On this page

The books on this page cover the whole, or a large part, of continental Africa. The books are arranged by publication date with the most recent at the top of the page.

African countries

Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Chad
Comoros
Côte d'Ivoire
Dem. Rep. of the Congo
Djibouti
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Republic of the Congo
Rwanda
São Tomé and Príncipe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Tunisia
Uganda
Zambia
Zimbabwe

The Birder's Guide to Africa

Michael Mills

2017

"The first comprehensive summary of bird watching in the African region, featuring: an introduction with an analytical overview of birding in the region, including heat maps to illustrate the birding potential of territories within the region; country accounts for all 68 territories that comprise the region, detailing information on birds and birding (including lists of key species), travel and literature; family cccounts for all 142 bird families recorded from the region, with photographs; and species accounts for all 2,792 bird species, including information on where to best see them."

Roberts Bird Guide: Illustrating Nearly 1,000 Species in Southern Africa

Hugh Chittenden, Greg Davies, Ingrid Weiersbye

2nd edition

2017

"Covering nearly 1,000 species found in southern Africa (south of the Cunene and Zambezi rivers), this 570 page revised edition of Roberts Bird Guide features stunning new artwork detailing seasonal, age and sexual differences in approximately 240 annotated colour plates, updated distribution maps based on current SABAP data, breeding and seasonality bars and concise but informative texts dealing not only with identification but aspects of biology such as food and voice. Biologically interesting photos have been placed where there is space, a first for illustrated bird guides in the region. New additions to the southern African list (post-2005) have been placed on separate plates at the back of the guide, as well as 20 illustrated species that could potentially be recorded as vagrants to the region, all recorded just north of the Zambezi and Kunene rivers."

Chamberlain's Waders: The Definitive Guide to Southern Africa's Shorebirds

Faansie Peacock

2017

"This unique, lavishly illustrated book will help you not only to identify waders with confidence, but also to understand and enjoy these inspirational birds. More than two years in the making, this eagerly anticipated new book is the ultimate resource on the identification and biology of Southern Africa’s wader species. However, because of waders’ incredible worldwide migrations, most of the species in the book will also be familiar with readers from other regions of the world (only 30 of our 80 waders are NOT migratory). What makes this book different from any other titles on waders? Firstly, it is written from a Southern Hemisphere perspective, unlike most European and American books. This shift of focus completely changes the picture! Secondly, it explains wader identification based on a background of biology and ecology – instead of just listing all the tedious identification details. Thirdly, it is so much more than just a field guide. Some paragraphs really read like a love letter written to waders – in celebration of their beauty, adaptability and triumph over seemingly insurmountable challenges."

Birds of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East: An Annotated Checklist

Dominic Mitchell

2017

"This is the most up-to-date checklist of bird species and subspecies recorded in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, including Iran and the Arabian Peninsula – the 'greater' Western Palearctic. Species are presented in systematic order, and each species entry includes scientific and English names, taxonomic notes, distribution and range/vagrancy occurrences within the region. In addition to the main list of almost 1,150 species, appendices detail regionally endemic and extinct birds, those no longer considered to have occurred, and the national lists of all regional countries. The first major update for Europe, North Africa and the Middle East since the Birds of the Western Palearctic series came to an end two decades ago, this long-awaited checklist is essential reading for all those with an interest in the 'WP' and its avifauna."

Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa

Peter Ryan

2017

"Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa is the first book focusing exclusively on the nearly 1,000 birds that occur around the southern African coastline and adjacent Southern Ocean. Guide to Seabirds of Southern Africa is primarily an identification guide, but the author also includes information about these birds' fascinating biology and behaviour. The text is richly supported with photographs, as well as distribution maps for all the birds. A detailed introduction covers, among other topics, seabird origins, havens, feeding, breeding and conservation, as well as how best to watch and photograph these enigmatic birds."

Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa: Guineafowls, Francolins, Spurfowls, Quails, Sandgrouse & Snipes

Rob Little

2016

"Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa is a detailed full-colour hand book. It includes everything needed to identify and get to know the 74 species that fall into six groups: guineafowls and Congo Peafowl, francolins and partridges, spurfowls, quails, sandgrouse, and snipes and Eurasian Woodcock. Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa offers a concise summary of the large but scattered body of accumulated scientific research and field-guide literature. Pertinent and interesting facts about the distribution, habits, breeding and conservation of each species are presented in a readable fashion. More than 250 photographs convey the appearance, characteristic features, behavioural activities and, in many cases, the habitats frequented by each bird. Terrestrial Gamebirds & Snipes of Africa will be a worthy addition to the ornithological literature and to the bookshelves of bird enthusiasts, particularly birders, wing-shooters, land owners and anyone with an interest in nature and conservation, throughout Africa and across the rest of the world."

