- Paperback: 412 pages
- Publisher: Princeton University Press; 2Rev Ed edition (15 Jun 1992)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0691025126
- ISBN-13: 978-0691025124
- Product Dimensions: 23.3 x 15.1 x 3.6 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 437,696 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Review
A sophisticated treatment of one of the world's richest avifaunas. -- "Quarterly Review of Biology
Product Description
This is the first paperback version of the second edition of the popular A Guide to the Birds of Panama. In the second edition, published in 1989, the authors expanded information on the birds of Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras: approximately 200 new species were added to the material in the 1976 edition. Over 300 additional species, some of them Panamanian, were illustrated. Sixteen new plates were added, and three of the original plates were replaced by improved versions. Throughout the book changes were made to accommodate the explosion in knowledge of the birds of Panama and nearby areas and of neotropical birds in general. The basic sequence and systematics of the AOU 1983 Check-list were adopted. Also included in the revised edition was expanded and updated information on birdfinding in Panama, prepared with the assistance of two of Panama's best resident birders. The book also contains a special section outlining developments in Panama ornithology and conservation. "A sophisticated treatment of one of the world's richest avifaunas."--The Quarterly Review of Biology
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In spite of the abundance and variety of birds and the prevalence of eco-tourism in Panama, field guides and handbooks on the subject are remarkably scarce. That could perhaps be because this Ridgely/Gwynne tome is so comprehensive that it is perceived that there is no need for any other guide, or perhaps it is because the subject matter itself is so enormous it is a task too daunting to undertake.
Either way, this book, although heavy and quite technical, proved an invaluable companion on my recent trip to Panama. I would say that it is not for the complete novice and the reader requires some knowledge of birds to be able to use it effectively (the writers acknowledge this in the foreword, and consequently it is written assuming this basic knowledge). But the plates served me well and the full descriptions were remarkably detailed and accurate, sometimes allowing for identification based on habits alone.
Truly a remarkable and comprehensive book. I do believe there is room in the market for a more lightweight book, with photos and more general information, however I am yet to find one of any substance.
Either way, this book, although heavy and quite technical, proved an invaluable companion on my recent trip to Panama. I would say that it is not for the complete novice and the reader requires some knowledge of birds to be able to use it effectively (the writers acknowledge this in the foreword, and consequently it is written assuming this basic knowledge). But the plates served me well and the full descriptions were remarkably detailed and accurate, sometimes allowing for identification based on habits alone.
Truly a remarkable and comprehensive book. I do believe there is room in the market for a more lightweight book, with photos and more general information, however I am yet to find one of any substance.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although field guides have moved on in terms of quality since this book was issued in 1989 this guide still stands the test of time. The plates are mostly accurate and well set out without being too cluttered although some of the descriptions appear on a previous page & rather confusingly, some birds e.g. Nighthawks are only depicted in the main text and additional plates are found further on in the book away from the middle section. It's fairly heavy for a field guide and I've heard of some birders removing the colour plates for use in the field so if you have the resources buy two copies, one to cut up and other for the bookshelf!
This book is well overdue for a re-vamp but it's an essential guide to the area giving both the common names and scientific names with sub-species for those armchair ticks in the future. I bought my copy in preparation for a trip in April 2007 and I still reach for it from time to time when I dream about a return visit to locate that elusive Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo, a species which deserves a half page plate to itself.
This book is well overdue for a re-vamp but it's an essential guide to the area giving both the common names and scientific names with sub-species for those armchair ticks in the future. I bought my copy in preparation for a trip in April 2007 and I still reach for it from time to time when I dream about a return visit to locate that elusive Rufous-vented Ground-cuckoo, a species which deserves a half page plate to itself.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
25 reviews
48 of 49 people found the following review helpful
Best available field guide to the birds of Panama
10 Jun 2003
Format:Paperback
Ridgely's guide is the best - and really the only - available field guide covering all the species of birds in the nation of Panama. While it is useful and serves most purposes, it has been over a decade since the second edition was released, and it is more than due for an overhaul and expansion. The most necessary would be the addition of range maps, that would make the book infinitely more useful in planning a trip. At the very least, there should be a single, detailed map of Panama, indicating the locations mentioned in the range descriptions! Also, it would be better to limit the scope of the book entirely to Panama, as Costa Rica and other areas to the north are covered by other guides, and the pertinent information for those areas in this book are scant, at best. Then, the isolated plates in the back need to be intergrated, as do the plates of Darien specialties, etc. Many species have been recently added to the Panama list, or split, etc, and those species need to be added. But, all this aside, this book should enable the identification of most Panama birds, and remains an indispensible resource for any birder traveling to that country.
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful
A Review of "Birds of Panama: with Costa Rica, Nicaragua,...
31 Mar 2000
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a good, standard guidebook with beautiful bird plates. It is, however, somewhat awkward to have the plates divided into two groups at different places in the book. Three chapters ("Migration and Local Movements", Recent Developments...", and "Finding Birds in Panama") were especially interesting and helpful. The chapter "Finding Birds in Panama" was very accurate and useful to me. I wish I had purchased this guidebook before my earlier birding trips to Costa Rica. It is an important book for the entire region.
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful
The only guide out there
16 Feb 2005
Format:Paperback
I visit Panama at least once a year, and this book is the first thing I pack for every trip. There's simply no other field guide out there. Although the book is over due for a thorough update (of both taxonomy and range reports), it's still the best source for identifying birds in Panama. All the guides and researchers that I've met over the years use this book. One of the most useful parts is the section that describes the best birding spots in Panama, as most of these places have remained largely unchanged. The plates are very good, more than adequate.
The book's a bit on the heavy side though. I usually go out birding for an entire day (6 am to 6 pm) carrying water, food, a camera and heavy telephoto lens, a tripod and binoculars. Even so, I've always resisted cutting out the plates, and end up taking the whole thing with me into the jungle. If the publisher were to make available a separate smaller booklet with only the plates, I'd definitely buy it. My back would be very grateful indeed!
Conclusion: If you're planning a birdwatching trip to Panama, you NEED this book!
The book's a bit on the heavy side though. I usually go out birding for an entire day (6 am to 6 pm) carrying water, food, a camera and heavy telephoto lens, a tripod and binoculars. Even so, I've always resisted cutting out the plates, and end up taking the whole thing with me into the jungle. If the publisher were to make available a separate smaller booklet with only the plates, I'd definitely buy it. My back would be very grateful indeed!
Conclusion: If you're planning a birdwatching trip to Panama, you NEED this book!
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