[csanchez7]

Which countries/regions of the world are in most need of a field guide?

My vote would go to Bolivia, which does not seem to have any coverage at all.

Improved/updated field guides for Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, New Guinea, and Wallacea would also be great. South America, in general, seems to suffer from a lack of good field guides (Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Pantanal/Cerrado Brazil are exceptions).

Outside of North America and Europe, would Africa have the best coverage in terms of good field guides? All the regional guides seem to be quite good.

Carlos

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by csanchez7

Improved/updated field guides for Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, New Guinea, and Wallacea would also be great.

A new Brazil guide by Kevin Zimmer (et al.?) is forthcoming next year last I heard. I've been impressed with Zimmer's writing on ID issues, so think it should be good.

Jim

[J. Moore]

Some more rumors about the Brazil guide: http://www.wildsounds.com/products/2606-Birds-of-Brazil.shtml

This site predicts April 2012 as publishing date. But I also found an old BF thread that references a 2007 publishing date, so apparently this has been in the works for some time and any projection should be taken with a grain of salt. Andrew Whittaker is now listed as co-author.

Jim

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by csanchez7

Outside of North America and Europe, would Africa have the best coverage in terms of good field guides? All the regional guides seem to be quite good.

I'm not familiar with Africa coverage, but think Central America/Mexico has pretty good coverage now with the comprehensive Howell & Webb for Mexico and Northern CA, and the newer compact "modern" guides to Costa Rica and Panama (with all info and range maps on same page). Though a good compact modern field guide for Mexico and No. CA would be welcome. And comprehensive photo guides to all these areas would also be quite helpful. There's a photo guide to CR but it only covers a few hundred species.

Jim

[JonasNordin]

Here are some titles that has been discussed or advertised for the past decade and are still waiting for a firm publication date:

Birds of Argentina (Pearman) Helm
Birds of China and Tibet (Leader, Carey & Round) Helm
Birds of Brazil (Zimmer & Whittaker) Princeton
Birds of Brazil (Whitney & Burke) 3 parts
Birds of Bolivia (Seddon, Barnes, Beadle et al.) (www.neomorphus.com/projects/birdsofbolivia.htm)
Birds of Bolivia (Herzog, Fjeldså, Tofte et al) (www.birdsofbolivia.org)
Birds of Central Asia (Schweizer et al) Helm (covering Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan and Afghanistan)
Birds of Mongolia (Gombobaatar et al) Helm
Birds of New Guinea (Beehler. Ed. 2)
Birds of the Guianas (Ingels & Restall) Helm
Field Guide to the Birds of New Guinea (Gregory)
Field Guide to the Birds of Northern Central America (Fagan & Burke)
Field Guide to the Birds of Paraguay (Smith & Clay) Helm
Handbook to the Indian Ocean Islands/Birds of Africa – The Malagasy Region (Saffron, Hawkins, Gale & Small) (eg. http://www.galleryofbirds.co.uk/MADA...USTARTIONS.htm [sic])
Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil (Gwynne et al) Five parts planned, one published.

Any updates on the titles above would be gratefully received.

Regards // Jonas

[MarcelHaas]

Originally Posted by JonasNordin

Here are some titles that has been discussed or advertised for the past decade and are still waiting for a firm publication date:

Birds of Central Asia (Schweizer et al) Helm (covering Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan,Tajikistan and Afghanistan)


Any updates on the titles above would be gratefully received.

Regards // Jonas

According to Bookdepository, this title is scheduled for 30 August 2012 (see http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Bird.../9780713670387)

[csanchez7]

Wildlife Conservation Society Birds of Brazil (Gwynne et al) Five parts planned, one published.

The Wildlife Conservation Society's first field guide (Pantanal/Cerrado) is excellent. It might be the best way to handle the very large area and large number of species covered in a Brazilian field guide.

I've been hearing about a second edition to Beehler's Birds of New Guinea for a very long time...

Carlos

[Markus Lagerqvist]

Originally Posted by JonasNordin

Here are some titles that has been discussed or advertised for the past decade and are still waiting for a firm publication date:

Birds of Brazil (Whitney & Burke) 3 parts

Any updates on the titles above would be gratefully received.

Regards // Jonas

Bret Whitney's Brazil guides are forthcoming, I think the first will hit the shelves within a year. I had a look at some of the artwork during a trip w/ Bret recently and the plates were stunning, so much better than what we have today for Brazil!

