Books : A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America
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Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.2972
EAN: 9780198540120
ISBN: 0198540124
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 1010
Publication Date: April 27, 1995
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
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Editorial Review:
Product Description:
When Steve Howell first visited Mexico in November of 1981, he arrived armed with a strong background of birding in Britain and the Western Palearctic, and an even stronger enthusiasm for the diverse and exotic birds of Northern Central America. But he also arrived without an adequate field guide. Indeed, to his surprise, he found that relatively little was known (and even less written) about the myriad of bird species that inhabit the region stretching from the U.S.-Mexican border to Nicaragua. And so, after eleven years of research in Northern Central America, and with the essential collaboration of Sophie Webb--a biologist and one of the most talented ornithological illustrators working today--we now have the definitive guide to birds of this fascinating region. drop rest as varied as the Laysan Albatross, the Blue-footed Booby, the Collared Trogon, even the rare Guadalupe Storm-Petrel.
A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is astonishingly comprehensive, covering the identification, status, and distribution of all 1,070 birds species known from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, and western Nicaragua. No other book approaches the thoroughness of this unique field guide. Beautifully illustrated with seventy-one color plates and thirty-nine black and white drawings, the guide shows 750 species and includes many plumages never before depicted. Of special interest are illustrations of some of the most notoriously difficult groups to portray, such as raptors in flight, owls, and nightjars. In addition, superb, easy-to-read maps help the traveling birder locate particular--even rare--species, and the entries describing individual birds detail their appearance, voice, habitat, behavior (including nesting and eggs), and distribution. With the U.S. birder in mind, the guide also includes birds that can be seen north of the border, showing these American migrants on plates when they could be confused with similar Mexican species, thus enabling the birder to make quick and ready comparisons in the field. And, with readable and fascinating presentations of the natural history of Central American birds, this guide will be welcomed not only by seasoned birders, but by any traveler exploring the rain forests, coastlines, and deserts of Mexico and the Central American isthmus.
Sponsored by the distinguished Point Reyes Observatory in California, A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America is a wonderful addition to the library of birders, nature enthusiasts, and travelers alike. With its lavish illustrations, clear writing, and unprecedented range, it offers hours of compelling reading and pleasant browsing for anyone intrigued by the colorful diversity of birds and the wild, largely unspoiled world next door.
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
I bought this book and returned it. I did not make a scientific count, but it appears that about 1/2 or more of the birds covered are "not illustrated". I am a casual birder and need a picture to get started. The 2 birds I had hoped to identify for certain, a possible cuckoo and ovenbird, were "not illustrated".
Rating: -
If you are visiting Mexico for birding, this book is a MUST HAVE. but you will need to bring a second guide to cover all of the birds you may see. This book at 851 pages is not a field guide, but a guide and reference to all of the birds of Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Western Nicaragua. The amount of information included for each species is both highly detailed and useful. the first 82 pages of the book describe the area covered ,Geography and bird distribution, a history of birding ... Read More
Rating: -
I purchased this book in 2008, looking for a definitive guide to Mexican birds.
On a positive note, the illustrations are excellent.
The text takes a bit of getting used to because of the number of abbreviations that are used, but once you get used to the abbreviations, it is well set out and informative.
The distributions are quite exhaustive which is an achievement for a country as diverse as Mexico.
Now for the negative.
I was disconcerted to find that not ... Read More
Rating: -
Huge and heavy but detail is good. Best used with Field Guide to the Birds of North America which DOES fit in your pocket.
Rating:  -
By far the only field guide worth taking into northern Middle America. Thorough in coverage; mostly accurate plates and range maps. The size is not convenient, but the other guides (Peterson, Edwards, Princeton Checklist) don't come close.
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