Book Review - Britain's Birds, An Identification Guide to the Birds of Great Britain and Ireland, Second Edition - Princeton University Press

         In the fall of last year I reviewed British Birds, A Pocket Guide by the same authors, a book that impressed me greatly. That work was strictly a field guide, designed to be carried along on a birding outing, compact, portable and containing all the information necessary to identify a bird.

     The present volume goes far beyond the pocket guide, in scope, wealth of detail, clarity, organizational structure, and information pertaining not only to the bird as a unique species, but to its place in the natural history of Great Britain and Ireland. Just when one thinks that works of this nature cannot be greatly improved, along comes a volume that ups the ante and creates a class unto itself. Such is the case here.

     It could easily serve as a first rate field guide, and doubtless will for some, but there is so much more to this magnum opus. The authors, all of whom have earned their spurs in the arena of ornithology in Europe, have been able to successfully blend an incredible array of first class photographs, with an informative text that encapsulates the current level of knowledge about each species.

    It begins with all the standard introductory sections found in any field guide - and all too frequently ignored! The "obligatory" depiction of bird topography is very agreeable indeed with superior coloured images of the bird perched and in flight, with every part labelled.

     There follows a gallery of thumbnail images so that the bird can quickly be assigned to a given group, e.g. Gulls, Dabbling Ducks, Diving Ducks, which leads the reader to the species accounts for more detailed examination. The selection of high quality images for each species is extremely useful in the identification process, and there are comprehensive notes on aging and moult. A range map is included, with information about habitat types, and the direction of migration for birds that do not spend their whole year in the British Isles. 

     Identifiable subspecies are shown, enabling the birder to add an extra dimension to his quest.  Sections providing tips on how to identify female ducks, hybrid ducks and gulls, larids in sub adult plumages, and so on, are incredibly useful and innovative techniques are used to facilitate understanding of what can be for some, difficult topics, especially when first tackled.

     The current status of each species is provided and it is alarming to note the quantity of birds whose numbers are declining.

     Great Britain and Ireland are ideally positioned to receive vagrants from Europe and Asia, and also from North America, so there is a high frequency of strays from other parts of the world. These orphans and waifs receive due attention!

     A section at the and of the book shows British and Irish Lists, Status and Legislation, something not generally found in works of this nature, and the summary - and the way it is depicted - is very useful indeed.

     This is a fine work, filled with wonderful photographs and a wealth of information. My advice to my fellow birders, whether a proficient veteran or unabashed novice, would be take the pocket guide as your instrument in the field, and have this book at home or in your hotel room, ready to amplify the discoveries you have made while out and about.

    Like Scotch and soda, wine and cheese, or ham and eggs, I can't think of a better combination. 

Britain's Birds, An identification guide to the birds of Great Britain and Ireland

Rob Hume, Robert Still, Andy Swash, Hugh Harrop and David Tipling

US$35.00, £20.00 - 9780691199795 - 3,591 colour plates - 576 pages - 5.88 in. x 8. 25 in.

Publication date: 14 July 2020