Terns of Europe & North Africa (Helm Identification Guide) [Hardcover]

Klaus Malling Olsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 31, 1995 | Series: Helm Identification Guide

Covering 22 species found in the Western Paleartic and North America, this guide lists each species under the sections of: field identification; moult; description; geographical variation; measurements; and weight. It includes a quick reference section summarizing the key identification features.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If you are even remotely interested in the details of critical tern ID ..., this book is a must. You simply have only one option: buy two copies, one for the field and one for home. (Birding ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Danish --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: A&C Black; 1st Edition. edition (January 31, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0713640561
• ISBN-13: 978-0713640564
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,420,514 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Klaus Malling Olsen is the King!, November 28, 2001

By 

Mikael Funch (Qaarsut, Greenland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terns of Europe and North America (Hardcover)

Tha author is one of Europes best and most experienced field ornithologists, and especially gulls, terns, skuas and jaegers is his domaine. Nice pictures, tremendous text - God buy it!

4.0 out of 5 stars A good resource for Tern identification for this geographic area, August 22, 2011

By 

Madbirder - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terns of Europe and North America (Hardcover)

Having already gotten Olsen and Larsson's two other books I was expecting this to be larger but it is in no way less thorough than the other two works. This guide covers all the Terns occurring in Europe and North America in great detail with good plates and loads of photographs for most species.

Each species is covered in detail for all the complex plumages they go through Adult Summer, Adult Winter, Juvenile, First Winter, Second Winter etc...there are also some notes about voice, moult and geographical variation and hybrids where relevant. Then there is a couple of pages with detailed descriptions and size measurements, though with much smaller text. A range map covering the breeding and non-breeding range is covered in two tones.

The limitations of this book will have you going back to Harrison for the rest of the Terns plus with Saunders, White-cheeked and Crested Terns having ranges not in Europe or North America I'm a bit puzzled by their inclusion, maybe Western Palearctic. Also the plates for Saunders Tern and Brown Noddy are with Little Tern and Black Noddy respectively though there is no reference to plates with either species description. The photos are in the back of and not with the species themselves which would help but it's a minor point as the photo's are listed with the species descriptions so at least you know where to look. These minor annoyances though take little from the book.

Overall this is a good book for the species covered and Olsen's intimate knowledge of these birds comes through aided well by Larsson's fine artwork.

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable resource for tern identification and plumages, July 15, 2008

By 

Soleglad (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terns of Europe & North Africa (Helm Identification Guide) (Hardcover)

Basics: 1995, hardcover, 224 pages, 41 color plates, 207 color photographs, 23 species, range maps

Tackling one of the difficulty-to-identify groups of birds, this book is an excellent reference, identification guide, and photo aid to all the species of terns routinely found in Europe and in North America. This is purely an identification guide. The text focuses on detailed descriptions of the various plumages and little else.

Each bird receives its own chapter ranging from 2 pages (Least Tern) to 13 pages (Common Tern). The chapter contains extensive information on identification in the field that includes all the seasonal, gender, and age plumages. Another helpful section covers the geographical variations. Of interest to ringers or banders, a table of measurements is offered for each tern.

Within each chapter are two or three very nicely illustrated color plates. One displays the birds in various plumages at rest. Another one or two more plates show the birds in flight. The number of illustrations for each bird ranges from 4 to 24. There are also many detailed b&w illustrations to illustrate the finer identification points of the head, beak, and tail patterns.

The range maps use a standard template of the flat-earth to display the ranges that often cover several continents. Due to the large area covered, the ranges are general. For more detailed coverage, you should read through the text.

Concluding the book are 48 pages with color photos. Each bird is shown with 2-19 very good, clear photographs. The birds are displayed at rest, in flight, and in the various plumages.

If I were able to make one change in this book, it would only be to place the plates next to each other instead of isolated within their own respective chapter. I found myself flipping back and forth over many pages to compare the winter or juvenile plumages of similar species.

I heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants to dive into the finer details to become more knowledgeable on the identification of terns. The book's smaller size makes it eligible for field use, especially if you have the luxury of sitting on at pier, coastline, or boat where the terns hang around for extended periods.

I've listed a couple of related books below...
1) Seabirds: An Identification Guide by Harrison
2) Field Guide to Seabirds of the World by Harrison