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Helm Identification Guides - What Next ? (1 Viewer)

Pet

Active member
Everyone knows the high-quality, very interesting and highly detailed accounts of Bird Families by Helm in the Helm Identification Guide Series. Very impressive examples include, Sylvia Warblers, Cotingas and Manakins, Antpittas and Gnateaters among others. Most of the books are winners of the Best Bird Book of the Year. Forthcoming titles are Larks of the World and Sunbirds A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World 2nd Edition.

Currently a 3 to 4 volume book work on Parrots (2nd largest bird family) of the World is under making by a renowned German publisher, which will for the first time in history will cover and illustrate not only species, but all the subspecies, forms, races, types etc of all the parrots found in the world.

That being said, here are few suggestions for Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (Helm) / @Jim Martin

1. Hummingbirds of the World

Hummingbirds is the third largest bird family (with over 350 species !) found in the world and yet there is not a single comprehensive monograph of this family. The only detailed work available is by Lynx Edicions published in 1999. How about making a highly-detailed monograph on "Hummingbirds of the World" ?

It will cover, for the first time in history, not only all the species of hummingbirds but also every single subspecies (over 600 !!! ?) (including both sexes), forms, races, types, hybrids and so on. Because Hummingbirds are very small with large species also small in size, this monograph can illustrate all the birds in their true "Life-Size". That will be so wonderful.

Because colors of hummingbirds looks alot different when viewing from various directions depending on the sunlight, Helm could consider some unique and very interesting method (developed by Rolf Grantsau) of illustrating hummingbirds to show their "true colors" in exact "Life Size".

His method is described here (Right-click and open the link in new Window then expand the first post) :


Some samples of Hummingbirds Plates here :

Novo livro sobre aves do Brasil

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81upDQVNHyL.jpg

Google Image

Issuu reader embeds (see page 14-15)

As these are all sitting illustrations and hummingbirds are quite flying jems with more time in air, so Helm can think outside the box can also show them in various illustrations showing their unique behaviors, for example mating/displaying etc in "Life-Size" incluing high-quality photographs in "Life Size".

Also read review of Rolf Grantsau"s little known book here (although in this old book, it seems that the method mentioned above was not used and he developed this method later) :

Os Beija-flores do Brasil



2. Tyrant Flycatchers of the World

With 425 species and being the largest family of birds on the planet, who doesnt want this monograph ! ?


3. Old World Flycatchers of the World

With impressive 327 species, a monograph on this family will be a great one.


Please share what else families of birds you would like from Helm in their Helm Identification Guide Series...
 
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Everyone knows the high-quality, very interesting and highly detailed accounts of Bird Families by Helm in the Helm Identification Guide Series. Very impressive examples include, Sylvia Warblers, Cotingas and Manakins, Antpittas and Gnateaters among others. Most of the books are winners of the Best Bird Book of the Year. Forthcoming titles are Larks of the World and Sunbirds A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World 2nd Edition.

Currently a 3 to 4 volume book work on Parrots (2nd largest bird family) of the World is under making by a renowned German publisher, which will for the first time in history will cover and illustrate not only species, but all the subspecies, forms, races, types etc of all the parrots found in the world.

That being said, here are few suggestions for Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (Helm) / @Jim Martin

1. Hummingbirds of the World

Hummingbirds is the third largest bird family (with over 350 species !) found in the world and yet there is not a single comprehensive monograph of this family. The only detailed work available is by Lynx Edicions published in 1999. How about making a highly-detailed monograph on "Hummingbirds of the World" ?

It will cover, for the first time in history, not only all the species of hummingbirds but also every single subspecies (over 600 !!! ?) (including both sexes), forms, races, types, hybrids and so on. Because Hummingbirds are very small with large species also small in size, this monograph can illustrate all the birds in their true "Life-Size". That will be so wonderful.

Because colors of hummingbirds looks alot different when viweing from various directions depending on the sunlight, Helm could consider some unique and very interesting method (developed by Rolf Grantsau) of illustrating hummingbirds to show their "true colors" in exact "Life Size".

His method is described here (Right-click and open the link in new Window then expand the first post) :


Some samples of Hummingbirds Plates here :

Novo livro sobre aves do Brasil

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81upDQVNHyL.jpg

Google Image

Issuu reader embeds (see page 14-15)

As these are all sitting illustrations and hummingbirds are quite flying jems with more time in air, so Helm can think outside the box can also show them in various illustrations showing their unique behaviors, for example mating/displaying etc in "Life-Size" incluing high-quality photographs in "Life Size".

Also read review of Rolf Grantsau"s little known book here (although in this old book, it seems that the method mentioned above was not used and he developed this method later) :

Os Beija-flores do Brasil



2. Tyrant Flycatchers of the World

With 425 species and being the largest family of birds on the planet, who doesnt want this monograph ! ?


