The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic

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.

Table of Contents:
Acknowledgements 8 Introduction 9 Ostrich STRUTHIONIDAE 33 Divers (or Loons) GAVIIDAE 33 Grebes PODICIPEDIDAE 36 Albatrosses DIOMEDEIDAE 40 Petrels & Shearwaters PROCELLARIIDAE 42 Storm-petrels HYDROBATIDAE 72 Tropicbirds PHAETHONTIDAE 76 Gannets & Boobies SULIDAE 76 Cormorants PHALACROCORACIDAE 79 Darters ANHINGIDAE 82 Pelicans PELECANIDAE 83 Frigatebirds FREGATIDAE 85 Herons & Egrets ARDEIDAE 86 Storks CICONIIDAE 109 Ibises & Spoonbills THRESKIORNITHIDAE 111 Flamingos PHOENICOPTERIDAE 113 Wildfowl (or Waterfowl) ANATIDAE 114 Hawks & Eagles ACCIPITRIDAE 180 Osprey PANDIONIDAE 205 Falcons FALCONIDAE 205 Grouse TETRAONIDAE 253 Pheasants & 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 & Avocets RECURVIROSTRIDAE 296 Crab-plover DROMADIDAE 298 Thick-knees BURHINIDAE 298 Coursers & 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 & Doves COLUMBIDAE 472 Parrots PSITTACIDAE 479 Cuckoos CUCULIDAE 480 Owls RYTONIDAE & 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 & Martins HIRUNDINIDAE 568 Pipits & Wagtails MOTACILLIDAE 574 Bulbuls PYCNONOTIDAE 590 Waxwings & Hypocolius BOMBYCILLIDAE 591 Dippers CINCLIDAE 593 Wrens TROGLODYTIDAE 593 Mockingbirds & Thrashers MIMIDAE 594 Accentors PRUNELLIDAE 595 Thrushes & 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 & Blackbirds ICTERIDAE 840 Appendix 845 Further Reading 851 Index of English Names 854 Index of Scientific Names 863

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 EuropeA's best bird artists, is that they are as attractive as any I have seen. -- Eirik A. T. Blom Bird WatcherA's Digest