ID Handbook of European Birds - thoughts, comments thread (2 Viewers)

[Winterdune]

Thought I'd start a thread to keep all these together as I hope/expect people will have a lot to say about it. I haven't got anything specific to say yet except that after a quick flick through I think it's pretty fantastic! I'll have a chance to go through it properly next week.

 

[dantheman]

Do you have a link to the book in question?

 

[Winterdune]

ID Handbook of European Birds

A groundbreaking two-volume illustrated reference book covering all of Europe’s birds

press.princeton.edu

 

[Dave Wall]

Ordered mine today.

 

[Winterdune]

I've been going through both volumes slowly and all I can say is wow! The level of detail is amazing, and the identification information incredibly up to date and far surpassing anything available in any other books or online resource collections, and presented in a really eloquent and accessible way. Personally I think a few more side-by-side comparisons of tricky groups and species pairs would make it even better, and I do think the photo style of removing backgrounds from the birds sometimes feels a little odd, particularly with some passerines, but these things pale into complete insignificance when you consider the sheer scale of the achievement! Massive chapeau to everyone involved in this absolutely groundbreaking work! Books are old tech these days but this publication shows why they will remain vital. No European birder should be without the ID Handbook on their shelf!

 

[Andrew Clarke]

I’ve not had a chance to check this new publication out yet.

Wondering how it compares to the Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds by Shirihai & Svenson?

Is it strictly a European handbook or does it cover the wider region covered in the first guide.

Do I need both?

 

[Winterdune]

It's strictly European, covering 720 spp recorded at least 5 times in the region, and it doesn't have range maps. Its strength lies in how bang up to date it is in terms of advances in ID, and in how well the ID info is presented. If you're into the finer points of identification of European birds, I'd say that you need it!

 

[Andrew Clarke]

Many thanks for the review and feedback Winterdune.

Going to be checking this one out soon.

 

[rollingthunder]

Ordered mine through Birdguides @ £65 Inc PnP although publication date was the 30th Aug mine arrived on the 1st.

Stunning attention to detail and excellent coverage e.g. 14 pages on Harriers etc.
I have a number of these books that use photos instead of drawings Inc Crossley, a Gull guide and more recently the double passerine ID from Shirahai and the Flight ID guide.
This new style of guides, to my eyes, are a game changer and will make for more visually informative and cheaper future guides.
Most of us take digital photos these days from all angles and these cameras allow post birding scrutiny and aide-memoire to vexing identification issues and pitfalls - I took 50k at Batumi last year and am still wading through them whilst checking flights for visiting in a month's time!

As already stated elsewhere the range covers Europe so no North Africa, Middle East or Levant. It finishes half way across the Black Sea. Another volume covering this bird-rich and migratory passage region including the Saudi Arabian Peninsula and Trans-Caucasus to the Caspian Sea is hopefully being planned or will that be too ambitious?

Field guides are such good value when you compare them to monies spent on frippery so it should be on the shelves of any keen birder imho.....

Good birding -

Laurie -

 

[Doctor Twitchings]

Mine eventually arrived yesterday after a tense wait for the postman! I've actually been waiting to get my hands on these since I heard that they were going to be translated into English a couple of years ago. I ordered from NHBS as I do with all my important books now as they arrive well packaged and pristine.

On browsing through these books it becomes quickly obvious that all serious birders need to have them on their bookshelves. There is a vast amount of up to date beautifully presented information on bird identification, and they definitely have the wow factor! It is on a similar level as the superb double volume 'Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds' by Shirihai and Svensson, but that only deals with the Passerines. These books cover all the birds so it was particularly interesting to see detailed identification criteria on Non-Passerines.

I really like the way the information is presented. All the photos of 'just the bird' are on a plain pale green or pale blue background with detailed captions. The captions are headed by the age, sex and the month the photo was taken, then the information on how to identify the bird in that plumage. Many bird images have pointers highlighting the important identification or ageing criteria. The design of the plates are excellent in my opinion as is the quality of the photos.

Obviously not a field guide but an essential and detailed home reference on bird ID for many years to come. The first book to turn to for ID queries. Although fairly expensive it is worth every penny. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

 

[jurek]

I hope it will be available as a pdf soon, because it is much easier to compare with photos on the screen, and is too big for a field use, or even to carry in a flight luggage.

 

[Murray Lord]

I hope it will be available as a pdf soon, because it is much easier to compare with photos on the screen, and is too big for a field use, or even to carry in a flight luggage.

Princeton University Press' website says it will be available as an eBook, which I think means a PDF, on August 20.

 

[Essex Tern]

Looks like the ebook will be restricted to the Princeton app which is a bit rubbish, I’d much rather a watermarked pdf that I am able to use in any pdf software.

 

[John Cantelo]

At the moment my principal thought is .... why hasn't my copy arrived yet?

 

[Steve Lister]

A comment on Twitter/X today mentions a dissatisfaction with some colours eg Sabine's Gull, Red Kite and alba wagtails (pale blue rather than grey) and also a badly trimmed page 192.
I have ordered it from Birdguides/Birdwatch but no news on when/how it will be delivered.

 

[Winterdune]

I can't say I agree with any of those points, and my p192 is fine too!

 

[jurek]

Looks like the ebook will be restricted to the Princeton app which is a bit rubbish, I’d much rather a watermarked pdf that I am able to use in any pdf software.

I would much prefer a watermarked pdf or whatever, too. Getting a Princeton app for one book is not a good idea. I still remember the BF thread about Collins guide 3 edition on an app, and the saga how to make the Black Swan appear in your app.

 

[Essex Tern]

A comment on Twitter/X today mentions a dissatisfaction with some colours eg Sabine's Gull, Red Kite and alba wagtails (pale blue rather than grey) and also a badly trimmed page 192.
I have ordered it from Birdguides/Birdwatch but no news on when/how it will be delivered.

Can’t see anything obviously wrong in my copies per that list.

 

[Frank van Drogen]

Does someone own, or at least compared, the Dutch version versus the version in a civilized language? Is it worth 'upgrading' (or just getting a second copy)?

BTW. In case the answer is 'Yes', please suggest reasons to provide to SWMBO.......

 

[Essex Tern]

Does someone own, or at least compared, the Dutch version versus the version in a civilized language? Is it worth 'upgrading' (or just getting a second copy)?

BTW. In case the answer is 'Yes', please suggest reasons to provide to SWMBO.......

No point in me getting the Dutch version, I wouldn’t have a clue! But I shall shortly have two different versions, hard copy and soft copy. If you wanted a copy for the car and one for home that could be an excuse, although Dutch and English is more than distinct enough in my eyes to warrant a purchase 😉👍