A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: (Revised Edition) [Paperback]

Herbert Raffaele (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 1989

This is a revised edition of a widely praised guide to the birds of the largest of the Caribbean islands and the neighboring Virgin Islands. It includes detailed accounts of all 284 well-documented species known to occur in the region, 273 being illustrated. The book also contains specific sections entitled "Biogeography" and "Conservation" to foster an appreciation of the uniqueness of the region's wildlife and to develop an awareness of local conservation issues. The section "Places to Bird" will help make the stay of short-term visitors more productive. The book also substantially updates the data on avian distribution and abundance in the region covering records through November 1988. From reviews of the first edition: "This well-illustrated volume is a must for any student of birds visiting Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands."--Chandler S. Robbins, The Quarterly Review of Biology "A valuable and informative guide."--James A. Dick, The Wilson Bulletin "This well-written book is the first comprehensive guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. All species, including winter visitors (which comprise 47 percent of the avifauna) are described and illustrated, making a second volume for identification of North American migrants unnecessary. . . . Aside from being a fine field guide, the book contains useful summaries of the biogeography of the region and the ecology of avian populations. . . . A major contribution is Raffaele's presentation of a wealth of hitherto unpublished information on the natural history of the region's birds."--James W. Wiley, Ibis

Editorial Reviews

Review

This well-written book is the first comprehensive guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. All species, including winter visitors (which comprise 47 percent of the avifauna) are described and illustrated. . . Aside from being a fine field guide, the book contains useful summaries of the biogeography of the region and the ecology of avian populations. . . -- Ibis

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press; Revised edition (December 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691024243
• ISBN-13: 978-0691024240
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #333,296 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best field guide available of the birds on Puerto Rico., January 6, 1999

By 

Agustín Lizardi Rodríguez, B.S. / agustinlrod... (Puerto Rico, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

As a professional Puerto Rican biologist and bird watcher I found this book to be the best field guide of birds occuring at Puerto Rico. It covers as well, introduced, migratory, and endemic or native species with a full description of each bird characteristics and accompanying color plates that match the birds color patterns up to the last feather. It is a must have to any bird enthusiast living or visiting the Island, as well as for students or professional biologists.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Invaluable Birding Guide in Puerto Rico, August 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

An extremely well-written and well-illustrated book with especially helpful and detailed text on habitat, behavior, and locales. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico for birding, we found this book to be extraordinarily helpful. Since we have come home to the Continental USA, it continues to be rich reading.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Effective field guide, July 2, 2008

By 

Soleglad (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: (Revised Edition) (Paperback)

Basics: 1989, revised edition, softcover, 254 pages, 24 color and 17 b&w plates, 284 species, no range maps

This is one of the few books to focus on the birds of Puerto Rico. Its field guide size makes the book convenient to carry and the illustrations are good enough to help identify nearly every bird that can be found on the island. The Puerto Rican endemics are nicely distinguished by having either a single color plate dedicated to the bird or by having a distinctive blue sphere surround the bird if it's on a plate with other species. Distinguishing the endemic is a very handy feature that should be used in other regional field guides. I would like to have seen more attention and illustrations given to the endemics, such as the Puerto Rican Vireo or the Puerto Rican Flycatcher. Each has only one image, which fails to show the variation that can exist in the fresh vs. worn plumages.

The text, making up the latter two-thirds of the book, covers the standard information of identification, voice, nesting (if applicable), distribution, and comments. The comments section often provides interesting historical, taxonomic, habitat, and behavioral tidbits. These are nice additions to a field guide.

Two nice features have been included into the back of the book. One, is a section of seven birding localities with a map, directions, and commentary on each. Two, is a checklist denoting which birds can be found at each of those localities.

I would like to see an update to this book to include range maps for this island. Yes, many of the birds might have very similar ranges, but others (e.g., Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, Puerto Rican Nightjar, Elfin Woods Warbler) have very restricted or spotty ranges.

Using only this book in Puerto Rico will be sufficient for any trip. However, my next trip will include the more up-to-date Birds of West Indies by Raffaele (paperback). The information is written a bit more clearly with additional characteristics; the drawings are moderately better; and, there are more illustrations for the endemics.

I've listed several related books below...
1) Puerto Rico's Birds in Photographs by Oberle
2) Las aves de Puerto Rico by Biaggi
3) Birds of the West Indies by Bond
4) Birds of the West Indies by Raffaele
5) A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies by Raffaele
6) Photographic Guide to Birds of the West Indies by Flieg