3. Old World Flycatchers of the World

With impressive 327 species, a monograph on this family will be a great one.


Please share what else families of birds you would like from Helm in their Helm Identification Guide Series...
Honeyeaters, was on the list years back but got axed unfortunately. Certainly looking forward to Larks, and wasn't there a revised Pitta, Broadbills and Asities coming sometime?
 
Honeyeaters, was on the list years back but got axed unfortunately. Certainly looking forward to Larks, and wasn't there a revised Pitta, Broadbills and Asities coming sometime?
Thats a shame. Wonderful bird family. Wayne Longmore of Australian Museum is an expert on this family. Didnt know about Pittas but an updated edition is needed.

Munias and Mannikins by Robin Restall is another classic masterpiece that needs latest update. Robin Restall"s in-depth coverage on the family especially on subspecies and all the forms/races etc. is just extraordinary. The best option is to combine an updated edition containing Munias and Mannikins along with all Estrildidae family (Estrildid Finches of the World) of these extremely beautiful finches.
 
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Babblers was in the pipeline years ago, to be illustrated by Craig Robson IIRC but he didn't have time in between tours to do it and the remuneration is small considering the effort involved, not to mention the skill.

Apologies to Craig if I remember that wrongly.
 
Tried for years to get them to do a hummingbird monograph....to the stage where I was getting people on here to pay up and sponsor certain species of their choice and then they would've gotten the original artwork in return.....never got any further unfortunately
Thats a real shame. Bloomsbury Publishing plc is a big company and i dont think they have any shortage of funds that they are unable to fund a monograph on one of the most popular bird family in the world !

In terms of sincerity towards the Natural History of our planet, i think no one can beat BBC Natural History Unit. Just check out their breathtaking work from the 1950s till the present day and only one word comes in mind, Speechless !
 
I'm waiting on Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds - Non-passerines by Shirihai and Svensson. But it seems that Mr. Shirihai have no time for publishing books as usual.
 
Here are forthcoming titles in Bird Families by Helm plus titles that badly need major updates and finally titles that are worth for consideration in near future :

Also, given the current slow pace at which these titles are being published, Bloomsbury Publishing will take forever to publish these volumes listed below.

However, an email to Mr. Nigel Newton (CEO of Bloomsbury) or to his assistant with a link to this thread will definitely work and Mr. Newton will have a full picture of what lovers of Ornithology, Birds and Helm ID Guides actually want in the coming 5-10 years and why it is so important to SPEED UP the process of publishing these titles.

I mean Ornithology division at Bloomsbury should now have to think outside the box !

Forthcoming :


1. Sunbirds A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World - 2024
2. Larks of the World - 2024
3. Leaf Warblers: Identification, Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Genus Phylloscopus - 2027


BADLY NEED Updated Editions :

1. Swallows and Martins of the World
2. Ducks, Geese and Swans of the World
3. Tits, Nuthatches and Treecreepers of the World
4. Starlings and Mynas of the World
5. New World Blackbirds of the World
6. Tanagers of the World
7. Crows, Jays, and Magpies of the World
8. Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers of the World
9. Bush-Shrikes, Wood-Shrikes, Helmet-Shrikes, Flycatcher-Shrikes, Philentomas, Batises and Wattle-Eyes of the World
10. Thrushes of the World
11. Pigeons and Doves of the World
12. Woodpeckers, Piculets and Wrynecks of the World
13. Pittas, Broadbills and Asities of the World
14. Munias and Mannikins
(New name of the title should be : Estrildid Finches of the World)
15. Rails, Crakes, Gallinules and Coots of the World
16. Swifts and Treeswifts of the World
17. Parrots of the World
18. Nightjars and their Allies of the World
19. Skuas and Jaegers (Seabirds of the World)
20. Shorebirds (Waders of the World)
21. Wrens, Dippers and Thrashers of the World
22. Finches and Sparrows of the World
(New names of the titles should be : True Finches of the World and Old World Sparrows of the World)
23. New World Warblers of the World
24. Old World Warblers of the World
25. Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse, Buttonquails, Sandgrouse and their Allies of the World
26. Pipits and Wagtails of the World
27. Raptors of the World
28. Stonechats of the World
29. Gulls of the World
30. Terns and Skimmers of the World



For Consideration :

1. Hummingbirds of the World
2. Tyrant Flycatchers of the World
3. Old World Flycatchers of the World
4. Toucans of the World
5. Hornbills of the World
6. Honeyeaters of the World
7. White-eyes of the World
8. Babblers of the World
9. Fairy-wrens, Emu-wrens and Grasswrens of the World
10. Fairy Flycatchers of the World
11. Monarch Flycatchers of the World
12. Fantails of the World
13. Herons of the World
14. Drongos of the World
15. Australasian Robins of the World
16. Australian Warblers of the World
17. Bulbuls of the World
18. Antbirds of the World
19. Ovenbirds of the World
20. Vangas of the World
21. Weavers of the World
22. Vireos of the World
23. Buntings of the World
24. Weavers of the World
25. New World Sparrows of the World
26. Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World
27. Wren-babblers of the World
28. African Warblers of the World
29. Indigobirds, Whydahs and their Allies of the World
30. Pardalotes of the World
 
Going from my own feelings, I think the need for most of these has greatly diminished after the completion of HBW. In particular, any second editions are probably hard to sell. Particularly so, if the artwork of the existing volumes is good.

