This compact field guide features the highest quality photographs, capturing the beauty of more than 500 bird species and making bird identification effortless. Each bird's entry includes clear images at rest and in flight and pictures the male, female, and juvenile of the species along with a distribution map so you know what species to expect and when. Some birds also have flight-pattern diagrams and images of subspecies to help identify them. Birds that can be hard to tell apart are compared in similar species panels, with their differences picked out.
The introduction covers the anatomy, life cycle, and behaviour of birds and includes a survey of the habitats in which birds live, making it an essential reference for anyone interested in birdwatching. Descriptions and photos of rarities and vagrants – accidental visitors to Britain and Europe – are also included. An accompanying audio app of the birdsong and calls of over 200 key birds help identify a bird even when it is hard to spot.
Writer, editor, artist and identification expert, Rob Hume is a lifelong birdwatcher who worked for the RSPB for over 30 years and edited the RSPB's award-winning Birds magazine, which has a readership of 1.8 million.
" [...] colourful and well-designed and is a valuable guide to rookie and experienced birders"
- Countryman