularly interesting
is their enigmatic evolution; once having arrived at a suitable
habitat, they often lose their power of sustained flight and, over the
centuries, their instinct for migration. With the rapid disappearance
of their habitats and their vulnerability to predation, this book
serves the very important function of establishing scholarship on the
rail family...Publisher.
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Swifts
: A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World by
Phil Chantler, Gerald Driessens
 Extensively
revised, the second edition of this highly acclaimed book contains the
most up-to-date information available on each of the world`s 96 species
of swifts and treeswifts. The author includes recent findings,
particularly about the neotropical swifts, and the artist has revised
several plates based on new observations of these fascinating birds...Amazon.
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Trogons
And Quetzals Of The World by Paul A. Johnsgard
 Beautifully
illustrated with 40 hand-colored plates and 19 line drawings, this
comprehensive review of trogons and quetzals---the first to be
published in more than 150 years---covers all thirty-nine species
currently in existence. Detailed species descriptions, range maps, and
identification keys are included along with an examination of species
anatomy, behavior, breeding, and evolution...Amazon.
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Seabirds:
An Identification Guide by Peter Harrison
 This
is the definitive book on the identification of seabirds. It covers
virtually all the known species, including sea ducks, loons, and
grebes. Each species is beautifully illustrated in color, with
different plumages, postures, and views shown to provide visual
information not previously available in any book. The clearly written
species descriptions include every detail needed for precise
identification: plumage (adult breeding, adult nonbreeding, subadult,
immature, and juvenile), flight habits and jizz, distribution and
movements, similar species, subspecies, alternate names, and other
important characteristics. Line drawings and identification keys
amplify points made in the text and on the color plates. Color range
maps show the distribution of each species throughout the world, The
introduction gives a brief survey of the world's seabirds, describing
in detail and illustrating the main identification characters that
distinguish the different groups of seabirds...Birder.com.
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Pelicans, Cormorants, and Their Relatives: The
Pelecaniformes by J. Bryan Nelson
 The
pelecaniformes are a large and important group of seabirds, containing
many spectacular species. This book addresses the breeding biology of
the six pelecaniform families, which comprise the closely-related core
groups (pelicans, cormorants/shags, darters, gannets/boobies) and their
moredistant relatives, the frigate birds and tropic birds. Many
fundamental questions can be addressed through the pelecaniformes: Why
do they breed in colonies? What are the links between their feeding
methods and their reproduction? What part does territorial and pairing
behavior play in theirlife-cycles? These and scores of comparable
issues, including those related to man, are woven here into a richly
interpretative text.The author's approach to the subject is threefold.
First, the pelecaniformes are placed within the framework of four
discrete disciplines, with chapters on evolutionary relationships,
comparative behaviour, ecology, and the birds' relationship with
humans. Secondly, each of the six families isdiscussed, elucidating the
range of taxonomy, behavior, and ecology within each. Finally, we
progress to specific level, using the same structure as for the family
accounts. In this way, each of the 60-odd species can be understood not
just as discrete units, but as part of their family and order...Amazon
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Herons and Egrets of
the World: A
Photographic Journey by James
A. Hancock
 "I
found the concise listing of all species and sub-species particularly
useful. This is a book by a man who has travelled the globe in a labor
of love. In those travels, James has amassed an insight on this
long-legged family of water birds that few people have achieved for any
group of birds. The Photographic Journey is a
volume that I am happy to have on my bookshelves and I am pleased to
draw it to the attention of all those who share the author's love of
herons and egrets."....John
Taverner in Hampshire Chronicle.
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The Birds of Borneo by Bertrame Smythies
 Borneo, the world’s third largest island
and the biggest land mass in the Malay Archipelago, has a rich avifauna
(622 species), where 70% of the recorded bird species are dependent on
the Southeast Asian lowland tropical rain forest for their survival.
This edition of a book first produced in 1960 carries newly written
chapters on the Borneo environment for birds, migration, conservation,
and cave swiftlets, and re-introduced from the first edition those
classic chapters on birds and man, bird augury and the Iban hornbill
ritual. It will provide invaluable insights as it sets the avian scene
for the massive changes likely to occur in Borneo over the next few
decades. There are 57 plates, illustrating 394 species, including the
45 colour and 4 monochrome plates from the first edition. Recent
information about behaviour, occurrence, habitat and nesting has been
incorporated, as well as an update of the history of Borneo
ornithology...Natural
History Publications.
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Birds of Thailand (Princeton Field
Guides) by Craig Robson
 Thailand
is the mecca of birding in Southeast Asia. It's convenient to get to
and get around, and its birdlife is wondrously diverse, exotic, and
plentiful. With Birds of Thailand, Craig Robson and fourteen leading
illustrators give us the most up-to-date, comprehensive, and concise
field guide to this magnificent country's rich avifaunal heritage in
recent years, covering the more than 950 species recorded as of early
in the new millennium.
Facing each of the 128
striking, full-color plates are species accounts accompanied by maps
for each, illustrating precise distribution within Thailand. The
accurate text covers identification, voice, habitat, behavior, range,
status, and breeding for all species and subspecies. Illustrations and
entries on a number of species recorded only quite recently are also
included....Amazon.
