Description
Book SynopsisThis entirely new field guide covers the identification, status, and distribution of all 1,070 bird species known from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and western Nicaragua, a region with endemic more than 180 species. The 71 colour plates and 39 black-and-white drawings, based on the authors''field experience, together show 750 species and included numerous plumages never before illustrated. North American migrants are thoroughly described, and also shown on the plates when confusion could occur with similar Mexican species.Thes species accounts describes appearance, voice, habitat, behaviour (including nests and eggs), and distribution, and include range maps. In addition, introductory chapters provide background information for birdwatching in this area, and appendices summarise useful information on the avifaunas of various offshore Pacific and Caribbean islands.Area covered: Geography and bird distribution, Climate and habitate, Migration, History of ornithology in Mexico; Conservation; Birding in Mexico and northern Central America; USING THIS BOOK Taxonomy, Molt and plumage; Outline of the species accounts, Glossary; FAMILY AND SPECIES ACCOUNTS; Appendices on extinct species, hypothetical occurrence, birds of Pacific Islands and Caribbean Islands, and additional species of eastern Honduras; Bibliography; Index.
Trade Review... a must for anyone with an interest in neotropical birds * David Tomlinson, New Scientist, August 1995 *
This guide is a major contribution to field ornithology and birding in Mexico and northern Central America. Most highly recommended. * Wildlife Activist, No. 25, December 1995 *
Few, however, who actually looked at this book would question its importance, as it radiates authority and excellence. One of its most prominent features is the sheer quantity of information not available from any of the region's comparable field guides ... maps are a highly commendable ... the plates are very good; they are accurate in plumage details and postures, and species within a plate are to scale. Especially striking are the plates depicting cryptically plumaged species such as owls (plates 25 and 26), nightjars (plate 27) and sparrows (plates 63 and 64) ... wealth of information presented and its excellence. Few guides are better value for money: produced on good quality paper with 71 colour plates, the softback edition costs only £25.00. It will quickly become the main guide to the region's birds. * Adrian Long, The Ibis, 1996, Vol. 138 *
impressive book ... As a guide to one of the ornithologically richest parts of the world, this book is unlikely to be superseded for a very long time. * Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club, Volume 115, No. 3, September 1995 *
This is a first-class book by any standards and will clearly not be superseded in the foreseeable future. * Bryan Sage, Country-Side, October-November 1995 *
the book is well researched, produced, and published, a valuable addition to any birdwatcher's library ... a most invaluable resource * Jack Siegel, Nature Canada, Autumn 1996 *
...The result of this immense labor is not just a very fine field guide, but also a manual to the birds of Mexico and northern central America. This extraordinary achievement is not likely to be improved in the near future...This wonderful book treats about 1070 species...the maps in Howell and Webb are excellent....mandatory reading not only for all birders but also for some professional ornithologists...superb, extremely well-prepared species accounts, its very clear range maps, and its magnificent plates, which are beautifully reproduced, all converge towards making this book an exceptional volume * Ornitologia Neotropical (1997) 8: 195-236 *
Table of ContentsIntroduction: Area covered ; 1. Geography and bird distribution ; 2. Climate and habitat ; 3. Migration ; 4. History of ornithology in Mexico ; 5. Conservation ; 6. Birding in Mexico and northern Central America ; 7. Using this book ; 8. Taxonomy ; 9. Molt and plumage ; 10. Outline of the species accounts ; 11. Family and Species Accounts ; Appendices on extinct species, hypothetical occurrence, birds of Pacific Islands and Caribbean Islands, and additional species of eastern Honduras ; Bibliography ; Index