[MJB]

Originally Posted by MarcelHaas

According to Bookdepository, this title is scheduled for 30 August 2012 (see http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Bird.../9780713670387)

If that's the planned date, let's hope for advance copies at the British Bird Fair the week before...
MJB

[Daniel Philippe]

Originally Posted by Markus Lagerqvist

Bret Whitney's Brazil guides are forthcoming, I think the first will hit the shelves within a year. I had a look at some of the artwork during a trip w/ Bret recently and the plates were stunning, so much better than what we have today for Brazil!

In 2006, Bret planned to have the part for East Brazil published first. I haven't got any news since then: is this still the plan ?

[J. Moore]

Originally Posted by csanchez7

The Wildlife Conservation Society's first field guide (Pantanal/Cerrado) is excellent. It might be the best way to handle the very large area and large number of species covered in a Brazilian field guide.

I'd generally agree with that. They ought to follow the NA model for Brazil--have a big guide covering the whole area, then create compact regional guides that are a subset of the big guide. Certainly visitors are going to find it easier having fewer birds to choose from.

Jim

[cuckooroller]

How about Family monographs? Years ago (I mean really many years ago) there was talk of a Bulbul monograph - now the silence is deafening on the subject. Phil Gregory and Honeyeaters?

[Richard Klim]

Originally Posted by cuckooroller

How about Family monographs?

From my notes, the following family monographs and photo guides seem to have faded away:

• Birds of Prey in Britain & Europe. Philip Burton & Dick Forsman. 288pp. Plates by Ian Lewington. Helm.
  
• Raptors of the Western Palearctic: Photographic Guide. Dick Forsman. Helm or RSPB?
  
• Cranes & Bustards. Hans Winkler. c240pp. 16 plates by Christopher Schmidt. Pica.
  
• Terns & Skimmers. Claudia Wilds & Joe Di Constanzo. 300pp. 32 plates. Helm.
  
• Trogons & Quetzals. Nigel Collar & Richard Allen. 240pp. 40 plates. A&C Black.
  
• Woodpeckers: A Guide to the Woodpeckers of the World. 2nd edition. Hans Winkler & David Christie. Pica.
  
• Flycatchers of North America. Chris Benesh. Poyser.
  
• Larks of Europe, Asia & North America: Identification and Systematics. Per Alström, Krister Mild & Bill Zetterström. Helm.
  
• Larks, Pipits & Wagtails. Roy Hargreaves. c300pp. 40 plates by Dave Nurney. Pica.
  
• Bulbuls. Lincoln Fishpool & Des Allen. c256pp. 40 plates by Mark Andrews. Pica.
  
• Warblers of the Western Palearctic: Photographic Guide. Steve Votier. Helm or RSPB?
  
• Babblers. Craig Robson. c480pp. 64 plates by Craig Robson, Clive Byers & Tim Worfolk. Pica.
  
• Robins & Chats. Nigel Redman & Simon Harrap. Plates by Chris Rose. Helm.
  
• Flycatchers (Muscicapidae, Monarchidae, Rhipiduridae). Phil Chantler. c400pp. 64 plates by Gerald Driessens. Pica.
  
• Flycatchers: Photoguide. ??? Poyser?

Any news...?

[birdboybowley]

Believe that Robins & Chats is on its way....and I hope I'm never asked to illustrate a monograph on bulbuls!!

[rockfowl]

Originally Posted by birdboybowley

....and I hope I'm never asked to illustrate a monograph on bulbuls!!

Ho Ho

[Markus Lagerqvist]

Originally Posted by Daniel Philippe

In 2006, Bret planned to have the part for East Brazil published first. I haven't got any news since then: is this still the plan ?

Yes, I believe East is first and Amazon (which will cover all the Amazon, also outside Brazil) is last.

[jedigrant]

Also, Colombia does have a new, portable, well-received field guide now: Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia

[JonasNordin]

Originally Posted by Richard Klim

From my notes, the following family monographs and photo guides seem to have faded away:

[*]Larks of Europe, Asia & North America: Identification and Systematics. Per Alström, Krister Mild & Bill Zetterström. Helm.

Any news...?

According to a well-informed source all the plates and 99.8 % of the text were completed 10 years ago. I´ve seen some of the illustrations during a talk by Per Alström and they were awesome. However I would be surprised if we´ll see this title on the bookshelves for the next 15 years a minimum. A pity indeed.

