Customer Reviews

Field Guide to the Birds of Western Africa (Helm Field Guides)

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4 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I did not use the guide yet, so this remarks are made on first impressions:

- Detailed pictures show the birds usually from one side. This could be better, but would result in a very heavy guide if done for the whole area.

- For some species, pictures in flight are showed - that will be helpful.

- Pictures are bright, clean and even too sterile.

- Normal system to show the birds: page with text - page with pictures - page with maps / page with maps - page with text - page with pictures (and so on). I prefer descriptions & maps at left, pictures at right side, but this would again result in a very heavy book, so this is the best solution.

- Colour bar at top of the page, with family names in it, give you a nice opportunity for quick access to pages you search for. For instance, raptors are in the brown area, waders in the yellow.

- Text is very short.

- References to "African Bird Sounds" (Claude Chapuis, 2000; 15 CD's) are given within brackets - very useful.

- Maps are clear and show the things you want to know properly.

- Quality of paper: inside is good, but covers are a bit too light.

- With scientific and English indexes.

At all, I am very satisfied to obtain this guide and I rate it with 8 of 10 points.