Birders of Africa: History of a Network

Nancy J. Jacobs

2016

"In this unique and unprecedented study of birding in Africa, historian Nancy Jacobs reconstructs the collaborations between well-known ornithologists and the largely forgotten guides, hunters, and taxidermists who worked with them. Drawing on ethnography, scientific publications, private archives, and interviews, Jacobs asks: How did white ornithologists both depend on and operate distinctively from African birders? What investment did African birders have in collaborating with ornithologists? By distilling the interactions between European science and African vernacular knowledge, this stunningly illustrated work offers a fascinating examination of the colonial and postcolonial politics of expertise about nature."

Pocket Guide: Birds of East Africa

Dave Richards

Random House Struik

2016

"This pocket-sized photographic guide to the birds of East Africa features 296 birds likely to be spotted in the region. Color photos illustrate diagnostic features and plumage differences between male/female and breeding/non-breeding birds, as well as species that are easily confused. Key ID characteristics are highlighted, and distribution maps and Swahili common names are included."

Flight Identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East

Dick Forsman

Christopher Helm

2016

"This book is the ultimate flight-identification guide for the raptors of the Western Palaearctic, covering Europe, North Africa, the Middle East (including Arabia) to Central Asia. It provides identification information for all 60 species that regularly occur in the region. going to subspecific level wherever needed. The text covers every plumage and age in detail, with each species account accompanied by a range of photographs covering all the principal plumages. Based on this stunning photographic coverage, most of which has never been published before, this book represents a landmark in bird identification books and a major work for all raptor enthusiasts."

Game Drive Birds of Southern Africa

Philip van den Berg

2016

"Game Drive Birds of Southern Africa is designed to be rewarding to birdwatchers around the world, while being particularly useful to visitors to southern Africa. While not a comprehensive guidebook, it covers the birds one may see on a regular game drive and will help readers become familiar with the 300 most common species."

First Field Guide to Common Birds of Southern Africa

Tracey Hawthorne

2nd edition

2015

An introductory guide to the commoner birds of Southern Africa.

300 Easy-to-See Birds in Southern Africa

Chevonne Reynolds, Nicholas Tye

2015

"This practical, straightforward guide to some of the most commonly seen birds in southern Africa is aimed at beginner birders, or even juniors. Less daunting than a full-blown field guide, it s handy and accessible, combining simple text with clear artwork and photographs to introduce 300 of the region s easy-to-see birds. For each bird the book offers: simple text, including how to find it, identify it and understand it; color images, both illustrations and photographs; a distribution map; common English names, plus scientific, Afrikaans and other African names; average size, details of the nest and the number of eggs laid on average; interest boxes for some birds, providing extra information."

East Africa Birds: A Folding Pocket Guide to Familiar Species in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda

James Kavanagh and Raymond Leung

2015

"This beautifully illustrated guide highlights over 140 familiar and unique species and includes a map featuring prominent bird-viewing areas. Laminated for durability, this lightweight, pocket-sized folding guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use on safari."

Turaco Country: Reminiscences of East African Birding

Dale A. Zimmerman

2015

"Dale Zimmerman's singular memoir details a half-century of ornithological investigations in East Africa, at a time when Africa's fabled wildlife and wild habitats flourished beneath the snows of Kilimanjaro. Set against the political backdrop of the shift from colonial to African rule, Turaco Country documents a distinguished field ornithologist's quintessentially African experience among the lions, gorillas, Gaboon Vipers, and those exquisite turacos."

Birds of Western Africa

Nik Borrow and Ron Demey

Christopher Helm

2nd edition

2014

Text and plates are same as Princeton publication below

"Birds of Western Africa (Helm, 2001) was the first single-volume guide to cover all the species of this region, which comprises 23 countries from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic, and south to Congo. This new edition uses all of the plates from Birds of Western Africa, with a concise, authoritative text on facing pages, to create a conveniently-sized, lightweight field reference covering all 1300 species found in the region. The book also has updated colour distribution maps for each species placed on the text pages for the first time. A number of new images have been painted for this new edition and several of the illustrations have been replaced. This major new guide will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the countries covered."

Birds of Western Africa

Nik Borrow and Ron Demey

Princeton University Press

2nd edition

2014

Text and plates are same as Helm publication above

"This revised and expanded edition of Birds of Western Africa is now the most up-to-date field guide available to the 1,285 species of birds found in the region--from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic and south to Congo. It now features all maps and text opposite the plates for quick and easy reference. The comprehensive species accounts have been fully updated and expanded, and the color distribution maps have been completely revised. This premier guide also includes more than 3,000 illustrations on 266 stunning color plates."

