The Handbook of Bird Identification – Europe & The Western Palearctic - Hardcover

Beaman, Mark

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0691027269 ISBN 13: 9780691027265

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Drawing on their unrivaled field experience in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, authors Mark Beaman and Steve Madge have combined forces with some of Europe's finest bird artists to produce the region's most comprehensive guide ever. This is the first book to cover every species to have occurred in the region, including vagrants and accidentals--nearly nine hundred species in total. Color illustrations depict each bird and its main plumage stages and subspecies. An extensive text explains all aspects of identification, status, and habitat, while full-color maps within the text offer detailed distributional information.

During the compilation of this book, Beaman and Madge traveled throughout the region, from Iceland and Siberia to the Cape Verde Islands, Egypt, and Georgia. Their field experience is reflected in the breadth and accuracy of the information presented in this guide and in the thorough treatment of difficult or little-known groups. The innovative design of the book makes it accessible to beginning and expert birdwatchers alike. The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic is the ultimate reference guide for every birdwatcher interested in the region.

About this title

Review

Birdwatching, or Birding, is one of the most popular activities and pastimes in Europe and so it follows that it is essential to be able to identify the birds on view, be it in the back garden or for making more serious in-depth studies.

This book aims to bring together as much information as possible in one volume, using extremely detailed, up-to-date guides and identification of every species known to have occurred in Europe and the West Palearctic, that is, the whole of Europe, North Africa as far south as the Central Sahara, the Middle East to the border of Iran, the Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, the islands off Mauritania and the Cape Verde islands, as defined by Cramp and Simons 1977.

They have certainly been successful in doing so and have produced a wonderfully comprehensive guide covering nearly 900 species, showing a wide range of differing plumages. The colour plates are exquisite and have been painted by some of Europe's leading bird artists. The text is clear and can be followed by beginners but finer points of identification are included for the benefit of more serious bird watchers. Particularly helpful is the cross-referencing of the text and colour plates. There are more than 600 colour maps to identify where the birds are to be found, which are simple and easy to use with excellent descriptions of status and habitat.

Authors Beaman and Madge are both extremely well known in their field and are widely revered. Mark Beaman is the pioneer of modern professional bird tours in Europe, having travelled more extensively in the Palearctic region than any other ornithologist. He has made many important written contributions on the subject of bird identification. Steve Madge has also written a number of articles on bird identification and is the author of other bird books in the Helm series, receiving the Best Bird Book of the Year Award in 1988 for Crows and Jays. He too is a partner in a bird tour company. --Susan Naylor

Review

"A volume that should be on the shelf of every serious student of bird identification. Adding to the value of the plates, which were produced by a cadre of Europe¹s best bird artists, is that they are as attractive as any I have seen."--Eirik A. T. Blom, Bird Watcher¹s Digest

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0691027269
• ISBN 13: 9780691027265
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 868