Book Review - Flight Identification of European Passerines and Select Landbirds - Princeton University Press/WILDGuides

 

Identifying small songbirds in flight at a quarter mile is possible if you truly desire to do so.

David Sibley

     This is a book that merits superlatives from the first page onwards. It really is a magnum opus, with heavy emphasis on the magnum.

     Every novice birder knows the frustration of seeking a new species, being in the right habitat, only to see a bird fly by at top speed, and being unable to identify it. The sense of frustration may be magnified when more experienced birders call the bird with confidence. 

     Indeed, there is no greater skill to be learned (in tandem with recognizing birdsong I might add) than that of identifying a bird from its JIZZ. And it can be done. Indeed, it must be done if you going to fully enjoy the art, science and sublime pleasure of birding.

     With practice, discipline, and by paying close attention to fundamentals, you can identify a songbird in flight with the same level of confidence that you recognize a friend at a distance, long before facial features are apparent. This is not to say that it is always easy, but nothing worthwhile in life is achieved without effort.

     Tomasz Cofta is probably not a household name for many, but he is in fact a seasoned ornithologist with a reputation that is hard to beat. Over a span of forty years the author has invested more than 3,000 hours of systematic observation and counting of migratory birds in flight. Around 88,000 birds of 153 species have been examined in the hand. In addition 4,400 sound recordings have been made and interpreted as sonograms. Such is the calibre of your teacher in this book.

     I always urge readers to thoroughly read the introductory sections to field guides, and it is absolutely critical with this volume, in order to fully understand the process, learn the techniques and comprehend the scope of inter-related disciplines. The species accounts are of European passerines and select landbirds as the title says, but the methods used are applicable to birds throughout the world.

     The illustrations rank as superb for the most part, and even the few that are marginally substandard are nevertheless very acceptable. Anyone who has tried to capture a photograph of a swiftly flying songbird knows how difficult it is to achieve satisfying results. 

     Once in a while a book comes along that should occupy a place of honour on the shelf of anyone interested in birds at any level. This is one of those works. But don't let it just sit on the shelf, take it down often, take it in the field, study it and study it again. Every minute you spend with it will make you a better birder.

     And what could be more satisfying than that?

Flight Identification of European Passerines and Select Landbirds - Princeton University Press/WILDGuides of Britain & Europe

Author: Tomasz Cofta

Published: 11 May 2021 (USA)

                17 February 2021 (UK) 

Price: US$45.00, £38.00

ISBN: 9780691177571 - 496 pages - 850 coloured illustrations 

Size: 6.13 x 9.25 in., 16 x 24 cm