I'm definitely looking forward to the forthcoming volumes mentioned for 2024, though. And the hummingbirds are so intriguing that I'm sure their monograph would be a great success. And a splendidly illustrated tanager (and allies) tome would be attractive as well if it treats the group in the light of present systematics.
 
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I fear you're not being realistic.
I knew any member on BF will comment on that particular title and i added that on purpose !

Just because it is a small bird family with just four species and few subspecies, it does not mean that it is not worthy enough to be treated in its own monograph. Off-course there any many many other bird families with just a number of handful species and they can be combined together in a single volume namely "Tiny Birds of the World" !

On a side note, there is already a monograph on Pardalotes but unfortunately very expensive :

Australian Birds, Pardalotes: Taxonomic and Natural History

As you can see, it has 167 pages ! Yes, you read that right ! 167 pages for a bird family with just four species and a few subspecies.

So, anything is possible in the avian world !

p.s.

If i have to choose a single volume that i want to be updated, i will choose Sylvia Warblers Identification, Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Genus Sylvia. A true classic !
 
Hopefully the right place for my question...
I can possibly get a good deal on the 2009 Helm Owl Guide by König & Weick.

Is the information in it still relevant today or outdated taxonomically?

And how does it hold up to for example Mikkola's Photographic Guide?
 
Everyone knows the high-quality, very interesting and highly detailed accounts of Bird Families by Helm in the Helm Identification Guide Series. Very impressive examples include, Sylvia Warblers, Cotingas and Manakins, Antpittas and Gnateaters among others. Most of the books are winners of the Best Bird Book of the Year. Forthcoming titles are Larks of the World and Sunbirds A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World 2nd Edition.

Currently a 3 to 4 volume book work on Parrots (2nd largest bird family) of the World is under making by a renowned German publisher, which will for the first time in history will cover and illustrate not only species, but all the subspecies, forms, races, types etc of all the parrots found in the world.

That being said, here are few suggestions for Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (Helm) / @Jim Martin

1. Hummingbirds of the World

Hummingbirds is the third largest bird family (with over 350 species !) found in the world and yet there is not a single comprehensive monograph of this family. The only detailed work available is by Lynx Edicions published in 1999. How about making a highly-detailed monograph on "Hummingbirds of the World" ?

It will cover, for the first time in history, not only all the species of hummingbirds but also every single subspecies (over 600 !!! ?) (including both sexes), forms, races, types, hybrids and so on. Because Hummingbirds are very small with large species also small in size, this monograph can illustrate all the birds in their true "Life-Size". That will be so wonderful.

Because colors of hummingbirds looks alot different when viewing from various directions depending on the sunlight, Helm could consider some unique and very interesting method (developed by Rolf Grantsau) of illustrating hummingbirds to show their "true colors" in exact "Life Size".

His method is described here (Right-click and open the link in new Window then expand the first post) :


Some samples of Hummingbirds Plates here :

Novo livro sobre aves do Brasil

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81upDQVNHyL.jpg

Google Image

Issuu reader embeds (see page 14-15)

As these are all sitting illustrations and hummingbirds are quite flying jems with more time in air, so Helm can think outside the box can also show them in various illustrations showing their unique behaviors, for example mating/displaying etc in "Life-Size" incluing high-quality photographs in "Life Size".

Also read review of Rolf Grantsau"s little known book here (although in this old book, it seems that the method mentioned above was not used and he developed this method later) :

Os Beija-flores do Brasil



2. Tyrant Flycatchers of the World

With 425 species and being the largest family of birds on the planet, who doesnt want this monograph ! ?


3. Old World Flycatchers of the World

With impressive 327 species, a monograph on this family will be a great one.


Please share what else families of birds you would like from Helm in their Helm Identification Guide Series...
For parrot illustrations you still can't beat Edward Lears' magnificent book , even though it's long out of date.
 
Hopefully the right place for my question...
I can possibly get a good deal on the 2009 Helm Owl Guide by König & Weick.

Is the information in it still relevant today or outdated taxonomically?

And how does it hold up to for example Mikkola's Photographic Guide?
The have been taxonomic changes in the meantime. But information about plumages and behavior I believe to be mostly correct still.

I do not have the photographic guide so cannot compare.
Niels
 

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