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RSPB Complete Birds of Britain & Europe [Hardcover]

Rob Hume (Author)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Product details

Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Dorling Kindersley (10 Feb 2003)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0751373540
ISBN-13: 978-0751373547
Product Dimensions: 29.2 x 19.6 x 3.6 cm

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank:: 327,537 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

This guide uses an integrated photographic approach to profile the extraordinary range of birds found in the Western Palearctic region. With its comprehensive coverage, easy-to-use layout and visual impact, it should appeal to bird enthusiasts of all ages and levels of experience. The book opens with an introduction that offers a portrait of birds and their habitats. Covering evolution, anatomy and behaviour, it also describes how birds have adapted to different environments - from wetlands and rocky coasts to woodland and urban gardens. The 320 species most commonly seen in Britain and Europe have full-page coverage, comprising of a large photograph of each bird in its most frequently observed plumage with supporting images showing the most important plumage variations: adult/juvenile; male/female; and winter/summer. Additional illustrations reveal the characteristic appearance of each bird in flight, while "in situ" views portray a range of behaviours and habits. Similar-looking species and subspecies are also pictured, for comparison. In each species profile, key features are highlighted by annotation around each picture and further details of voice, nesting, feeding, migration, habitat, nomenclature, physical statistics, social grouping, behaviour, lifespan and conservation status are presented in jargon-free text. Distribution is shown in colour-coded maps. In addition to the main species, over 200 less common and peripheral birds are also illustrated and described, while a further 276 very rare and introduced species are concisely profiled.

About the Author

Rob Hume is a writer, editor, artist, identification expert, and bird tour leader, and is much in demand for his expertise on birds. Rob has worked for the RSPB for 23 years, and now edits the society's magazine, Birds.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	69% buy the item featured on this page: RSPB Complete Birds of Britain & Europe 4.8 out of 5 stars (17)
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	8% buy RSPB Birds of Britain and Europe 4.7 out of 5 stars (15) �10.18
	6% buy Collins Complete Guide - British Birds: A photographic guide to every common species 4.8 out of 5 stars (34) �8.99

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the best (non pocket )reference book there is, 29 Oct 2005

By	C. Hargrave (Weymouth UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: RSPB Complete Birds of Britain & Europe (Hardcover)

An excellent guide to all European birds from Iceland to Israel plus all the vagrants that have visited. The best part of this book is that it has all photos. Some guide books have drawings or coloured illustrations which sometimes are far removed from the bird you want to identify. Having said that this is a hefty book and therefore is not much use in the field, the paperback is smaller and lighter but I prefer this even so. It has a lot of bird info at the front and is the best complete guide I have come across.

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98 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reference book, visually fantastic, 23 May 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: RSPB Complete Birds of Britain & Europe (Hardcover)

A solid, brick-like book, not one for carrying around in the field, but great for extra information and to pin down a specific identification. Easy to use and very clear - this has already become a firm favourite. Covering ecology as well as identification this book should be able to inform experts and beginners alike, without being boring or intimidating to either.

In keeping with the other RSPB guides, Complete Birds of Britain and Europe devotes a page to almost all British and European species, containing descriptive text, photographs and a line representation of the bird in flight. Male, female and juvenile are often depicted, with seasonal plumage and in flight pictures as well. An extensive checklist of much rarer species appears at the back.

The detail and authority of description exceeds that of other bird books, including the Collins guides. Rob Hume's efficiency in writing pocket books is evident here as he has used the same approach. The large pages are exploited to the limit and crammed full of information, but without feeling cluttered or inaccessible. However, where the RSPB books tower above their rivals is in the method of illustration. Large, clear photos are definitely my preference and the quality of photography is super, hence the top rating for the book - I haven't seen anything better.

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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant for Identification, 15 Aug 2007

By	J. Chippindale (England) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This review is from: RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (Book & CD) (Hardcover)

We come to expect quality books when they carry the RSPB name and logo and they do not let us down, my only slight quibble is that this particular book says on the front "UK's Best Selling field Guide." To my way of thinking it is a little large for a pocket guide. Carrying a camera field glasses is enough without a weighty book that you will struggle to get into a pocket.

Whether you are an armchair addict, or a twitcher of the first order, this guide and 70-minute CD are essential reference. The book and video introduce you to 800 species that are regularly and not so regularly found in Britain and Europe. The book contains beautiful photographs, including ones of the different plumages, both male, female and juvenile. There is information on habitat and virtually everything you need to know to obtain a true picture of each individual species.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe
Purchased for a friend's birthday present - she was thrilled - and I might now buy one for myself.

Published 29 days ago by michael

5.0 out of 5 stars RSPB Complete Birds - Customer Review
This book was bought as a birthday present for a friend who very much enjoys sitting in his garden/conservatory and watching the birds who visit it. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mrs. Elizabeth Roberts

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Book
This is an excellent book, with lots of detail, great pictures and illustrations. This is a very large book, you will not be taking it on your ramble arround the countryside, it's... Read more

Published 3 months ago by Stephen J. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
This is a beautifully made book and has already proved it's worth in identifying birds we have seen and were not too sure about. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Mr. Gary Daluz Vieira

5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant coffee table bird reference book
This book is superb with some of the best Photos and pictures of any birdbook and we have several. The format is one specie per page. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Tony the birder

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
As with all Dorling Kindersley books it has been put together extremely well. The photos are clear and the similar birds on the bottom of the pages are very handy for the amateur... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Mae Field

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete Birds of Britain and Europe
Arrived in good condition, my son needed a book for his Game Keeping course and this seems to be just the thing.

Published 7 months ago by Mrs. Janet Valentine

5.0 out of 5 stars Great comprehensive guide
A brilliant book with close up photos for identification. It's very useful how it shows similar species and tells you how to spot the differences. Read more

Published 7 months ago by C. Butler

4.0 out of 5 stars RSPB COMPLETE BIRDS OF BRITAIN & EUROPE
Imformation excellent, it does take a bit of time to navigate the index which I thought could have been made a lot simplier
If I were to purchase this book again I would buy... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Ron Jacklin

5.0 out of 5 stars Birds eye view
A superb book and ideal for people like me who know very little about our birds. Great drawings,excellent information and a bonus CD of bird sounds. Read more

Published 17 months ago by T. Kelly

› See all 17 customer reviews...

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