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<blockquote data-quote="John Cantelo" data-source="post: 1376351" data-attributes="member: 2844">The recent resurrection of a thread on European field guides pretty much concluded that the ‘Collins Guide’ was the best field guide which, on one level, is pretty hard to argue with as it certainly has the best ID text, covers all the likely eventualities and is blessed with stunning illustrations.&nbsp; However, what is best for one level of expertise isn’t necessarily best for all levels of competence.&nbsp; Similarly, what works well on the continent doesn’t necessarily work so well in the UK.&nbsp;&nbsp; I’ve put together a set of mini-reviews to suit all tastes and needs.&nbsp; Partly to help make a choice, but mainly to squeeze in all the books I really like, I’ve divided my reviews into seven arbitrary sections (each with a runner-up). Since what started out as a detailed response to the aforementioned thread is now really a different beast altogether, I’ve decided to make this a new topic. I’ve deliberately excluded all specialist guides (on particular groups or selected species), all books that don’t fit the field guide ‘genotype’ and, with one small exception, all photo-guides (cos they’re totally naff!)&nbsp; Best Beginner’s Guide “Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain &amp; NW Europe” – Kightley, Madge &amp; Nurney&nbsp; £12.99&nbsp; Pros - good larger than average illustrations (no spectacles needed!).&nbsp; Handy size.&nbsp; Larger maps showing geo-political boundaries (= easier to grasp precise range).&nbsp; Fewer species covered so less confusing for beginners (although some non-British birds included).Cons – Illustrations not as good as other guides. Only covers NW Europe. Layout means it’s less easy to compare several species.&nbsp; Coverage of only 380 species means it might ‘let you down’ when most neededRunner-up -&nbsp; RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds (by Simon Harrap) – covers even fewer species, but good illustrations and very handy. Best Comprehensive Guide&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; “Collins Bird Guide”&nbsp; - Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom &amp; Grant&nbsp; £16.99&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Pros – Superb illustrations (by Killian Mullarney &amp; Dan Zetterstrom) with good annotations.&nbsp; Excellent text, by Lars Svensson &amp; Peter J Grant, a masterpiece of systematic organisation and authoritative commentary.&nbsp; Good on calls/song.&nbsp; Covers all European birds &amp; vagrants.&nbsp; Detailed maps.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Cons – Coverage of North Africa and the Middle East potentially confusing to a beginner.&nbsp; Crowded plates and text pages can be a little overwhelming.&nbsp; Taxonomic treatment now looks dated (but new edition in 2009 should resolve this) Runner-up -&nbsp; New Birdwatcher’s Pocket Guide (see below)Best Illustrated Guide&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; “Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East” – Lars Jonsson&nbsp; £16.99 Pros – Glorious, accurate, yet lively, illustrations by Europe’s greatest bird artist.&nbsp; Much larger than average illustrations. Larger maps.&nbsp; Covers all European species and most vagrants.&nbsp; Taxonomy now dated (and hence coverage of recently ‘split’ species relatively poor). Cons – Bulkier than rivals (at the edge of what’s possible for a field guide). Text more anecdotal &amp; less systematically organised so not always so useful as rivals. Runner-up -&nbsp; Collins Bird Guide (see above) – the toughest decision of the lot – Jonsson just wins out for the breath taking realism of his paintingMost Portable Guide “New Birdwatchers’ Pocket Guide” - Hayman &amp; Hume - £9.99 (paperback)&nbsp; Pros – Very portable being shirt pocket sized.&nbsp; Illustrations the equal (&amp; sometimes more precise than those in the ‘Collins Guide’) with good annotations.&nbsp; Excellent ID text. Covers all key European species. Taxonomy currently more up-to-date than in Collins.Cons -&nbsp; Typeface (and some illustrations) tiny.&nbsp; No maps.&nbsp; Relatively poor on songs &amp; calls.&nbsp; Some frequently seen vagrants omitted ( e.g. Yellow-browed Warbler) Runner-up -&nbsp; New Holland European Bird Guide (see below) – a little bulkier but better on callsMost Underrated Guide &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &quot;Philip's Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe” - Lars Svensson &amp; Hakan Delin £9.99&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Pros – Revised version of the ‘Hamlyn’ guide now largely superbly re-illustrated (some, but not all, illustrations much larger than average).