A Photographic Guide to Birds of New Zealand [Paperback]

Geoff Moon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Photographic Guide | Publication Date: January 2003

Two titles continue this well-known series: A Photographic Guide to Birds of New Zealand, written and photographed by Geoff Moon, and A Photographic Guide to Trees of New Zealand, written and photographed by L J Metcalf. In A Photographic Guide to Birds of New Zealand, fact-filled descriptions highlighting key identification leatures of New Zealand birds are supported by over 200 full-colour photographs. Compact and easy to use, these new books are ideal for anyone with an active interest in natural history.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Geoff Moon, O.B.E., Honorary Fellow of the Photographic Society of New Zealand and Associate of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, has written and illustrated some 20 books, including New Zealand: Land of Birds (New Holland, 2001). A retired veterinarian, Geoff retains a passionate interest in natural history and his contribution to the research and documentation of New Zealand's birdlife is widely acknowledged.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: New Holland Books (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1877246581
• ISBN-13: 978-1877246586
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 3.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #892,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Acceptable practice guide; little identification info; 3.5 stars, September 20, 2008

By 

Soleglad (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Photographic Guide to Birds of New Zealand (Paperback)

Basics: 2003, softcover, 139 pages, color photos of 148 species, no range maps

This compact guide - one in the series covering many countries - provides color photos for 148 species found on New Zealand. This represents about 45% of the nearly 330 birds found on and around the islands. A fair sampling of birds from the various families is given.

Ignoring the smaller size of the photos, which is necessary to fit within the small format of this book, the photos are pretty good for 95% of the birds. The shorebirds tend to be the smallest in the photos. The other 5% of the photos, which include several of the shorebirds and some cormorants, give a pose that does not show the necessary field marks well enough or where the photo is too distant. Just one photo is given for each bird. In comparison to the other sister-books in this series, I find this book to have the better selection of photographs.

In a twist that is opposite most of the other related photo guides, the text consists of one paragraph that focuses primarily on the natural history of the bird instead of identification. Notably more information is offered for the endemic birds. This information covers breeding, nesting, behavior, habitat, and feeding. Very little information, if any, is given on the description or identification of the birds.

The photos in this book will help you practice for a casual trip to New Zealand. Use this guide as a practice tool if identification is your goal and be sure to use one of the several good, complete field guides available for the country. Geoff Moon offers a more complete photo guide with multiple pictures while Heather & Robertson offer a good illustrated guide to New Zealand.

I've listed several related books below...
1) Hand Guide to the Birds of Zealandby Heather/Robertson
2) The Reed Field Guide to New Zealand Birds by Moon
3) The New Guide to the Birds of New Zealand and Outlying Islands by Falla/Sibson/Turbott
4) New Zealand's birds: A photographic guide by Moon/Lockley
5) Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds: Volume 1-7

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Photographic Guide to Birds of New Zealand, December 26, 2009

By 

Katherine M. Swift (Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Photographic Guide to Birds of New Zealand (Paperback)

This is a terrific sized reference book for travelling. The picutes were clear but would have enhanced my bird watching had there been an alternate view of the bird or a place to expect to see them. However as a companion birding guide to fit easily in the pack and not too heavy to cart about it was bonza.
Kat