The Ultimate Companion for Birding in Southern Africa

Editor: Peter Ginn, Geoff McIlleron

2014

Two volumes with over 860 pages and over 1400 colour photographs.

"The most spectacular collection of Southern African bird photographs ever assembled, this visually stunning two-volume book showcases our abundant birdlife in all its stunning diversity. With more than 1400 photographs of all 960 bird species ever recorded in the region, The Ultimate Companion for Birding in Southern Africa captures the birds in their natural habitats and reveals some of their interesting and unusual behaviour. Complemented by fascinating descriptions and interesting observations from 18 of southern Africa's top birding authorities, The Ultimate Companion for Birding in Southern Africa has been put together in a unique and easy to read format that can be understood and enjoyed by anyone, bird-watcher or beginner alike."

The Birds of Africa, Volume VIII: The Malagasy Region

Editors: Roger Safford, Frank Hawkins

Christopher Helm

2013

"The Birds of Africa series, volumes I–VII, covered the avifauna of continental Africa. This volume fulfils the aspiration, expressed in that series, of a single volume that treats the birds of Madagascar, Seychelles, the Comoros, the Mascarenes and their associated smaller outlying islands – the Malagasy region. It follows The Birds of Africa series in treating each of the 352 regularly occurring species known from the region in detail, through the assembly of a wealth of information, much of it very recent. Distribution, description, identification, general behaviour, feeding and breeding habits are comprehensively covered, by a roster of the key experts on the birds of the region. All 135 vagrant species are also treated, more briefly, and for the first time the distribution of species across the region is presented in a series of detailed and informative maps. Each species is also extensively illustrated, showing variation in plumage across ages, sexes and geographic regions. One plate illustrates species that have recently become extinct in the region, and a separate plate section covers vagrants."

Eagles of Africa

Johann Knobel

2013

Species accounts with distribution maps, photographs and general essays covering 26 species of eagles that occur in Africa.

Parrots of Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands: Biology, Ecology and Conservation

Mike Perrin

2013

"Parrots of Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands provides complete coverage of all aspects of the biology of extant African, Malagasy and Mascarene parrots, and reviews our knowledge of extinct and fossil parrots from the region. Particular themes include the behavioural and ecological characteristics of parrots, their species characteristics and conservation biology. Current concepts in avian and conservation biology are also discussed. Parrots of Africa, Madagascar and the Mascarene Islands is aimed at ornithologists, conservation biologists, avian ecologists, academics, bird watchers and parrot fans alike. It is well illustrated, with high quality original photographs, and includes distribution maps, figures and tables."

Pocket Guide To Birds of Southern Africa

Burger Cillie and Ulrich Oberprieler

5th edition

2013

"To both the beginner and the experienced birdwatcher this compact guide will prove as indispensable as binoculars. Special features: Fits your pocket; Practical & user-friendly; Over 400 bird species; Excellent colour photographs; Logical grouping of birds; Concise biological information; English & Afrikaans names; Southern African bird numbers; Distribution maps according to the new bird atlas."

Sasol Checklist Of Birds of Southern Africa

5th edition

2013

"Sasol Checklist of Birds in Southern Africa is a new, updated edition of what was long a popular resource. It lists all the birds to be seen in the region and provides a simple way of recording where and when you have spotted them. Pocket-sized for ease of use, it offers: Cross-referencing to Sasol Birds of Southern Africa IV; Six columns for multiple recordings at six different localities; Up-to-date names for all southern African birds; Endemic and threat status for all birds. This revised, updated checklist will be sought after by the region's twitchers at all levels."

Roberts Geographic Variation of Southern African Birds

Hugh Chittenden, David Allan, Ingrid Weiersbye

2012

"Roberts Geographic Variation of Southern African Birds is an illustrated version of aspects dealt with under the subject of Geographic Variation in Roberts Birds of Southern Africa 7th ed. Worldwide, this is the first field guide to attempt to comprehensively illustrate the varied plumages that are exhibited by the region's birds. Although sometimes a camouflage and defence mechanism against predation, many other factors contribute to plumage variation and it is hoped that this guide will stimulate the readers interest in this complex subject so that we can further our knowledge on various subspecies, a concept that was brought to the fore a little over 100 years ago. The colour maps (courtesy Guy Upfold), are a guide to the distribution of the subspecies; included too are the meaning of scientific names (etymology). This information, together with 105 annotated plates illustrated by the exceptional talent of Ingrid Weiersbye, makes this guide essential for both beginner, and expert birders."

