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Review
"A monumental effort by the authors and takes a worthy 'podium finish' in this year's award (the BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year 2005)." British Birds (Feb 2006) "(This book) has taken gull identification to a very advanced level and argues for some controversial species splits." Wildlife and Countryside (Dec 2005)
Product Description
The standard text on the identification of the northern hemisphere's gulls, this book covers the plumage variation through age and subspecies of all 80 species in the region. With exhaustive coverage, detailed maps, and superb plates and photos, this book remains the definitive work on these birds, which represent the trickiest of all ID challenges.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book won the "Birdwatch" book of the year award in 2004, and it certainly deserved it. Gulls can - if you get into them - pose a fascinating identification challenge, because of the wide range of plumages exhibited by each individual species. This book covers in detail - and I do mean detail - the identification of all 43 "Holarctic" gulls. The species accounts are presented as a series of monographs, and while this means that to compare different species you have to flick between pages I can't think of a better was of presenting this depth of information. For each species there is an excellent text, a distribution map and numerous high quality colour illustrations and photographs covering all they key plumages, including hybrids. There are over 800 photographs in all (an incredible 46 of the humble Herring Gull alone), all with individual notes highlighting the specific features they show. Illustrations and photographs both have their pros and cons as identification aids - with this book you get the best of both worlds.
The standard of presentation is excellent, as usual with a Helm guide, and for the keen birder this book is a joy. A word of caution though - it's really not for beginners, who will be overwhelmed by the amount of detail and will miss the "side by side" comparisons of similar species that are a feature of good general field guides.
The standard of presentation is excellent, as usual with a Helm guide, and for the keen birder this book is a joy. A word of caution though - it's really not for beginners, who will be overwhelmed by the amount of detail and will miss the "side by side" comparisons of similar species that are a feature of good general field guides.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is not for the faint-hearted. It goes into the different Holarctic species (and subspecies) of gulls in great depth.
I live in an inland county and don't often see gulls (apart from black-headed and common) on the ground. So in some ways it is way beyond what I need. But it is a superb reference book. And I'm glad to own it.
The sheer amount of detail and no. of drawings and photographs is breath-taking.
As with all bird identification the secret is to get to know the common species intimately first. So getting to grips with the argentatus and argenteus races of Herring gull is probably my next step. Then, who knows, I may get to the point of being able to pick out a Caspian, yellow-legged or even American herring gull from a mixed flock. If I don't, it won't be the fault of Olsen and Larsson!
I live in an inland county and don't often see gulls (apart from black-headed and common) on the ground. So in some ways it is way beyond what I need. But it is a superb reference book. And I'm glad to own it.
The sheer amount of detail and no. of drawings and photographs is breath-taking.
As with all bird identification the secret is to get to know the common species intimately first. So getting to grips with the argentatus and argenteus races of Herring gull is probably my next step. Then, who knows, I may get to the point of being able to pick out a Caspian, yellow-legged or even American herring gull from a mixed flock. If I don't, it won't be the fault of Olsen and Larsson!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the latest of the Helm Identification Guides and has been on the production line for some time. However after a false-start and a reprint the final product is excellent, weighing in at a somewhat hefty 1.5 kg!
Basically the book describes the 43 species found in the northern hemisphere however some of these species split into several racial forms so about 60 taxa are treated. Of these there are just 8 that breed in Britain although a further 12-16 (depending on your taxonomic thinking) are either non-breeding visitors or vagrants. In this book Yellow-legged Gull and Caspian Gull as separate species, as are Common, Vega, Heuglin's and American Herring Gull.
The accounts vary from 7 to 36 pages depending on the complexity of plumages and forms. The texts follow a regular pattern, with basic descriptions of identification, calls and moult being followed by very detailed plumage descriptions, geographical variation and distribution and migration. A colour map is given for each species. But for me the real selling point is the colour plates. The subtleties of gull identification are hard to describe with words but a good set of illustrations can speak volumes and here Hans Larsson has done a great job. These are the clearest gull illustrations I have ever seen. Photographs are also a vital aid when identifying different races and again this book has an outstanding range of images
Basically the book describes the 43 species found in the northern hemisphere however some of these species split into several racial forms so about 60 taxa are treated. Of these there are just 8 that breed in Britain although a further 12-16 (depending on your taxonomic thinking) are either non-breeding visitors or vagrants. In this book Yellow-legged Gull and Caspian Gull as separate species, as are Common, Vega, Heuglin's and American Herring Gull.
The accounts vary from 7 to 36 pages depending on the complexity of plumages and forms. The texts follow a regular pattern, with basic descriptions of identification, calls and moult being followed by very detailed plumage descriptions, geographical variation and distribution and migration. A colour map is given for each species. But for me the real selling point is the colour plates. The subtleties of gull identification are hard to describe with words but a good set of illustrations can speak volumes and here Hans Larsson has done a great job. These are the clearest gull illustrations I have ever seen. Photographs are also a vital aid when identifying different races and again this book has an outstanding range of images
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gulls of Europe... - it was a good purchase
I decided to buy this book when I was at the lake. I saw a lot of different species of gulls. After returning home, I wanted to identify them. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Marcin
Superb species account - gorgeous artwork and photography
This guide is taxonomically conservative - it lumps rather than splits. Recent genetic studies suggest the following revision, which it can be hoped the authors will include in... Read more
Published 3 months ago by H. A. Van Berg
Simply the best.
A great guide with excellent illustations and photographs throughout. This really is a must have, even if your a birder with only a passing interest in this family of birds. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Veronica Electronica
Kindle Edition
Please note that this review refers to the Kindle edition not the excellent original format.
Like most birdwatching guides, this book is not suitable for Kindle, how this type... Read more
Like most birdwatching guides, this book is not suitable for Kindle, how this type... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Addstarr
Finally some details about seagulls!
This book covers all the species of seagulls that you're likely to meet in the northern hemisphere. It is very detailed, so if you for instance check "Herring Gull", you will find... Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2010 by Tonje Østby
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