With autumn, some birds migrated to more temperate climates and with this season the 2nd edition, published by Assírio & Alvim, of what is considered the best field guide for the observation and identification of birds in Portugal and Europe, also reached bookstores. This is confirmed by the Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds, which set up a technical team for the translation and scientific review of the original edition.
The original texts are by Lars Svensson (a specialist in the identification of passerines) and the illustrations are by Killiam Mullarnev (Irish ornithologist, specialist in bird illustration and very experienced in birdwatching expeditions – Birdwatching) and by Dan Zetterztröm (illustrator and artist).
This 2nd paperback edition has 448 pages in a pocketbook format (13,5 x 19,4 cm), as befits a good guide, and contains 3500 illustrations of all the representative plumages of each species, painted by bird illustrators .
“This guide presents all bird species that nest or regularly appear in Europe, North Africa north of 30º N, (…) and in a large part of the Middle East”, as can be read in the introduction.
The text is detailed and covers aspects of the habitat, geographic area, description and corners of each species. It includes distribution maps for species from Portugal and Europe, with accurate information on the distribution, migration and wintering areas.
713 species are described in a main section with entries in alphabetical order of the common name. It also has a “brief mention of 59 occasional visitors and makes reference to 32 species or variants that probably escaped from captivity, or that were originally introduced in the area and now nest in the wild, without human support”.
“118 very rare species, which were lost, coming from other continents” are also mentioned.
For each species, the respective taxonomic classification and nomenclature, its status in relation to the regularity of its presence in Portugal, distribution maps, size of birds, terminology and symbols (sexual, size, among others) useful to those who do not being a bird specialist, he is interested in them and their Natural History.
Vocalizations (voice) and respective transcriptions are described.
The plumage illustrations include aspects related to its moult and wear for a more correct identification of the elements of each species.
There is also space for a brief and clear introduction on how to “identify birds”, so this guide is also useful for beginners. An index makes it easy to quickly find a given species in the guide, either by common name or by scientific name.
This is considered the best guide published to date on birds in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, providing all the information needed to identify any species at any time of year.
Even at Christmas!
Bibliographic Sheet:
Title: Bird Guide
Author: Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterström
Translation and Scientific Revision: Portuguese Society for the Study of Birds
Edition: Assyrian & Alvin
2nd edition: October 2012
Collection: Compass Rose 6 – Theme, Classification: Nature
No. Pages: 448
ISBN: 978-972-0-79214-3
Author Antonio Piedade
Science in the Regional Press – Ciência Viva
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