&nbsp; Excellent text by Lars Svensson&nbsp; (co-author of the ‘Collins Guide’).&nbsp; Clear &amp; easy to read maps.&nbsp; Covers all European birds &amp; most vagrants – so less confusing than ‘Collins’.&nbsp; Up to date taxonomy.&nbsp; A little more ‘handy’ than the&nbsp; ‘Collins Bird Guide’.&nbsp; Cheap often discounted to £6.99&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Cons – Inexplicably continues to use some dreadful original plates by Singer.&nbsp; Over shadowed by the Collins Bird Guide.&nbsp;&nbsp; Runner-up -&nbsp; Collins Pocket Guide – Birds of Britain &amp; Europe (Heinzel &amp; Fitter) – holds up surprisingly well with some races more accurately illustrated than in ‘Collins Bird Guide’. Best Newcomer“New Holland European Bird Guide” – Barthel &amp; Dougalis&nbsp; £10.99&nbsp; Pros – Very attractive and accurate illustrations (often with delightful backgrounds hinting a habitat preference).&nbsp; Very handy size (bettered only by Hayman &amp; Hume). Very up to date taxonomic treatment so excellent coverage of ‘new’ species. Cons – Mixed scale of illustrations can confuse (e.g. Quail appears as big as Grey Partridge). Maps small to the point of uselessness.&nbsp; Limited text struggles to deal with more difficult species. Runner-up -&nbsp; RSPB Pocket Guide to Birds – confusingly similar title to Simon Harrap’s book, but this one is illustrated by photos; it almost makes photo-guides respectable. Best Regional Field Guide“Guia de las Aves de Espana” – de Juana &amp; Varela&nbsp; €15&nbsp; (hardback)Pros – excellent and larger than average Jonsson-esque illustrations.&nbsp; Handy size. Clear, good sized maps of Iberian (and Canarian) distribution.&nbsp; Easily decipherable population/distribution notes.&nbsp; Fewer species (only regular Iberian and Canarian species) so less confusing.&nbsp; Improved second edition.Cons – Only available in Spanish.&nbsp; An enlarged and suitably amended version would make a superb guide to Mediterranean birds. Runner-up -&nbsp; Shell Guide to the Birds of Britain &amp; Europe – long out of print, but still THE definitive regional guide!Personally, I rarely use a field guide in the UK since if I don't know what a bird is (which rarely happens after 45 years birding) I'd prefer to draw/make notes than burrow away in a guide.&nbsp; When taking out beginners I use Kightley et al and when birding in Europe I tend to use Hayman. I hope this proves useful to browsers and, perhaps, a little contentious!</blockquote>

[QUOTE="John Cantelo, post: 1376351, member: 2844"] The recent resurrection of a thread on European field guides pretty much concluded that the ‘Collins Guide’ was the best field guide which, on one level, is pretty hard to argue with as it certainly has the best ID text, covers all the likely eventualities and is blessed with stunning illustrations. However, what is best for one level of expertise isn’t necessarily best for all levels of competence. Similarly, what works well on the continent doesn’t necessarily work so well in the UK. I’ve put together a set of mini-reviews to suit all tastes and needs. Partly to help make a choice, but mainly to squeeze in all the books I really like, I’ve divided my reviews into seven arbitrary sections (each with a runner-up). Since what started out as a detailed response to the aforementioned thread is now really a different beast altogether, I’ve decided to make this a new topic. I’ve deliberately excluded all specialist guides (on particular groups or selected species), all books that don’t fit the field guide ‘genotype’ and, with one small exception, all photo-guides (cos they’re totally naff!) [B][FONT="Arial Black"]Best Beginner’s Guide [/FONT][/B] [B]“Pocket Guide to the Birds of Britain & NW Europe” [/B]– Kightley, Madge & Nurney £12.99 [B]Pros [/B]- good larger than average illustrations (no spectacles needed!). Handy size. Larger maps showing geo-political boundaries (= easier to grasp precise range). Fewer species covered so less confusing for beginners (although some non-British birds included). [B]Cons[/B] – Illustrations not as good as other guides. Only covers NW Europe. Layout means it’s less easy to compare several species. Coverage of only 380 species means it might ‘let you down’ when most needed [B]Runner-up [/B]- [B]RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds [/B](by Simon Harrap) – covers even fewer species, but good illustrations and very handy. [B][FONT="Arial Black"]Best Comprehensive Guide[/FONT] “Collins Bird Guide” [/B] - Mullarney, Svensson, Zetterstrom & Grant £16.99 [B]Pros [/B]– Superb illustrations (by Killian Mullarney & Dan Zetterstrom) with