Collins Bird Songs and Calls

A unique beginner's guide to birdsong, this new edition of the established classic now features all recordings digitally. This second edition of the acclaimed Collins Guide to Bird Songs and Calls includes re-recorded versions of the original habitat CDs -- ensuring that they are even clearer, but just as atmospheric -- introducing the user to the major bird habitats of Britain and the birds that live in them.

The new edition also contains a third CD containing a unique beginner's guide to birdsong in a course of 12 monthly sessions. Covering around 30 of the commonest garden and parkland bird species in the 12 sessions, it also gives an outline of the behavioural context -- when different species sing, why they sing and what is going on in the wider bird community. The group of species featured each month will be chosen for the similarities in their voices and songs; often this will mean birds of the same family.

So, for instance, it makes sense to begin with Great Tit and Blue Tit for January -- some of the few birds that can be heard this month, but also species with songs built around simple repeated patterns. By introducing a group of similar sounding birds each month -- and starting with the easy birds first -- this accessible guide will help you to quickly appreciate the wonderful range of bird voices and to discover just what birdsong is all about.