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A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines by Robert S. Kennedy, Pedro C. Gonzales, Edward C. Dickinson, Hector Miranda, Timothy H. Fisher
A Guide to the Birds of the Philippines
is the first and only guide that covers all 572 species of birds known
to occur within the 7,100 islands that make up the Philippines. The
Philippine avifauna includes some 170 endemics - species that are not
found anywhere else in the world - and is thus of interest to avid
birders around the world. Many of these species are also endangered,
due to the high levels of habitat destruction in the Philippine forest,
and this book is also urgently needed by conservation workers in the
region. The Guide is illustrated by 72 specially painted colour plates
that show all but the three most recently described species. Its text
gives detailed information about the plumage, voice, range,
distribution, status, habitat, life history and behaviour of the birds
and is accompanied by distribution maps for all the species described.
The expert team of authors and artists includes two prominent
Philippine ornithologists, and has combined field experience summing to
over 60 years. This book clearly will be the standard for Philippine
Ornithology for many years to come...Amazon.
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Birds
of New Guinea by
Bruce M. Beehler, Thane K. Pratt, Dale A. Zimmerman
 This
book is the first definitive ornithological field guide to New Guinea,
the world's second largest island and one of the richest tropical
environments in the Old World. Because of its isolation, New Guinea's
biota includes spectacular radiations of unusual plants and animals (of
which the birds of paradise are perhaps best known). The region has
long attracted naturalists, ecologists, and anthropologists. This book
treats all of the more than 700 species of birds recorded from the
region, illustrating more than 600 of them in forty-seven fine color
plates and eight black-and-white halftone plates. The text contains
species accounts treating identification, distribution, ecology,
vocalizations, and behavior. This is preceded by a detailed
introduction to the region, with sections on climate, biogeography,
rainforest ecology, and conservation.
A chief contribution
of the book is the wealth of information on the habits of many of the
region's little-known species. Included is an ornithological gazetteer,
along with four maps showing natural features and important
ornithological localities...Amazon.
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Ratites and Tinamous: Tinamidae, Rheidae, Dromaiidae, Casuariidae,
Apterygidae, Struthionidae (Bird Families of the World) by S. J. J. F.
Davies, Michael J. Bamford, Danika Loomes (Illustrator)
 The
book covers the evolution, biology and natural history of the group of
flightless birds that includes ostriches, emus, cassowaries and kiwis -
the Ratites and their relatives, the Tinamous. It reviews the
scientific studies that have been made of their ecology, behaviour,
physiology, husbandary, evolution, mythology and conservation. Each of
the 55 species is described in detail, with maps of the present known
distribution, accounts their food and nesting habits, calls, field
identification, habitat and relationship with humans, including
farming.
It is the first such
comprehensive account of the groups since 1877, and the first to bring
together comprehensive information about the tinamous, little known
birds of the America. It reviews the long debated subject of the
evolution of these groups, highlighting new evidence that has turned
many old theories on their head. Both the interested amateur and the
professional should find it rewarding to read...Oxford
University Press.
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Birds of Australia: Seventh Edition (Princeton
Field Guides) by Ken Simpson, Nicolas Day
 This
is the completely revised seventh edition of Australia's best field
guide, with more than 500,000 copies sold over its lifetime. In 132
color plates of remarkable beauty and precision, Nicolas Day has
captured the details of all of Australia's 760 birds. Succinct text by
Ken Simpson and other experts gives key points of identification, as
well as information about the birds' abundance and patterns of
movement. Every species text is accompanied by a detailed map showing
the boundaries of breeding and non-breeding populations.
This updated edition
includes sixteen new or revised color plates, all new distribution maps
with subspecies shown, and more than 900 black-and white-illustrations.
The Vagrant Bird Bulletin has been extended to include 74 species,
while a useful breeding summary for every species gives immediate
information regarding their annual breeding cycle...Amazon.
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Birds
of India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the
Maldives by Richard
Grimmett, Carol Inskipp, Tim Inskipp
 Featuring
more than 150 color plates by eminent bird illustrators from Europe and
India, it depicts all the known species in the region, ranging from the
Himalayan Snowcock in the north to the Sri Lanka Spurfowl in the south.
The plates include all relevant identifiable subspecies, as well as
ages and sexes. It contains hundreds of range maps and the succinct
text on the facing pages covers identification, voice, and
distribution. Specially designed for use in the field, it is a compact
version of the landmark A Guide to the Birds of India, Pakistan, Nepal,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives, hailed on its
publication as a "stunning book" that "advanced the cause of Indian
birding by 20-30 years."...Amazon.
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A
Field Guide to the
Birds of China by John MacKinnon, Karen
Phillipps (Illustrator), Fen-Qi He
 This
is the first truly comprehensive, taxonomically modern, and fully
illustrated field guide to Chinese birds. Over 1300 species are
illustrated in 128 color paintings, and they are fully described in the
text. Color distribution maps are also provided for all illustrated
species. The authors have both lived and worked in the region for many
years, and they have extensive experience writing and illustrating bird
guides. Thus, this important book will become a landmark in field guide
publishing...Amazon.
