Drawing on their unrivaled field experience in Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, authors Mark Beaman and Steve Madge have combined forces with some of Europe's finest bird artists to produce the region's most comprehensive guide ever. This is the first book to cover every species to have occurred in the region, including vagrants and accidentals--nearly nine hundred species in total. Color illustrations depict each bird and its main plumage stages and subspecies. An extensive text explains all aspects of identification, status, and habitat, while full-color maps within the text offer detailed distributional information.
During the compilation of this book, Beaman and Madge traveled throughout the region, from Iceland and Siberia to the Cape Verde Islands, Egypt, and Georgia. Their field experience is reflected in the breadth and accuracy of the information presented in this guide and in the thorough treatment of difficult or little-known groups. The innovative design of the book makes it accessible to beginning and expert birdwatchers alike. The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic is the ultimate reference guide for every birdwatcher interested in the region.

The Handbook of Bird Identification for Europe and the Western Palearctic

Science & Math

Madge, Steve

Beaman, Mark

Nature & Ecology

Princeton University Press

A fully up-to-date working checklist for the Palearctic has long been needed, with the previous comparable work being Voous's List of Holarctic Birds, published in 1977. Many changes in taxonomy have occurred since then, and the last five years have seen a gathering movement towards standardizing the English names of birds. A radical, and highly controversial, new treatment of families was proposed by Sibley & Monroe in Distribution and Taxonomy of Birds of the World, and a heated debate has ensued since then over the standardisation of English names.The aim of this new work is two-fold: to provide an up-to-date working list for the region; and to make a reasoned contribution to the current debate. The author argues that whilst many of the suggested new names are sensible, and indeed preferential, many already unique English names will be lost, when there is clearly no pressing need. In particular, the loss of names that honour illustrious ornithological pioneers is seen as an unnecessary move, particularly in Asian species. The author has therefore compiled a list using the best of the proposed names, and discarding the worst. The Systematic List gives scientific name, suggested English name, and alternatives given by the various sides in the current debate. There are four additional sections, providing taxonomic notes, notes qualifying the English names, notes on distributional status, and a full bibliography.

Palearctic Birds: a Checklist of the Birds of Europe

Biological Sciences

Harrier Publications

Handbuch der Vogelbestimmung: Europa und Westpaläarktis

Ulmer Eugen Verlag

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