Collins Bird Guide: The Most Complete Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

The richest, most comprehensive of the current guides. 'The Times'

Product Description

Provides all the information needed to identify any species at any time of the year, with detailed text on size, habitat, range, identification and voice. Accompanying every species entry is a distribution map and numerous illustrations to show the species in all the major plumages (male, female, immature, in flight, at rest, feeding, etc). Each group of birds has an introduction, which covers the major problems involved in identifying or seeing them, including: how to organize a sea watching trip; how to separate birds of prey in flight; and which duck hybrids can be confused with which species.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 512 pages
• Publisher: Harpercollins Pub Ltd (December 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0002197286
• ISBN-13: 978-0002197281
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,338,384 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best field guide to any avifauna, November 8, 2005

By	Christopher J. Sharpe "Chris Sharpe" (Caracas, Venezuela) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Bird Guide: The Most Complete Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe (Paperback)

This book emerged onto a highly competitive market already burgeoning with numerous field guides covering the region, most by renowned authors and many having benefitted from improvement over several editions. Quite simply though, this book won instant recognition as the best field guide available for Europe - and perhaps a model for field guides everywhere. Its authors are well known experts in their field having spent many years studying and publishing on the birds of the region. However, the key to the guide's success is the fact that so much more useful information has been condensed into a guide which is much the same size as existing books. The book boasts excellent illustrations, succinct text and handy maps, all presented on a the same page. Small enough to fit into a pocket (about the same size as the National Geographic guide) and cheap, it is a must for anyone visiting Europe. As one reviewer has already pointed out, it is indispensable in Alaska too - not just for Palaearctic vagrants, but for regular shorebirds and some residents. Don't hesitate!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful during my first visit to Europe!, June 17, 2000

By	Claudio Vidal "birding3" (Punta Arenas, Chile) - See all my reviews

This book help me a lot during several bird trips on my first visit to Europe in 1999. I have travelled in several countries. Sometimes with very keen birders, other times alone. It would be impossible for me to be in the field in conditions to identify so many birds, without this valuable book. Excellent pictures. It's my new standard on international field guides.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Standard reference for Western Europe (and lately Alaska!!), December 30, 2002

By	Christopher McDonald (Springfield, Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

Excellent book with comprehensive coverage and high quality plates. Book production quality is also high. My edition is small enough in hardback to be a true "Field Guide" although I understand that a new larger edition has been recently published, if plate quality is maintained this edition will be an excellent reference. If you have questions about this text go to amazon.co.uk and read some of the reviews there. This book recieved the British Trust for Ornithology seal of approval so anything an amateur like me might add is probably superfluous. Excellent reference, nice plates and informative and accurate text