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A Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia by Craig Robson
 Southeast
Asia's stunning diversity of avian life is no surprise to jet-setting
birders. More than a thousand species--from hornbills to hoopoes--can
be found in Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos,
Vietnam, and Cambodia. What may surprise some, however, is that a
single identification guide covers the entire region, with no less than
104 color plates depicting every species. Illustrations are clear,
including variations in sex, age, and subspecies. Textual information
describes habitat, behavior, breeding, voice, and distribution (range
maps are not included). Like most international guides, the text is
separated from the plates, which can make for a lot of thumbing back
and forth; on the positive side, such a format allows for more detailed
descriptions per species. Also, this is not a pocket guide to be
carried about by hand while in the field; most birders will prefer to
keep it stowed and ready in a backpack when trekking through the jungle
in search of an evasive pitta...Amazon.
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The
Birds of South America:
The Oscine Passerines by Robert S.
Ridgely, Guy Tudor
 The
Birds of South America, projected to be a four-volume work, thus fills
a critical void. Starting from a museum approach, the authors have
examined specimens of each subspecies, comparing them visually and
trying to discern the patterns in their plumage variation, both intra-
and inter-specifically. They take a new look at bird systematics,
reassessing relationships in light of new information. Perhaps most
important, they combine this review and analysis with extensive field
observations to give an accurate, incisive portrait of the birds in
nature. At a time when rapid development is devastating millions of
acres of tropical habitat in South America, this record of an
endangered resource becomes crucial. If the birds and other plants and
animals of South America are to be saved, they must first be known and
appreciated. The Birds of South America is a major step in that
direction. Volume I includes the Jays and Swallows; Wrens, Thrushes,
and Allies; Vireos and Wood-warblers; Tanagers, Icterids, and Finches...Amazon.
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The
Birds of South America:
The Suboscine Passerines by Robert S.
Ridgely, Guy Tudor, William L. Brown
 The
Birds of South America, projected to be a four-volume work, thus fills
a critical void. Starting from a museum approach, the authors have
examined specimens of each subspecies, comparing them visually and
trying to discern the patterns in their plumage variation, both intra-
and inter-specifically. They take a new look at bird systematics,
reassessing relationships in light of new information. Perhaps most
important, they combine this review and analysis with extensive field
observations to give an accurate, incisive portrait of the birds in
nature. At a time when rapid development is devastating millions of
acres of tropical habitat in South America, this record of an
endangered resource becomes crucial. If the birds and other plants and
animals of South America are to be saved, they must first be known and
appreciated. The Birds of South America is a major step in that
direction. Volume II includes the Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers, Antbirds,
Gnatcatchers, and Tapaculos; Tyrant Flycatchers; and Manakins and
Cotingas...Amazon.
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Where
to Watch Birds in Australasia and Oceania by
Nigel Wheatley
 The
belt of islands leading from Australia northeastward to Hawaii offers
any number of choice birders' destinations: some 20 families
(cassowaries, logrunners, and honeycreepers, for instance) are endemic,
while another hundred or so are common, including most of the world's
birds of paradise species and an astonishing variety of sunbirds,
flycatchers, and nightjars. Wheatley, an accomplished birder and
writer, offers a guide to some 200 destinations, with notes on endemic
and characteristic populations, other regional wildlife, and lodging
and other services...Gregory McNamee.
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Where to Watch Birds in Asia by
Nigel Wheatley
 Bringing
together for the first time all of the birding sites in Asia, this
handy guide advises new and frequent visitors to the continent on where
to go for the best birdwatching. From Turkey to Thailand and India to
Indonesia, the book contains the latest birding information and deals
with over 250 sites in detail and many more in passing. It directs the
reader quickly to sites containing the birds he or she wants to see and
tells which countries support the best cross-sections. Strategic
information concerning when to go, how many sites to visit, how to get
there, and how much time to spend is presented in a straightforward,
easy-to-use format. Over one hundred maps and fifty line drawings
enliven the text...Amazon.
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Where to Watch Birds
in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean by Nigel Wheatley
Around 430 species of
birds have been recorded in the Caribbean, of which an amazing 159 are
endemic. Central America has a species list of about 1,350, with some
340 endemics. This book treats over 215 individual sites in detail,
covering every Central American country, Mexico, and all of the popular
Caribbean islands. Detailed site accounts enable birders to maximize
their chances of finding the special birds of each region, from the
spectacular Resplendent Quetzal of Costa Rica's cloud forest to the
threatened Imperial Parrot of Dominica. Endemic species for each site
and region are listed separately, and the accounts include practical
information on accommodation, transport, safety, and the timing of
visits. Other interesting wildlife is also listed for each site, and
numerous site maps and line drawings further enhance the text. The
information presented is succinct, yet detailed enough for readers to
work out their own itineraries with a minimum of time and effort...Princeton
University Press.
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