Basics: 2000, softcover, 193 pages, 402 color photos, 124 species, range maps, seasonal charts
This is a slightly different field guide that goes beyond the typical description necessary for just identification of the birds. In addition to notes in the species account on history, breeding, and fledging, a 25-page section of the book is dedicated to the eggs and young of the island's breeders. It appears a photograph of an egg is supplied for every breeding bird on the island.
For the field guide section, one bird is shown on each page. The color photographs are good quality. Typically, there is one large photo with 1-3 smaller photos to show various poses, genders, or ages. Each of the five sections (seabirds, waders, gull, waterbirds, landbirds, and passerines) is also followed up with a photo section of vagrants. About 124 species are covered, which represent the breeders and the expected migrants, visitors, and vagrants out of a possible 300 birds.
The text offers the expected descriptions of the birds with identification tips. More descriptions are given of the birds voice, habitat, and status. This text is certainly adequate to help identify all the expected birds on the island.
Also included is a range map (incorporating 5 seasonal colors) along with an effective seasonal chart to show when the bird is present throughout the year and when the bird breeds and also when it fledges its young.
This is a great book to have when visiting Iceland. Other than rarer vagrants covered in a more expansive European guide, this book will be all you need for the country.
I've listed several related books below...
1) Guide to the birds of Iceland by Einarsson
2) Birds of Iceland by Bardarson
3) Birds of Europe by Mullarney et.al.
4) Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East by Jonsson
5) A Photographic Field Guide: Birds of Britain and Europe by Flegg
6) Fuglabok ab Fuglar Islands og Evropu by Peterson/Mountfort/Hollom
