Guide to the Birds of Madagascar (Hardcover)

~ Mr. Olivier Langrand (Author), Mr. Vincent Bretagnolle (Illustrator), Willem Daniels (Translator), H. R. H. Prince Philip (Contributor)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Madagascar, isolated for at least 120 million years and the fourth largest island in the world, is home to a remarkable variety of endemic animals and plants. This book is a guide to the unusual bird life of Madagascar. 40 watercolour illustrations provide clear and easy identification of all the Malagasy birds. Beginning with an overview of the natural habitats of Madagascar, the book then provides a general introduction to the avifauna. The endemic and endangered species are highlighted for each geographical region of the country. 17 prime bird observation sites are described in a section especially helpful to visitors to Madagascar. This section includes information on site accessibility, permit requirements, accommodation, observation facilities, and the species of birds found there. The guide to individual species is the heart of this book. Full information on each bird species is presented - descriptions of adults and immatures, song, habitat and dietary requirements, nesting habits, and distribution and status. The final section includes descriptions of birds not yet reported from Madagascar but likely to occur there, as well as distribution maps of the bird species. This book is a resource for bird enthusiasts and serious naturalists everywhere.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

Product Details

• Hardcover: 456 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press (November 28, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300043104
• ISBN-13: 978-0300043105
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,399,850 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Resource, January 24, 2005

By	Abigail B. Rodriguez - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Which probably isn't surprising, considering there aren't many books specifically for the birds of Madagascar.

The color plates in this book are in the middle, with numbers which correspond to detailed descriptions of each species before and after the plate section. This can make for a lot of flipping for the casual bird watcher, as you try to match a picture with a description/known region.

However, the behavior descriptions and text are very good. The color plates are high in quality and a pleasure to reference. Importantly, the book itself is sturdy enough to hold togther while being dragged through Madagascar!

It's fairly pricey, but for anyone who's planning to make a Madagascar trip, I'd definitely say it's worth it.