5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fills a major gap in the bird identification literature, 18 April 2006
This review is from: Birds of Belize (Corrie Herring Hooks Series) (Paperback)
Due to its small size, proximity to the USA, English speaking tradition, tropical biodiversity and fairly well conserved natural environment, Belize is growing to be one of the most popular destinations for birders. However, until recently the country lacked a national field guide. This book therefore fills a major gap in the bird identification literature.
The book covers all 574 species recorded in Belize at the time of publication. After brief but informative introductory chapters, a group of 56 colour plates is dedicated to every species. As a refreshing change, all migrants are illustrated, reducing the need to carry an additional field guide to North American birds. A brief text accompanies each plate on the facing page, while the full species descriptions are found separately in the main body of text. Range maps for 234 species are found at the back of the book.
Although this book will not replace the immensely authoritative Howell & Webb's "A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America" for Belize, it is certainly a much more portable guide to carry into the field. A must for birders planning a trip to this friendly patch of Central America.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best Belize Field Guide, 29 Mar 2009
This review is from: Birds of Belize (Corrie Herring Hooks Series) (Paperback)
Better late than never! Only after a recent trip to Belize did we discover this excellent guide. It really is the definitive guide today and used by all the experts we encountered. So we only got ours on return but it can inspire us to return to enjoy the special birding that Belize can offer. Thoroughly recommended.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant, 7 May 2011
This book in amazing.
It has all the birds that you are going to see and even one that has never been seen in Belize but might be soon!!!
The descriptions are clear and helpful and gives very useful advice on telling very similar birds apart.
The pictures are skillfully drawn and very accurate, with the birds grouped in families so they can be compared with each other and therefore indentified with more ease than otherwise.
If you are very keen on birdwatching this is the perfect book to take to Belize because of its detail. If you are more interested in just the commoner species and wildlife in general (e.g. snakes and fish) then the Traveller's Wildlife Guide: Belize and Northern Guatemala is probarbly the better option. It doesn't however hve as many species and only the commoner ones are accounted for.
Oscar Wilkie 14
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