Birds of Italy (1 Viewer)

The second volume to the Birds of Italy by Pierandrea Brichetti and Giancarlo Fracasso is out now. I found the first volume to be really excellent. Considering that this is the most comprehensive book series published on the Italian avifauna in english for a very long time aim surprised that these books don't raise more interest.

https://www.nhbs.com/the-birds-of-italy-volume-2-pteroclidae-locustellidae-book?bkfno=250684

CaliSteve said:

The second volume to the Birds of Italy by Pierandrea Brichetti and Giancarlo Fracasso is out now. I found the first volume to be really excellent. Considering that this is the most comprehensive book series published on the Italian avifauna in english for a very long time aim surprised that these books don't raise more interest.

https://www.nhbs.com/the-birds-of-italy-volume-2-pteroclidae-locustellidae-book?bkfno=250684

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Probably because Italy isn't a major, birding destination Steve and the book isn't cheap either.

The book should be available at a much cheaper price directly from the publisher: http://www.edizionibelvedere.it/novita/the-birds-of-italy-2-english

I say 'should' because the order procedure seems to be quite clunky. After completing the order form, you are supposed to get an email with the amount due and a paypal link, but I have not received it yet. Also, make sure you click on "accept cookies" otherwise you won't be able to send the order form.

Volume 1 is very good, and I expect Vol. 2 will also be. One minor criticism is that many dubious or obviously wrong published records are accepted: a couple of examples from Vol 1 include a spring record of 6 Upland Sandpipers together, and sight reports of Rough-legged Buzzards from late Aug/Sept that I am sure are all juvenile Honey Buzzards. Part of the problem is that for any given species, the Italian RC only reviews the first 10 post-1950 records (it used to be the first five), and that there is some resistance within the committee to re-visit older records, so that purging mistakes from the literature is a process that takes time.

Anyway, Italy deserves a lot more attention from foreign birders, there may not be any endemics (unless you split Sicilian Rock Partridge) but the birding is excellent!

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Paul

The reply from them arrived today and I just paid via PayPal, the price was actually 34 euros instead of 42 and shipping is free, so an excellent deal! I assume that the free shipping is only for Italy, though, but even with shipping costs it should still come out substantially cheaper that NHBS (this is not meant as a criticism of the latter, I order from them all the time!)