// Jonas

[JonasNordin]

Originally Posted by Richard Klim

From my notes, the following family monographs and photo guides seem to have faded away:

• Birds of Prey in Britain & Europe. Philip Burton & Dick Forsman. 288pp. Plates by Ian Lewington. Helm.
  
• Raptors of the Western Palearctic: Photographic Guide. Dick Forsman. Helm or RSPB?
  
• Cranes & Bustards. Hans Winkler. c240pp. 16 plates by Christopher Schmidt. Pica.
  
• Terns & Skimmers. Claudia Wilds & Joe Di Constanzo. 300pp. 32 plates. Helm.
  
• Trogons & Quetzals. Nigel Collar & Richard Allen. 240pp. 40 plates. A&C Black.
  
• Woodpeckers: A Guide to the Woodpeckers of the World. 2nd edition. Hans Winkler & David Christie. Pica.
  
• Flycatchers of North America. Chris Benesh. Poyser.
  
• Larks of Europe, Asia & North America: Identification and Systematics. Per Alström, Krister Mild & Bill Zetterström. Helm.
  
• Larks, Pipits & Wagtails. Roy Hargreaves. c300pp. 40 plates by Dave Nurney. Pica.
  
• Bulbuls. Lincoln Fishpool & Des Allen. c256pp. 40 plates by Mark Andrews. Pica.
  
• Warblers of the Western Palearctic: Photographic Guide. Steve Votier. Helm or RSPB?
  
• Babblers. Craig Robson. c480pp. 64 plates by Craig Robson, Clive Byers & Tim Worfolk. Pica.
  
• Robins & Chats. Nigel Redman & Simon Harrap. Plates by Chris Rose. Helm.
  
• Flycatchers (Muscicapidae, Monarchidae, Rhipiduridae). Phil Chantler. c400pp. 64 plates by Gerald Driessens. Pica.
  
• Flycatchers: Photoguide. ??? Poyser?

Any news...?

A few more:

Wheatears (Shirihai, Keijl & Gargallo) Helm
Cisticolas (?) Helm
Owls of the World (Mikkola) Helm
Woodpeckers of the World: a photographic guide (Gorman) Helm
Geographical variation in Southern African Birds (ill. Weiersbye) (www.robertsbirds.co.za/geographic-guide.htm)

Regards // Jonas

[csanchez7]

To do a monograph on "Flycatchers" and include both the huge Muscicapidae (300+ species) and the unrelated Monarchidae/Rhipiduridae is a bit strange. Sounds almost like a throwback to old taxonomic thinking. Cranes and Bustards is, in light of recent evidence, equally a strange pairing for a book.

Carlos

[Markus Lagerqvist]

Originally Posted by JonasNordin

A few more:

Owls of the World (Mikkola) Helm

Regards // Jonas

I believe this title went to press a week or two ago, so should be here soon!

[Microtus]

>Terns & Skimmers. Claudia Wilds & Joe Di Constanzo. 300pp. 32 plates. Helm.

At a local bird club (that Wilds had belonged to) meeting a couple or so years ago, someone who knew the late Claudia Wilds better than I did indicated that this projected book is not going to be published. It is a shame, as it would have been wonderful.

[Swissboy]

Originally Posted by JonasNordin

.......
Birds of New Guinea (Beehler. Ed. 2)
.......Jonas

This one apparently had been scheduled for 2007 or 2008 already. So if the delays are indefinite, maybe a new printing of the first edition, or one "on demand" would be the best interim solution?

[Papuan birder]

Originally Posted by Markus Lagerqvist

I believe this title went to press a week or two ago, so should be here soon!

Looking online this book will not be out until late this year (September/October) so how is that possible?

Cheers,
Iglezi

[Swissboy]

Originally Posted by JonasNordin

......Handbook to the Indian Ocean Islands/Birds of Africa – The Malagasy Region (Saffron, Hawkins, Gale & Small) (eg. http://www.galleryofbirds.co.uk/MADA...USTARTIONS.htm [sic])
Jonas

Publication abandoned? That's what this link says: http://www.waterstones.com/waterston...+v-+8/7894277/

Would be a shame after all the work that had already been put into it.

I like the plates shown.

Though there is a publication date given here: http://www.bookdepository.com/Birds-...graphicdata-26

I presume that has been issued prematurely?