Customer Reviews

The Birds of Pakistan: Volume 1: Regional Studies and Non-Passeriformes

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This is a terrific book, the product of years of loving study of the birds of Pakistan. The author includes many of his own observations, but he has also combed the literature. If some 19th century official found a nest of a particular species, Roberts knows about it. The result is a finely nuanced account of each species, its features, and its behaviors. The author is also very knowledgable about Pakistani plants, insects, agriculture, and ecology, erudition that makes the accounts of the individual species more detailed and convincing. His mastery of the older literature means that he has been able to trace changes in distribution and populations. This is a deeply learned book, valuable not just for people in Pakistan but also in areas sharing the same species. There is also a very thorough bibliography.

The only weakness of the book is that the plates are a little scanty, so a good field guide is also needed.

An extremely useful book, even for relative amateurs like me.

The two volumes, "The Birds of Pakistan" written by T.J Roberts is the only complete book covering the avifauna of the region and is a landmark in the field of ornithology. Pakistan's incredibly diverse environment from the highest mountains on earth to burning deserts, rich plains, endless rivers and 1050 km coastline supports 668 species of resident and migrant birds. This monumental book covers all the 668 species believed to occur in Pakistan. Every specie information is presented in detail with illustrations and distribution maps all drawn by the author himself. This first volume ( Regional Studies and Non-Passeriformes ) contains detailed descriptions of 347 nonpasseriformes together with information about zoogeographic influences upon bird distribution, the main ecological zones, migration patterns, and contributions of early ornithologists. The volume contains 23 plates, 68 illustrations, and 285 distribution maps. A must for every birdwatcher who is interested in the avifauna of Pakistan and the neighbouring countries.