Birds of Mexico and Central America [Anglais] [Broché]

The good news about this book is that it provides the most extensive coverage of the region, with the birds of all of Mexico and Central America being illustrated in a single volume for the first time. It is also very small, compact and light-weight.

Unfortunately - and predictably - the price to be paid for this is the quality. Illustrations are tiny, often just 2-3 cms in size, and usually dozens of them are crammed on one page. What's more, there are no "arrows" pointing out distinguishing marks between the similar species, making a bewildering page featuring 30+ tiny, green hummingbirds look like one of those "Can you spot the difference?" puzzles.
Text on the pages opposite the illustrations is extremely limited (usually 2-3 lines for each species), simply noting size, basic distribution and habitat info, plus maybe voice and a few key distinguishing features - though the latter are all too often replaced by the word "unmistakeable". With so many species on one page, often even this limited info has to spill over to the previous or following page!
Maps are tucked away in the back of the book, and are also very basic and small. They only show distribution very roughly, and often with the paint completely obscuring topographical features like country boundaries.

All things told, if you just want a cheap, basic and compact introduction to what this exotic region has to offer, this book may be good value. However for actual use as a field guide it is hardly the best, and it may well be worth investing into more guides that each cover a more limited region better.
A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America seems to remain the best alternative with the widest coverage of this region.

All of the criticisms mentioned in the previous reviews are warrented, this book is not perfect (see plate 97 and check out Orchard Oriole). In fact I was a bit annoyed by the frequent overlap of the text reference and the page with the color plates. For example on Plate 74 there are 19 illustrated Wrens but if you check for the names on the facing page it starts with three pipit species, covers only 12 of the wrens then you have to look at the following page to see what the other seven wren species are. Also I had wished that the range maps would be on the text page opposite the illustrations (as in the European Princeton Guide) but they are in the back of the book. This may be due to necessity as there are so many species included.

There is a code listed at the end of the text for each species for the range that if you get used to it is a general indicator. For example YMe = Yucatan area of Mexico and SMe,CAm = South Mexico and Central America. The range maps at the back of the book are very tiny and only a bit better indicator of range. A positive attribute of the range maps is that they are coded to likelihood of occurance, which is of additional impact compared to most range maps.

Another of the many advantages of this book is that it includes the North American Migrants not included in Howell's book. The illustrations are tiny, and that does matter when you are studying the different Myiarchus flycatchers,something better left to when you get back to your room or lodge where the hefty Howell guide is. You also will want to have the larger more complete books (Howell, Skutch, Ridgely and Gwynne)for the text. For example Double-banded Greytail, an interesting species found only in the Darien region of Columbia and Panama, is included in both books. In this book the entire text is: "L10cm. Very warbler-like but
with different habits (creeps about dense foliage, often hanging upside down). Habitat forest canopy, sencond growth. UPa." In Ridgley and Gwynne's Birds of Panama, the text is a half a page and even includes information on the very trail that it is often located on in Cana, Darien.

Despite its shortcomings (and the mundane Northern Cardinal on the cover, a bird more representative of Ohio than Mexico to most of us) I still think this is a very useful book. It's tough to lug Ridgley's Birds of Panama or Skutch's Costa Rica guide in the field as well as Howell's and this will do the job without having to copy the plates and reconstruct your own more portable field guide like many of us have done before this guide came out. I can forsee getting a lot of use out of this in addition to keeping my other more massive and detailed books for reference.

While this book is limited, by virtue of its size and the fact that it includes color pictures, a minimum but just enough text, and range maps make it a guide that will easily fit in your pocket. Use it in the field, and then keep a more comprehensive guide in the car. Bear in mind that when in the field the most important thing is to stay looking at the bird as long as it stays within view so as to absorb all of its features and behaviors. With what's in this little guide and what you retain in your mind you'll be able to finish the identification back in the car.