Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti (Helm Field Guides) [IMPORT] (Paperback)

by Steve Latta (Author), James Wiley (Author), Christopher Rimmer (Author), Herbert A. Raffaele (Author), Allan R. Keith (Author), Kent McFarland (Author), Eladio Fernandez (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 360 pages
• Publisher: Christopher Helm Publishers Ltd (September 29, 2006)
• ISBN-10: 0713679050
• ISBN-13: 978-0713679052
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Variable but good illustrations, good quality field guide, June 26, 2008

By	Soleglad (Arizona, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Birds of the Dominican Republic and Haiti (Princeton Field Guides) (Paperback)

Basics: 2006, 1st edition, softcover, 258 pages, 57 color plates, 300+ species, range maps

This is a good field guide - and the only one - to focus on the birds of this 2-country island, Hispaniola. All the known species are illustrated and described. Most have multiple illustrations.

The authors take a few progressive liberties with the taxonomy, such as splitting out the Hispaniolan Oriole from the still-recognized Greater Antillean Oriole; or, the Hispaniolan Palm Crow from the combined Palm Crow.

The artistry is good, but with inconsistent styles between plates. The styles of the various illustrators are quite different. I find this slightly distracting. Plate 50 seems more like a mural for a wall or calendar versus the cleaner look of Plate 48 versus the cartoonish style of plate 34 versus a more meticulous plate 20 or 21. The two different Flat-billed Vireos (plates 38 and 43) look like two different species. Again, the plates are good and the accuracy of the field marks are well done; although, the sandpipers could use a bit more distinguishing detail and the beaks of the warblers appear too thin and pointed.

Many of the illustrations will look familiar because they are taken directly from the earlier work "Birds of the West Indies" by Raffaele et.al (1998). Two of the primary illustrators worked on both books.

The text is thorough, focusing on descriptions, similar species, and range. Given the high degree of speciation and subspecies in the surrounding islands, it would have been nice to see a little more - or even any -- reference given to the sister species only an island-hop away.

The range maps show good detail. The authors obviously tried to make the localized distributions show in these maps as denoted by splotchy shading representing altitudinal changes around the highlands.

If you're going to Haiti or to the Dominican Republic for birding, this is the only book you will require for a good trip.

I've listed several related books below...:
1) Aves Comunes de la República Dominicana by Latta/Fernandez
2) The birds of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) by Wetmore
3) The Birds of Hispaniola by Keith
4) Endangered and endemic birds of the Dominican Republic by Dod
5) Aves de la Republica Dominicana by Dod
6) Birds of the West Indies by Bond
7) Birds of the West Indies by Raffaele
8) A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies by Raffaele
9) Photographic Guide to Birds of the West Indies by Flieg