A Field Guide to Mexican Birds: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador (Peterson Field Guides) (Paperback)

by Edward L. Chalif (Author), Roger Tory Peterson (Author, Editor, Illustrator) "PRIMITIVE fowl-like ground birds of almost tailless aspect; plump, with short legs, slender necks, small heads, and slightly decurved bills..." (more)
Key Phrases: black chestband, yellow crown spot, humid forest borders, Baja California, Costa Rica, San Luis Potosi (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
With more than 700 color paintings arranged by families for quick comparison of similar species, and with detailed information on range, habitat, size, and voice, this field guide describes and illustrates 1,038 species of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador.

About the Author
Edward L. Chalif is a contributor for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt titles including: Peterson Field Guides: Mexican Birds.

Roger Tory Peterson, one of the world"s greatest naturalists, received every major award for ornithology, natural science, and conservation, as well as numerous honorary degrees, medals, and citations, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Peterson Identification System has been called the greatest invention since binoculars, and the Peterson Field Guides® are credited with helping to set the stage for the environmental movement.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 039597514X
• ISBN-13: 978-0395975145
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 4.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #288,198 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #8 in	Books > History > Americas > Central America > Belize
  #15 in	Books > History > Americas > Central America > El Salvador
  #32 in	Books > History > Americas > Central America > Guatemala

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not all the birds of Mexico, February 3, 2000

By A Customer

Although this book is up to Peterson standards it only contains the birds in Mexico not found in the North American guide. For example this book contains no shore birds. If you are out bird watching in Mexico you will need to bring both books.

56 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars One glaring omission, July 4, 2000

By	Edward J Stone (Alexandria, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This book describes birds of Mexico in the usual annoying Peterson format - decription on one page, illustration on another. The illustrations and descriptions are good, and for birds of Mexico, there are only a couple other guides to choose from. Two problems:

1. Mexican birds that are covered in Peterson's guides to the birds of North America, or the guide to birds of Texas, are not illustrated. You'll have to bring at least one other book.

2. Really glaring omission: no mention of the Spanish names of the birds! Did Peterson really think we would do all our Mexican birding from the north bank of the Rio Grande, with a really good spotting scope? (The Spanish names of the birds can be found on the website of the Museo de las Aves)

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Buy the Spanish version!, April 16, 2001

By	Klaas Tjoelker (La Paz, Bolivia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Other reviewers have already indicated the limitations of this book: pictures of many species and Spanish names are missing. I would add that the bibliography is lacking up-to-date references to the most usefull other guides about Mexican birds:

- A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America, by Steve N.G. Howell and Sophie Webb;

- A field guide to the birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas, by Ernest Preston Edwards. (revised edition, 1998)

Both these books also have their limitations but they are essential complements to Peterson's guide and Howell and Webb's guide is much more comprehensive.

For Spanish-speaking people I would strongly recommend to buy the Spanish version of Peterson's guide:

- Aves de Mexico. Guía de Campo. (Editorial Diana, Mexico).

This Spanish version includes explanations and pictures of all Mexican birds and it even has the English names (no index of English names, however). Amazon is not stocking this title but perhaps they will, if you insist.