Field Guide to Birds of Brazil (1 Viewer)

[JCB1980]

There seems to be very slim pickings on field guides to the birds of Brazil. Both the Ridgely and Van Perlo don't have the greatest of reviews and there doesn't seem to be much else. I need something to take with me for me upcoming trip to Critalino Lodge in Matta Grosso any suggestions?

 

[Jim M.]

Since no one else has responded, I'll note that Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America by Ridgely & Tudor is another book to consider, e.g. as a supplement to Van Perlo. I have not used either book yet though. Too bad Kevin Zimmer's Birds of Brazil has been postponed (again) to 2014, and that only one volume of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Birds of Brazil series is out.

By the way, I assume that your reference to the "Ridgley" book is to the Pantanal & Cerrado guide in the WCS series. I've actually seen pretty good reviews of that guide, but it wouldn't appear to cover the areas you'll be visiting.

Best,
Jim

 

[dacol]

If you want to take just one book, take Van Perlo's. If you can take 3 then take Van Perlo's, the above mentioned "Field Guide to the Songbirds of South America" and "Birds of South America, Non-Passerines" by Erize, Mata and Rumboll. Notice that Cristalino Jungle Lodge has a small library that is available to guests, containing many guide books and other natural history references. It is possible that those 2 extra books are in their collection. Other than those, there are some Brazilian guide books, the best of those are by Tomas Sigrist:
http://www.avisbrasilis.com.br/guia-de-campo-avifauna-brasileira3.html
The previous edition (bilingual: Portuguese/English) of Sigrist's book is available from UK's NHBS:
http://www.nhbs.com/avifauna_brasileira_2_volume_set_guia_de_campo_tefno_163386.html
I think that currently van Perlo is the best solution. It is the basis for the Birds of Brazil app for Iphone, Itouch and Ipad:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/birds-of-brazil/id411679602?mt=8
This app is produced by BirdGuides:
http://www.birdguides.com/products/appbrazil/

 

[barantes]

If you cannot take more than one field guide, I would stick with Van Perlo's rather than Sigrist's guide.

WCS' Cerrado and Pantanal is a good guide, but it won't be very useful at Cristalino. All in all, I agree with dacol's previous comments.

Regards.

Bruno.