Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea: An Atlas of Distribution

(Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

'It will enhance the library of anyone with an interest in the birds of East Africa.' Biologist (August 2009) 'A most thorough and well researched avifauna of these two countries, giving a huge amount of detail...a superb section of photos.' Scottish Bird (2009) 'The whole is a remarkable achievement and will form the very important foundations on which future surveying and conservation work can build.' www.bto.org (August 2009) 'I can wholeheartedly recommend this extremely impressive and well-produced book for anyone interested in African birds and their conservation - and it sets a high benchmark for anyone engaged in similar projects.' British Birds (November 2009) '...an invaluable tool and source of data for regular visitors and residents.' Bradt's Ethiopia Guide Online (November 2009)

Product Description

Ethiopia and Eritrea have a fascinating and unique avifauna. Poorly known in comparison to many parts of Africa, knowledge on bird distribution in the two countries is scattered throughout the literature. For more than 35 years, the authors have been painstakingly collecting bird records in the region and plotting them on half-degree maps, including published records, data from museum specimens, sightings from their own extensive travels and, more recently, records from the many birdwatchers that now visit Ethiopia. The resulting atlas provides, for the first time, an accurate assessment of the distribution of each of the 870 species known from the two countries, including valuable information on breeding. The succinct text summarises the results and discusses distribution to subspecies level. Extensive introductory chapters cover topics such as topography, geology, vegetation, climate, habitats, conservation, migration, breeding seasons, bird ringing, and the history of ornithology in the region. This groundbreaking book fills a large hole in the literature for one of the most diverse and least known areas of Africa.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 463 pages
• Publisher: Christopher Helm Publishing Company (August 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1408109794
• ISBN-13: 978-1408109793
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,442,774 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

  #15 in	Books > Travel > Africa > Eritrea
  #25 in	Books > History > Africa > Eritrea
  #52 in	Books > Travel > Africa > Ethiopia & Djibouti

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thorough, useful resource of distribution and status, May 17, 2009

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

Basics: 2009, hardcover, 463 pages, 29 of 32 endemics with color photos, 872 species with a breeding/status atlas map, text of distribution and habitat, many lists

This is a thorough reference book to the distribution and status of all species found in both Ethiopia and Eritrea. The heart of the book is its 872 atlas style maps. Using a grid of 528 squares over the region, the presence of each bird in a square is represented by four distinct symbols. These represent either a confirmed sighting/specimen, an uncertain record, confirmed breeding, or uncertain breeding.

The paragraph accompanying each map consists of the bird's status in the country, migration pattern, distribution notes, breeding behavior and dates, and favored sites. This information is about one paragraph in length.

Other than a dozen or so black-and-white photos of various habitats, the only other photos in this book are 29 excellent, nice-sized color images. These represent all but 3 of the region's 32 endemic birds. Not illustrated are the Red-billed Pytilia, the uncertain Ethiopian Cliff Swallow, and the never seen Nechisar Nightjar (known from only a single wing).

For the data oriented birder, this book offers a great deal of additional information. The 70 pages at the beginning cover a wide range of information from ornithological history to topography and geology to vegetation to breeding seasons. There are also 14 good quality color maps of the region showing a variety of geologic, climate, and vegetative aspects.

The last 78 pages of the book offer many lists that cover hybrids, endemics, hypotheticals, important bird areas, bird ringing/banding, a gazetteer, and references.

This book will appeal to the more ardent ornithologist, the traveling birder, and the Abyssian enthusiast; however, its emphasis on maps and data with few photos and no identification may be a little dry for many other birders.

I've listed several related books below...
1) A Guide to Endemic Birds of Ethiopia and Eritrea by Pol
2) Ethiopia's endemic birds by Urban
3) Birds of the Horn of Africa by Redman
4) A Checklist of the Birds of Ethiopia by Urban
5) Ethiopia: In Search of Endemic Birds by Francis
6) Birds of Somalia by Ash
7) The Birds of East Africa by Stevenson
8) Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania by Zimmerman
9) A Bird Atlas of Kenya by Lewis
(written by Soleglad at Avian Review or Avian Books, May 2009)