The Birds of the Thai-Malayan Peninsula, Volume 2 (Natural World) (Vol 2) [Hardcover]

Robert D. Wells (Author)

Book Description

Series: Natural World | Publication Date: January 14, 2004

This well-illustrated volume covers the birds of Singapore, peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand and the tip of Tenasserim (Burma) with their associated island archipelagos. David Wells' historically complete accounts draw on a full range of recent field and museum research. Over 380 species are described, including topics such as systematics, distribution, plumage, biometrics, status, habitat, food and foraging, voice, behaviour, breeding biology, moult and conservation. Along with an accompanying volume, on passerine species, it brings together the most complete modern summery of field survey work and other research on all the birds found in the peninsula. Volume 1 and Volume 2 available as a shrinkwrapped set: 0 7136 7483 0 GBP99

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...as a local encyclopaedia of birds--the book is nonetheless in the heavy weight class and it will surely offer very interesting reading to those who find the recent Birds of Thailand..."
-Mauri Leivo in ALUDA (2000)

From the Back Cover

This volume covers the avifauna of the Republic of Singapore, peninsular Malaysia, southern Thailand and the tip of Tenasserim (Burma), with their associated island archipelagos to latitude 11^oN. This classic region of high biodiversity is home to a rich and special resident avifauna that is joined in season by a host of migrants from north Asia to create a fascinating faunal mix. Most of its bird species, and nearly all of those endemic to the region, reside in tropical forest habitats. Until surprisingly recently, these forests clothed most of the area. Now, one of the tropical world's fastest rates of agricultural conversion has swept them from all but a fraction of their former range, opening space to newcomers with quite different ecological requirements - a truly dramatic conservation problem under constant watch by ornithologists in all places accessible to field workers.
Twenty-two years after the last synoptic publication on the region, this volume, and its companion on passerine species (currently in preparation), bring together the most complete modern summary of field survey work and other research on all the birds found in the Peninsula.
During 30 years of residence in the region, David Wells has acquired an unrivalled understanding of its birds, which he brings in full measure to this superb first volume. Over 380 species are described in contemporary handbook format. Historically complete accounts draw on a full range of recent field and museum research, together with much previously unpublished and little-circulated data from local compilers and the diaries and personal records of many enthusiasts. Each species account comprises 16 standard sections dealing with topics such as systematics, distribution, plumage, biometrics, status, haitat, food and foraging, voice, behaviour, breeding biology, moult and conservation - all fully referenced to a bibliography of over 800 sources.
General introductory material will be divided between the two volumes. Here are included an explanatory guide to the species treatments, a full account of the biogeographical, including palaeo-environmental, background of the avifauna, and of its relevance to current conservation issues, plus a gazetteer of all sites mentioned in the text, keyed to essential maps. Volume 2 will cover ecological analyses, including of migration, built on data from the full set of species accounts, and feature a short history of ornithology in the area.
Sixty-none full-page colour plates show almost all the species covered and provide a unique collection of portraits by a team of internationally respected artists. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 784 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press (January 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0127429417
• ISBN-13: 978-0127429410
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, science-focused reference with very good plates, September 4, 2008

By 

Soleglad (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Vol. 1 - Non-passerines (Hardcover)

Basics: 1999, hardcover, 648 pages, 69 color plates, 380 species, range maps

NOTE: This review is on only Volume 1 of this double-volume set. Amazon automatically and incorrectly ties this review to both volumes.

Covering the 380 non-passerine species on this peninsula shared by Thailand and Malaysia, this is a great reference for the region's birds. However, the format of this book will probably make it a great reference for only a smaller niche of people with a more scientific or academic focus on birds. This is not an identification guide. Generally speaking, it is a big, heavy library book used to research about a bird's natural history.

There are 69 color plates that illustrate most of the birds discussed in the book. And, these plates can be labeled as good - but not for strict identification purposes. With 8-22 illustrations per plate, these paintings display the species quite well. Finer detail is not incorporated to help separate similar species. However, with many of the birds illustrated with gender, seasonal, and age plumages, one could realistically use this book to identify most of the non-passerine birds encountered.

The meat of the book is its text. Nearly a full page is dedicated to each bird, along with a large range map. The same template of categories is used for each bird, which is not necessarily efficient, or even necessary. Many birds have several of these categories filled out as "No information." or "No data." It's important in science to note absent/negative information, but this did not really add to the book's knowledge value. The categories receiving the most attention of 1-2 paragraphs include global range, identification/description, status and population, ecology, and movements. The information provided is obviously well researched.

The range maps are different from most others used. Keeping in line with the text, they incorporate more detail, which is usually appreciated by me. However, these maps can appear too busy at times and one needs to pay closer attention to the outlines of the ranges, especially for birds with scattered pockets in their distribution. Only the outline of the range is given (i.e., it's not colored or shaded in), which can make it blend into the map itself along the coastline and amongst the many islands.

Who will use this book? The academic, field-research, data-focused ornithologist will certainly appreciate having this book on his shelf. For them, I recommend this book. The avid birder who visits this area only a couple of times in his life will probably not get nearly as much use out of it. This book is expensive. It reads with more of a science-dryness, it does not offer field identification quality and, there are several better, true field guides available for this region.

I've listed several related books below...
1) The Birds of the Thai-Malay Peninsula: Passerines: Vol 2 by Wells et al.
2) A Field Guide to the Birds of West Malaysia and Singapore by Jeyarajasingam/Pearson
3) A Photographic Guide to Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore by Davison/Fook
4) Birds: A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore by Strange
5) Birds of Thailand by Robson
6) A Guide to the Birds of Thailand by Lekagul/Round
7) Photographic Guide to Birds of Thailand by Webster
8) A Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia by Robson
9) A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia by Strange