Costa Rica is one of the premier birding destinations in the world, boasting good infrastructure, excellent accommodations and food, and most importantly a wealth of birds in a wide range of habitats.
Over the years I have made three visits to Costa Rica, and have birded just about every corner of the country. I found it interesting, and commendable, that Dyer and Howell acknowledge the development of field guides to Costa Rican birds, going back to the 1989 seminal guide by Stiles and Skutch. Each field guide has built on the success of those that have gone before and as one who has used all of them, I take great satisfaction in now possessing this newest version.
Simply stated, it is a very fine book, meeting all the established criteria for a successful modern field guide, and in many instances exceeding them. It seems obvious that the most important component of a book dedicated to enabling observers to identify a bird, is the accuracy of the illustrations. Dyer's work is flawless, but there are added touches that give me great pleasure. Permit me to mention just two of them. On page 153, depicting those most cryptic of birds, the potoos, little cameos are added showing a bird roosting, for all the world looking like part of a tree, and another depicting the bird at night - "potoo eyes reflect like burning coals." There are those for whom Resplendent Quetzal is the most beautiful bird in all the world. Males and females are masterfully illustrated (page 189), but the crowning moment for me is the wonderful illustration below the text, of a male flying gracefully through the air, tail streaming behind him. For anyone who has ever seen a quetzal this is surely the image burned into memory. My mind immediately evoked groves of wild avocados and quetzals floating through the air.
Appendix A deals with Cocos Island, a place we all wish to go to but never will, and its unique species. The very thought of this island conjures up an association with the Galápagos, and evolutionary history.
The field guide I have used on my two last visits to Costa Rica has been the excellent work by Garrigues and Dean. But now I have to say, "Move over guys, there's a new guide in town, and you have been dethroned." Who knows maybe you'll get busy and come up with something superior, but for now my mind is made up. Dyer and Howell it is!
Birds of Costa Rica - Princeton Field Guides
Dale Dyer and Steve N.G. Howell
Paperback - US$29.95 - ISBN: 9780691203355
456 pages - 6.25 x 8 inches (15.625 x 20 cm)
203 colour plates, 19 colour photos, 900+ colour maps
Publication Date: 23 May, 2023
...from the cover, the birds look exotic.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like another great book, and it must be well written if you have given it your imprimatur! Thanks for sharing, hugs, Valerie xxxxx
ReplyDeletebeen there, seen them :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's time to do it again with a great new field guide!
DeleteI know there is quite a variety there.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting guide!...the best country I have birded was Papua New Guinea....and I didn't have a book guide, but the person who was my tour guide that week, helped me to identify different species of birds of paradise. He taught me in the local names, and not in the scientific and/or common English names.....it was a fantastic experience....Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeletePapua New Guinea is a birder's dream destination, but most of us will never get there. I envy you your experience there.
DeleteSounds good and I like the cover.
ReplyDeleteHow I wish I had the opportunity to use this guide - and indeed rather a lot of other ones too.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is so beautiful, and the other drawings sounds wonderful, David.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
It seems like a good book to me.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is beautiful with the parrots.
Greetings Irma
Hello David :=)
ReplyDeleteI have to take your word for it, as you have the experience that few of us have. The guide book is a winner.I like the cover, and I remember having seen the Quetzal and it's flowing tail streaming out behind as it flew amongst the trees, but sadly only in documentary's, but the image stayed with me, and always will.
Excellent book review.
All the best
Hugs for a good friend.
Sonjia.
All of nature enchants me, Sonjia, but there are some sights that you never forget, and cherish above others, and seeing exactly what you describe above is one of them.
DeleteI went into google images and browsed all the photos of the quetzels and they are stunning.
ReplyDeleteAmong the ancient Maya, the feathers were reserved for the ceremonial robes of the high priests and chiefs, and the punishment for others wearing them was death.
DeleteIf I ever get the offer of being teleported to Costa Rica, David, I shall insist that this field guide accompanies me!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes - - - Richard
Debe de ser muy interesantes las aves de ese país, cuando las has visitado varias veces.
ReplyDeleteQue tengas una excelente semana. Saludos.
Good review, David. Nice book cover.
ReplyDeleteBuenas tardes, estimado amigo David, gran reseña la de ese libro de Dale Dyer y Steve Howell, por lo que nos cuentas es un maravilloso libro guía de consulta sobre la diversidad de aves en Costa Rica.
ReplyDeleteMuchas gracias por darlo a conocer.
Un gran abrazo de tu siempre amigo y compadre Juan.
Otra guía interesante y preciosa. Abrazos.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly a fascinating book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Costa Rica is the kind of place where you cannot fail to see interesting birds, even if you are not looking for them!
DeleteMy son went on a quarter from UC San Diego to Costa Rica. It was exhilarating. He is an entomologist and has a life long love of that country.
ReplyDeleteIt would be very exciting for an entomologist there and how one would not develop a love for the country is impossible to contemplate.
DeleteMy daughter took the kids to Costa Rica on last spring break but I don’t think they watched birds – they were too busy surfing. They also went to Papua New Guinea couple of years ago, but again they went for hiking. Now, when I was in the Marquesas Islands last fall (French Polynesia) I saw many birds, beautiful ones too, but had no idea what they were and did not have a guide book. This guide you mention must be first class. What I noticed is that it has 203 color plates. When my late husband was in the last years of his Alzheimer’s malady he could not talk but since he had loved to look at birds for years I brought him several bird books, big coffee table books, of colorful birds, and he would just look and look at them, and smile. It helped him I believe.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very touching story about your husband. I am happy to know that he found solace in birds.
DeleteIf I was going to Costa Rica, this would be the first thing I get. (And the first thing I would do would be contact you!)
ReplyDeleteI could have used this book back in 2013 when I visited Costa Rica. The bird life was amazing, and I know I saw hummingbirds and toucans, but who knows what species or variety. And thanks for the comment about my "pachysandra" . That's very possible that it's periwinkle, as it does look like it. I bought it at the gardens I like to visit and they were selling a collection of native plants. Either I remembered what it was wrongly or else it was labeled incorrectly. Either way I had it does get established and helps fill in that garden, and even if it moves into the lawn, that wouldn't be so bad. Hope you're week has been going well david. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteHi David - I gather from you and others Costa Rica is the place to go to see beautiful birds ... I'd never heard of the Potoo - what an extraordinary little bird ... so pleased you mentioned them. Another great review from you - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteNow this one I know I left a comment as I asked you where I could find out about Bird tours in Costa Rica!!!!!! May be my computer is not linking up with you. I had a problem on the phone and changed to the computer!!! I bit worrying if comments are going astray Bisous Diane
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame that the French don't publish such good books!
ReplyDeleteEnglish literature is a gold mine.
Good luck David and see you soon for more wonders.
Would you consider doing a comparative review of this Dyer & Howell guide vs the 2014 Garrigues & Dean book? I'm planning an upcoming trip and want to purchase one of them, but would love to see some pros & cons side-by-side!
ReplyDeleteSend me an email, Michelle, and I will send you my thoughts on the two guides, both of which I have.
DeleteEmail sent, check you spam box, and thank you for sharing!
DeleteI love the blog. Great post. It is very true, people must learn how to learn before they can learn. lol i know it sounds funny but its very true. . .
ReplyDelete