good annotations. Excellent text, by Lars Svensson & Peter J Grant, a masterpiece of systematic organisation and authoritative commentary. Good on calls/song. Covers all European birds & vagrants. Detailed maps. [B]Cons[/B] – Coverage of North Africa and the Middle East potentially confusing to a beginner. Crowded plates and text pages can be a little overwhelming. Taxonomic treatment now looks dated (but new edition in 2009 should resolve this) [B]Runner-up[/B] - [B]New Birdwatcher’s Pocket Guide [/B](see below) [B][FONT="Arial Black"]Best Illustrated Guide [/FONT][/B] [B]“Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East” [/B] – Lars Jonsson £16.99 [B]Pros[/B] – Glorious, accurate, yet lively, illustrations by Europe’s greatest bird artist. Much larger than average illustrations. Larger maps. Covers all European species and most vagrants. Taxonomy now dated (and hence coverage of recently ‘split’ species relatively poor). [B]Cons[/B] – Bulkier than rivals (at the edge of what’s possible for a field guide). Text more anecdotal & less systematically organised so not always so useful as rivals. [B]Runner-up[/B] - [B]Collins Bird Guide[/B] (see above) – the toughest decision of the lot – Jonsson just wins out for the breath taking realism of his painting [B][FONT="Arial Black"]Most Portable Guide[/FONT] [/B] [B]“New Birdwatchers’ Pocket Guide”[/B] - Hayman & Hume - £9.99 (paperback) [B]Pros [/B]– Very portable being shirt pocket sized. Illustrations the equal (& sometimes more precise than those in the ‘Collins Guide’) with good annotations. Excellent ID text. Covers all key European species. Taxonomy currently more up-to-date than in Collins. [B]Cons[/B] - Typeface (and some illustrations) tiny. No maps. Relatively poor on songs & calls. Some frequently seen vagrants omitted ( e.g. Yellow-browed Warbler) [B]Runner-up[/B] - [B]New Holland European Bird Guide[/B] (see below) – a little bulkier but better on calls [B][FONT="Arial Black"]Most Underrated Guide [/FONT][/B] [B]"Philip's Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe” [/B]- Lars Svensson & Hakan Delin £9.99 [B] Pros[/B] – Revised version of the ‘Hamlyn’ guide now largely superbly re-illustrated (some, but not all, illustrations much larger than average). Excellent text by Lars Svensson (co-author of the ‘Collins Guide’). Clear & easy to read maps. Covers all European birds & most vagrants – so less confusing than ‘Collins’. Up to date taxonomy. A little more ‘handy’ than the ‘Collins Bird Guide’. Cheap often discounted to £6.99 [B]Cons[/B] – Inexplicably continues to use some dreadful original plates by Singer. Over shadowed by the Collins Bird Guide. [B]Runner-up[/B] - [B]Collins Pocket Guide – Birds of Britain & Europe [/B](Heinzel & Fitter) – holds up surprisingly well with some races more accurately illustrated than in ‘Collins Bird Guide’. [B][FONT="Arial Black"]Best Newcomer[/FONT][/B] [B]“New Holland European Bird Guide” [/B]– Barthel & Dougalis £10.99 [B]Pros[/B] – Very attractive and accurate illustrations (often with delightful backgrounds hinting a habitat preference). Very handy size (bettered only by Hayman & Hume). Very up to date taxonomic treatment so excellent coverage of ‘new’ species. [B]Cons[/B] – Mixed scale of illustrations can confuse (e.g. Quail appears as big as Grey Partridge). Maps small to the point of uselessness. Limited text struggles to deal with more difficult species. [B]Runner-up[/B] - [B]RSPB Pocket Guide to Birds [/B]– confusingly similar title to Simon Harrap’s book, but this one is illustrated by photos; it almost makes photo-guides respectable. [B][FONT="Arial Black"]Best Regional Field Guide[/FONT][/B] [B]“Guia de las Aves de Espana” [/B] – de Juana & Varela €15 (hardback) [B]Pros [/B]– excellent and larger than average Jonsson-esque illustrations. Handy size. Clear, good sized maps of Iberian (and Canarian) distribution. Easily decipherable population/distribution notes. Fewer species (only regular Iberian and Canarian species) so less confusing. Improved second edition. [B]Cons[/B] – Only available in Spanish. An enlarged and suitably amended version would make a superb guide to Mediterranean birds. [B]Runner-up[/B] - [B]Shell Guide to the Birds of Britain & Europe [/B]– long out of print, but still THE definitive regional guide! Personally, I rarely use a field guide in the UK since if I don't know what a bird is (which rarely happens after 45 years birding) I'd prefer to draw/make notes than burrow away in a guide. When taking out beginners I use Kightley et al and when birding in Europe I tend to use Hayman. I hope this proves useful to browsers and, perhaps, a little contentious! [/QUOTE]

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