A Guide to the Birds of Colombia - Softcover

Hilty, Steven L.; Brown, William L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 069108372X ISBN 13: 9780691083728

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 1986

Synopsis

Describing all of Colombia's birds, Steven Hilty and William Brown bring together information on one of the world's largest avifaunas-nearly 1,700 species. Over half of all the species of birds in South America are included, thus making the book useful in regions adjacent to Colombia, as well as in the country itself. The primary purpose of the work is to enable observers to identify the birds of the region, but it also provides detailed species accounts and will serve as an important handbook and reference volume. Fifty-six lavish color plates, thirteen halftone plates, and ninety-nine line drawings in the text illustrate over 85% of the species, including most of the resident birds. Notes on the facing-page of each place, and range maps of 1,475 species, facilitate identification.

Written with the field observer in mind, the text gives special attention to comparisons of similar species, transcriptions of voices, and comments on behavior, status, and habitat. It also provides ranges, breeding data, and references. Notes outline taxonomic problems and briefly describe species that eventually may be found in Colombia. Introductory chapters and photographs highlight Colombia's geography, climate, and vegetation, and discuss migration and conservation questions, and the history of Colombian ornithology. Appendices contain a large bibliography, a section on birding locations, and coverage of two of Colombia's far-flung island territories, Isla San Andrés and Providencia. Maps depicting vegetation zones, political boundaries, national parks, and the most text localities are included.

About this title

About the Author

Steven L. Hilty, one of the world's leading specialists in neotropical ornithology, has led birding tours to more than twenty countries. He is the author of Birds of Venezuela and Birds of Tropical America: A Watcher's Introduction to Behavior, Breeding and Diversity. William L. Brown is an exploration geologist, whose lifelong avocation is ornithology.

Edition details

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 1986
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 069108372X
• ISBN 13: 9780691083728
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 996