This much-anticipated volume by Steve N.G. Howell is just out, and I received my copy yesterday. It fills a major gap in the advanced ID literature. Have just skimmed through it at this point, but it looks great! Some random comments:
-- The subtitle "a photographic guide" might lead some to expect a field guide with photos. But it is a massive 500 page hardcover volume -- I suppose you could take it with you on a pelagic trip to read in the cabin, but you certainly won't be carrying it around on deck. I would describe it as a reference guide with photos that emphasizes identification issues. It is similar in size to, but about 25% thicker than, Gulls of the Americas, by Howell & Dunn.
-- Covers 70 species of tubenoses, including vagrants, occurring from Alaska to Panama. (Includes all Shearwaters, by the way, which are classified as Petrels).
-- There is a 50 page introduction covering ocean dynamics, taxonomy, general identification issues, molts, and conservation. Each major group, e.g. "Large Shearwaters", "White-rumped Storm-Petrels", also has an introductory section giving an overview, including some discussion and photos illustrating difficult identification problems. The bulk of the book consists of individual species accounts. And unlike Gulls of the Americas, most of the photos for a particular species are included in the species account, so there are not separate sections for text and photos. The text of each species account begins with a helpful brief "Identification Summary", a discussion of taxonomy and nomenclature, the discussion of status and distribution with large easy-to-read maps, and then an extensive discussion of field identification, which includes similar species, habitat and behavior, and molt.
-- In addition to numerous photos of individuals of each species both flying and resting on the water, identified by date and place, the book also has some multi-species and flock photos that help you see how to pick out one species in comparison to others. This is the approach pioneered by The Shorebird Guide (O'Brien, Crossley, & Karlson).
-- My only complaint at this point is that it does not cover Jaegers or Skuas. I know they are not tubenoses, but they are difficult to identify birds frequently seen in their company on pelagic trips. Since they are also not covered in gull books, there is a gap in ID coverage for these birds, esp. when it comes to photo guides.
-- About the only thing I can think of that the book does not provide that would be helpful for identification is videos showing flight styles. Would be nice if there were a companion website with these.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Petrels-Albat..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=07AXTYQX7XH8B75XJA4W
Jim
-- The subtitle "a photographic guide" might lead some to expect a field guide with photos. But it is a massive 500 page hardcover volume -- I suppose you could take it with you on a pelagic trip to read in the cabin, but you certainly won't be carrying it around on deck. I would describe it as a reference guide with photos that emphasizes identification issues. It is similar in size to, but about 25% thicker than, Gulls of the Americas, by Howell & Dunn.
-- Covers 70 species of tubenoses, including vagrants, occurring from Alaska to Panama. (Includes all Shearwaters, by the way, which are classified as Petrels).
-- There is a 50 page introduction covering ocean dynamics, taxonomy, general identification issues, molts, and conservation. Each major group, e.g. "Large Shearwaters", "White-rumped Storm-Petrels", also has an introductory section giving an overview, including some discussion and photos illustrating difficult identification problems. The bulk of the book consists of individual species accounts. And unlike Gulls of the Americas, most of the photos for a particular species are included in the species account, so there are not separate sections for text and photos. The text of each species account begins with a helpful brief "Identification Summary", a discussion of taxonomy and nomenclature, the discussion of status and distribution with large easy-to-read maps, and then an extensive discussion of field identification, which includes similar species, habitat and behavior, and molt.
-- In addition to numerous photos of individuals of each species both flying and resting on the water, identified by date and place, the book also has some multi-species and flock photos that help you see how to pick out one species in comparison to others. This is the approach pioneered by The Shorebird Guide (O'Brien, Crossley, & Karlson).
-- My only complaint at this point is that it does not cover Jaegers or Skuas. I know they are not tubenoses, but they are difficult to identify birds frequently seen in their company on pelagic trips. Since they are also not covered in gull books, there is a gap in ID coverage for these birds, esp. when it comes to photo guides.
-- About the only thing I can think of that the book does not provide that would be helpful for identification is videos showing flight styles. Would be nice if there were a companion website with these.
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Petrels-Albat..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=07AXTYQX7XH8B75XJA4W
Jim
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