Synopses & Reviews
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.
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
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 851-852) and indexes.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 8
Introduction 9
Ostrich STRUTHIONIDAE 33
Divers (or Loons) GAVIIDAE 33
Grebes PODICIPEDIDAE 36
Albatrosses DIOMEDEIDAE 40
Petrels and Shearwaters PROCELLARIIDAE 42
Storm-petrels HYDROBATIDAE 72
Tropicbirds PHAETHONTIDAE 76
Gannets and Boobies SULIDAE 76
Cormorants PHALACROCORACIDAE 79
Darters ANHINGIDAE 82
Pelicans PELECANIDAE 83
Frigatebirds FREGATIDAE 85
Herons and Egrets ARDEIDAE 86
Storks CICONIIDAE 109
Ibises and Spoonbills THRESKIORNITHIDAE 111
Flamingos PHOENICOPTERIDAE 113
Wildfowl (or Waterfowl) ANATIDAE 114
Hawks and Eagles ACCIPITRIDAE 180
Osprey PANDIONIDAE 205
Falcons FALCONIDAE 205
Grouse TETRAONIDAE 253
Pheasants and Partridges PHASIANIDAE 256
Guineafowl NUMIDIDAE 265
Buttonquails TURNICIDAE 265
Rails RALLIDAE 266
Cranes GRUIDAE 273
Bustards OTIDIDAE 275
Painted-snipes ROSTRATULIDAE 295
Oystercatchers HAEMATOPODIDAE 295
Stilts and Avocets RECURVIROSTRIDAE 296
Crab-plover DROMADIDAE 298
Thick-knees BURHINIDAE 298
Coursers and Pratincoles GLAREOLIDAE 299
Plovers CHARADRIIDAE 302
Sandpipers SCOLOPACIDAE 313
Skuas STERCORARIIDAE 388
Gulls LARIDAE 393
Terns STERNIDAE 449
Skimmers RYNCHOPIDAE 463
Auks (or Alcids) ALCIDAE 464
Sandgrouse PTEROCLIDIDAE 469
Pigeons and Doves COLUMBIDAE 472
Parrots PSITTACIDAE 479
Cuckoos CUCULIDAE 480
Owls RYTONIDAE and STRIGIDAE 484
Nightjars CAPRIMULGIDAE 515
Swifts APODIDAE 519
Kingfishers ALCEDINIDAE 524
Bee-eaters MEROPIDAE 526
Rollers CORACIIDAE 527
Hoopoes UPUPIDAE 529
Woodpeckers PICIDAE 530
Tyrant Flycatchers TYRANNIDAE 537
Larks ALAUDIDAE 539
Swallows and Martins HIRUNDINIDAE 568
Pipits and Wagtails MOTACILLIDAE 574
Bulbuls PYCNONOTIDAE 590
Waxwings and Hypocolius BOMBYCILLIDAE 591
Dippers CINCLIDAE 593
Wrens TROGLODYTIDAE 593
Mockingbirds and Thrashers MIMIDAE 594
Accentors PRUNELLIDAE 595
Thrushes and Chats TURDIDAE 598
Warblers SYLVIIDAE 646
Flycatchers MUSCICAPIDAE 704
Babblers TIMALIIDAE 708
Long-tailed Tits AEGITHALIDAE 710
Tits PARIDAE 711
Nuthatches SITTIDAE 715
Wallcreepers TICHODROMADIDAE 719
Treecreepers CERTHIIDAE 719
Penduline Tits REMIZIDAE 721
Sunbirds NECTARINIIDAE 722
Orioles ORIOLIDAE 724
Shrikes LANIIDAE 724
Crows CORVIDAE 744
Starlings STURNIDAE 752
Sparrows PASSERIDAE 756
Weavers PLOCEIDAE 762
Waxbills ESTRILDIDAE 763
Vireos VIREONIDAE 765
Finches FRINGILLIDAE 767
American Wood-warblers PARULIDAE 809
Tanagers THRAUPIDAE 818
Buntings EMBERIZIDAE 819
American Orioles and Blackbirds ICTERIDAE 840
Appendix 845
Further Reading 851
Index of English Names 854
Index of Scientific Names 863