stuartvine
Well-known member
Off on a jaunt to South Luangwa, Zambia and Malawi next year. What would be the best field guide to take (hiking involved, so something usable in the field)?
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Bird Guide for Zambia and Malawi (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter stuartvine
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kitefarrago
Well-known member
You are travelling to a tricky area. There's no one book that covers all the species in those two countries other than Sinclair and Ryan's `Birds of Africa South of the Sahara', but you wouldn't want to carry that when hiking.
You'll get a detailed picture of what's out there by looking on the webpage of the African Bird Club. They discuss field guides for every African country. (Hover over the `Countries' tab, pick a country, and on the resulting page pick the `Books and Sounds' tab on the right.)
Sinclair et al: Birds of Southern Africa (known as `the SASOL') is probably the most useful one volume you could take. There's a separate guide to birds found in Zambia but not in South Africa, but I think even the combnation would not cover every species on the list for Malawi.
I'd probably start by looking for checklists for the areas I planned to visit and then see how many species aren't in SASOL.
If you're looking for ultra-portable and are willing to make some concessions (and have the possibility to recharge your device as needed) then SASOL is available as an app for a number of operating systems.
Andrea
You'll get a detailed picture of what's out there by looking on the webpage of the African Bird Club. They discuss field guides for every African country. (Hover over the `Countries' tab, pick a country, and on the resulting page pick the `Books and Sounds' tab on the right.)
Sinclair et al: Birds of Southern Africa (known as `the SASOL') is probably the most useful one volume you could take. There's a separate guide to birds found in Zambia but not in South Africa, but I think even the combnation would not cover every species on the list for Malawi.
I'd probably start by looking for checklists for the areas I planned to visit and then see how many species aren't in SASOL.
If you're looking for ultra-portable and are willing to make some concessions (and have the possibility to recharge your device as needed) then SASOL is available as an app for a number of operating systems.
Andrea
stuartvine
Well-known member
Thanks very much to both of you 
Fortunately I've got SASOL, so that's one less to buy. Apps not an option sadly - there's one five day hike with no electricity and some of the places we'll be camping/staying aren't connected either.
I suspect what I'll do is use SASOL, photo everything I can't ID and then bother the ID Forum here for six months afterwards ;-)
Fortunately I've got SASOL, so that's one less to buy. Apps not an option sadly - there's one five day hike with no electricity and some of the places we'll be camping/staying aren't connected either.I suspect what I'll do is use SASOL, photo everything I can't ID and then bother the ID Forum here for six months afterwards ;-)
regarding charging, you could consider something like these: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Sellers-...Phone-Solar-Chargers/zgbs/wireless/2407762011
Niels
Niels
Stuart,
In addition to this forum, here's a nice resource for reviewing your field guide options for anywhere around the globe.
http://birdingecotours.com/blog/?cat=recommended-bird-field-guides-for-the-7-continents
It notes that there is a separate “Birds of Malawi” supplement to Newman's Birds of Southern Africa. Might be worth toting along as well.
In addition to this forum, here's a nice resource for reviewing your field guide options for anywhere around the globe.
http://birdingecotours.com/blog/?cat=recommended-bird-field-guides-for-the-7-continents
It notes that there is a separate “Birds of Malawi” supplement to Newman's Birds of Southern Africa. Might be worth toting along as well.
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