The Birds of Ecuador  A Field Guide  A tour de force, 10 Aug 2001

This is a long awaited volume - previously anyone off to sample the incredible bird diversity possible in just a short trip to Ecuador would have had to be satisfied with packing the "Birds of Columbia" and a checklist of Ecuador birds and a lot of hope. They would have relied on the locals to point out those birds not illustrated in the Columbian guide. Any volume would have filled this gap but this one surpasses all expectations.

It is BIG - but how can it be otherwise? Ecuador has a list of over 1500 birds and building - no doubt this list will grow - it certainly did during the books production and a wholly new plate had to be added at the last minute.

So what's on offer? The 96 Colour plates are jam-packed with illustrations, which the authors have made every effort to group in a way useful to the birder in the field. The facing text is out of the ordinary too - in each case it gives a tip to help ID - maybe the commonest habitat for the bird, an ID feature or some hint about behaviour. For example; plate 67 Tyrant Flycatchers. Points out that the White-fronted Tyrannulet is rare and local in foothills and has a confusing (see text) short bill with yellow-orange mandible and white frontal area. The strength of the text you then consult is that it really concentrates on ID help... it not only gives a detailed description but tells the reader about confusion species, habits and voice etc. and each has a decent sized map so you can readily see that allopatric species can be split on location if your field view was less than 100%.

So what are the volumes shortcomings? Well, it would help if, like the Victorian collectors, you had a local bearer or two - one could carry this heavy tome for you. If you need it on a walk you will have to find a way to stow it that gives quick access without making your backache! If I was to nit-pick I would also say that it would have helped to have a map key rather than a text note I had to search for to find out what meant what on all the distribution maps. An explanatory map at the beginning of the text section would have stood out and could stand for later consultation if you forget what is what.

My biggest criticism has to be on some of the illustrations. My knowledge is limited to those species that are shared with Trinidad & Tobago - compared with the real thing the pictures can be lurid and over simplified. This leads to a rather "plastic" feel to them. Some, particularly the raptors, seem oddly shaped - the impression is of rather well fed specimens - I've never seen such fat Kites or Potoos. It made me wonder if the necessary reliance on Museum taxidermy led to this distortion. Nevertheless, each illustration would make ID an easier task and this, surely, is what a field-guide is all about.

My rating? 5 out of 5 - until someone has the time an