From Library Journal
This tool has all the qualities a good field guide should have: a key to families; range (i.e., distribution) maps, which have been revised and redrawn for this edition; and excellent color plates (including 20 new ones for this edition) of each species opposite its description. Supporting the color plates, numerous black-and-white drawings show such things as a side view, an underwing pattern, and a unique perching stance or nest. Distinguishing field marks; differences between males, females, and immatures; voice; and habitat are all covered, and an extensive section called "The Handbook" provides information on behavior, feeding, reproduction, evolution, and taxonomy as well as useful tips for the amateur birdwatcher. Further reading lists are offered for most of the family descriptions. Finally, a checklist identifies species that may be found on the five Australian island groups and gives data on rare species. The book is bound in a soft plastic cover that should hold up to field handling. In the field and at home for further study, this guide should serve amateur and experienced birders well. Recommended for comprehensive natural history and reference collections.?Nancy J. Moeckel, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Book Description
The Princeton Field Guide to the Birds of Australia is a handy, portable manual for identification of Australian birds all over the country. In paintings of extraordinary beauty and precision, Nicolas Day captures the details of all 770 bird species in Australia. More than 2000 color illustrations are accompanied by distribution maps, descriptive drawings, and essential field information edited by Ken Simpson. This book has been expanded to provide even more new illustrations and information than earlier editions. There are 20 new color plates. The identification section has been completely reordered to reflect the most up-to-date knowledge about the classification and evolutionary relationships of Australia's bird families. The distribution maps have been entirely redrawn and updated, and numerous black-and-white illustrations have been added. All readers--occasional or avid birdwatchers, ornithologists or students--will find The Princeton Field Guide to the Birds of Australia an invaluable companion, whether they require readily accessible information in the field or reliable reference material for the desk. Features include: ^IEvery bird species of Australia illustrated in over 2000 painted images Simple-to-use Key to Families Field information and distribution maps adjacent to each painting of a species Data on abundance and movement for each species Handbook section giving detailed information on bird behavior, feeding, breeding, evolution, and taxonomy A rare bird bulletin describing fifteen rare and vagrant species Information for bird-watchers on the five Australian island groups
