Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand [Hardcover]

Barrie Heather (Author), Hugh Robertson (Author), Derek Onley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 1997

This guide to the Birds of New Zealand aims to help the user to identify wild birds seen anywhere in the New Zealand region, and also provides the reader with a brief and informative summary of what is known about each species. The first section of the book is an identification guide; on the page opposite the colour plate is a distribution map for those species breeding in New Zealand, which shows plumage and behavioural details that should help identify the species, sex and/or age of the bird you see in the field. The distribution maps show where species breeding in New Zealand may be found in suitable habitat. Maps for vagrants, stragglers and non-native seabirds, and for migratory waders (which can turn up in any estuary around the coast) are given in the second part of the book which gives more details on the distribution and ecology of each species.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

About the Authors:
Dr. Barrie Heather is a renowned New Zealand bird expert. Dr. Hugh Robertson is at the Department of Conservation in Wellington, New Zealand. Derek Onley is a leading New Zealand bird artist.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (July 31, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198501463
• ISBN-13: 978-0198501466
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,314,558 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The definative field guide to New Zealand birds, November 13, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (Hardcover)

New Zealand is indeed fortunate in the number of bird books which have been published over the past century. Back in 1953, the Ornithological Society of NZ published a "Checklist of New Zealand Birds". In 1959, the Society approached RA Falla, RB Sibson & EG Turbott to compile a practical field guide.

In 1966, this appeared as "A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand", published by Collins. It rapidly became the bible for several generations of field ornithologists. Several revisions of the original field guide were made, up to 1978. They all grace my bookshelf.

Finally, in 1976, almost 20 years later, this new guide has appeared. It isn't quite as portable as the original, but contains a wealth of information. The guide is divided into two sections.

The first 150 pages are an indentification guide, with brief descriptions and distribution maps facing colour illustrations of the species. The remaining 260 pages provide much more detail on the distribution, population status, breeding and behaviour of the 328 endemic and introduced bird species found in New Zealand.

Barrie and Hugh are to be congratulated on the depth of research they have done to compile the text. Similarly, Derek Onley's illustrations give much better detail of recognition features than do most photographs.

This is the one essential book for local naturalists, or overseas birders visiting New Zealand.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive guide to birds of New Zealand..., April 17, 2005

By 

Debby Ng (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (Paperback)

And I'm quite sure any Kiwi birder would agree with that. My review is of the revised edition of this book [ISBN 0670-89370-6].

This most certainly is the most complete guide to the birds of NZ with beautiful and accurate slates. I love its neat layout - slates on the right, description and ID on the left. There are no spill overs so its as simple as that. Where necessary, there are distribution diagrams with a detailed key which makes for very effective guide.

Because NZ birds are so unique, you will love the additional Handbook section which introduces the different genuses. This comes after the field guide, at the back of the book. Everything is very detailed and you can tell that this book has been crafted with alot of attention and care. Which must be why this is the only field guide to NZ birds officially endorsed by the Ornithological Society of NZ.

A downside may be that it's a little bulky to haul around the field, but using it is such a joy that this short coming is quickly compensated.

The book for any self-respecting and serious birder, and an indispensible resource for naturalists or the curious amateur.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand, April 30, 2009

By 

CW (Honolulu, HI, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (Paperback)

Excellent guide to all the bird species found in New Zealand. Every bird is illustrated in color in the color plates section; and in the handbook section, detailed descriptions are given for each species. A beautiful book.