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Review
'extremely useful addition to the 'field guides' to South American birds'
--Birding World (2009)
--Birding World (2009)
Product Description
This is a single-volume guide to South American passerines, based on a two-volume work first published in 1989 and 1994. For the new edition, the text has been condensed, most of the missing species that were not illustrated before have now been painted, and brand new maps have been compiled for every species. This is a major identification guide to the songbirds of South America. No other single volume guide exists for passerines (though there is a single-volume guide for non-passerines from Collins). There are still large areas of South America without a comprehensive field guide, so this book will become essential for anyone birding in these areas (e.g. Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am reviewing this book as a birder and as such cannot give a detailed review of an expert. I have been on a number of trips there and used the guides for the areas. As such I am aware of the pitfalls and inadequacies which this guide has certainly overcome. Alot of thought has gone into this guide.
The first thing that strikes you is the quality of the plates. They do look like the birds in the field rather than flattened outlines that are coloured differently. Put simple the images are lovely with a delicate colour palate coupled with excellent reproduction show these glorious birds how you see them. This is a key element in recognising the bird and one of the great strengths of this guide. Whereas many of the poorer guides are actually off-putting to successful identification! European birders are spoilt with many excellent field guides but for large parts of South America the guides that exist are non existent or pretty poor until now.
Previously these good plates were contained in two hefty volumes that were not really portable. This certainly is (it goes in my shoulder bag easily and is relatively light) and with the Collins non-passerine volume could be easily used in the field and essential, where field guides are lacking.
The plates are separate from the text but this probably assists you to find the bird by comparing a number of species quickly, rather than wading through pages of text with birds. Opposite each plate is the name and very importantly a good quality map so you can exclude species on the wrong side of the Andes, wrong country etc. For 2000 species you have to reduce the text but the guide provides key details such as description with distinct features in italics, voice, behaviour, altitude, habitat etc. I think they have got it right. Too many guides have insufficient text. This element is where it considerably better than the Collins guide.
Looking at the images brings back many very happy memories of the lovely bird life there and I hope it will encourage other birders who haven't ventured to South America to go there enjoy themselves and support the wonderful Bird/Eco lodges there.
Is it worth buying? A very definite YES, even if you have the two volumes before.
The first thing that strikes you is the quality of the plates. They do look like the birds in the field rather than flattened outlines that are coloured differently. Put simple the images are lovely with a delicate colour palate coupled with excellent reproduction show these glorious birds how you see them. This is a key element in recognising the bird and one of the great strengths of this guide. Whereas many of the poorer guides are actually off-putting to successful identification! European birders are spoilt with many excellent field guides but for large parts of South America the guides that exist are non existent or pretty poor until now.
Previously these good plates were contained in two hefty volumes that were not really portable. This certainly is (it goes in my shoulder bag easily and is relatively light) and with the Collins non-passerine volume could be easily used in the field and essential, where field guides are lacking.
The plates are separate from the text but this probably assists you to find the bird by comparing a number of species quickly, rather than wading through pages of text with birds. Opposite each plate is the name and very importantly a good quality map so you can exclude species on the wrong side of the Andes, wrong country etc. For 2000 species you have to reduce the text but the guide provides key details such as description with distinct features in italics, voice, behaviour, altitude, habitat etc. I think they have got it right. Too many guides have insufficient text. This element is where it considerably better than the Collins guide.
Looking at the images brings back many very happy memories of the lovely bird life there and I hope it will encourage other birders who haven't ventured to South America to go there enjoy themselves and support the wonderful Bird/Eco lodges there.
Is it worth buying? A very definite YES, even if you have the two volumes before.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This guide was urgently needed and is very welcome. The plates are excellent and the texts are authoritative and with attention to detail. However I have started to work with it and found that it is not so easy because in the index it only shows the page number of the text and not the one of the plates so it takes time to go from one place to another and it is too heavy for the field. I also miss like water the Spanish and Portuguese names.
Listmania!
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