Southern African LBJ's Made Simple

Doug Newman and Gordon King

2012

"Southern African LBJs made simple is an important new guide to the cryptic little birds that are known as 'little brown jobs' amongst birdwatchers. Using colour coding and careful design, the reader is systematically guided through the initial sorting stages: from family group, to 'visual group' within the family, and finally to the species. Illustrations with pointers show characteristic features of each species, summarised in an 'At a glance' box. Concise text describes visual clues as well as other key ID criteria, such as size, habitat, habits, call and similar-looking and -sounding birds. A distribution map shows range, and each species is linked by track number to its call on the accompanying CD. Identification depends on successfully matching a given number of the bird's features – in some cases, just a single convincing diagnostic trait. Painstakingly conceived and designed, Southern African LBJ's Made Simple will have wide appeal for serious birders and keen amateurs alike – anyone who wants to be able to tell one LBJ from another."

Nocturnal Birds of Southern Africa

John Carlyon

2012

"Nocturnal Birds of Southern Africa brings the largely unseen world of night birds to the reader in the pages of this authoritative photographic guide, the first to cover the full spectrum of these attractive but elusive creatures in the region in detail. The 300-plus pages of this attractive and colourful hardcover book are richly illustrated with nearly 400 high-quality photographs and illustrations, most of which have not previously been published. Photography is by John Carlyon and Penny Meakin, with additional photography by several leading bird photographers. This expansive portfolio of images covers all important aspects of typical adults, nests, eggs or nestlings, juveniles and habitats for each species discussed. Text is informative and clearly written, unencumbered with technical jargon or data. Introductory chapters discuss this group of birds in general terms in the southern African context. The species accounts, covering owls, nightjars, the Bat Hawk, night herons, thick-knees and coursers as well as partially nocturnal birds in the southern African subregion, summarise current knowledge of these birds in an easily readable style."

The Raptor Guide of Southern Africa

Ulrich Oberprieler

2nd edition

2012

A 380 page guide with over 800 colour photographs and detailed text describing distribution, behavoir, status, ecology and identification. Covers all diurnal and nocturnal raptors of Southern Africa.

Chamberlains LBJs: The Definitive Guide to Southern Africa's Little Brown Jobs

Faansie Peacock

2012

"Almost a quarter of Southern Africa's bird species, and half of its endemics, are known by birdwatchers as LBJs or Little Brown Jobs. All birders experience some degree of trepidation when confronted by Ornithologicum nightmariensis. Consequently this potentially confusing group of birds is shunned by virtually all beginners and many experienced observers as well. However, LBJs include some of the region's most spectacular, thrilling, interesting, sought-after and memorable birds. In this eagerly anticipated book, four years in the making, talented author and artist Faansie Peacock shares his passion for and knowledge of LBJs. Chamberlain's LBJs will not only help you to confidently identify LBJs in the field, but also to understand and enjoy these remarkable birds."

Birds of The Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Socotra

Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan

2nd edition

2011

" The Horn of Africa has the highest endemism of any region in Africa, and around 70 species are found nowhere else in the world. Many of these are confined to the isolated highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but a large number of larks specialise in the arid parts of Somalia and adjoining eastern Ethiopia, whilst the island of Socotra has its own suite of endemic species. The region is also an important migration route and wintering site for many Palearctic birds. This is the first field guide to the birds of this fascinating region, and a companion to Birds of East Africa by two of the same authors. Over 200 magnificent plates by John Gale and Brian Small illustrate every species that has ever occurred in the five countries covered by the guide, and the succinct text covers the key identification criteria. Special attention is paid to the voices of the species, and over 1000 up-to-date colour distribution maps are included. This long-awaited guide is a much-needed addition to the literature on African birds and an essential companion for birders visiting the region."

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, Peter Ryan and Warwick Tarboton

4th edition

2011

"Sasol Birds of Southern Africa remains the region's most comprehensively illustrated and trusted field guide. This fourth edition has been greatly improved by the addition of group introductions, calendar bars showing species' occurrence and breeding periods, a section on ‘how to use this book', as well as sonograms depicting the calls of tricky bird groups. The newly designed plates are meticulously illustrated, with labels pinpointing key differentiating features. Distribution maps show the relative abundance of a species in the region and also indicate resident or migrant status."

Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, Peter Ryan and Warwick Tarboton

Princeton University Press

4th edition

2011

"Birds of Southern Africa continues to be the best and most authoritative guide to the bird species of this remarkable region. This fully revised edition covers all birds found in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and southern Mozambique. The 213 dazzling color plates depict more than 950 species and are accompanied by more than 950 color maps and detailed facing text. This edition includes new identification information on behavior and habitat, updated taxonomy, additional artwork, improved raptor and wader plates with flight images for each species, up-to-date distribution maps reflecting resident and migrant species, and calendar bars indicating occurrence throughout the year and breeding months."

Birds in Africa: An Introduction and Survey to the Birdlife of Africa

Rainer Christian Ertel

2011

"This is an English translation of the German book Vogel in Afrika, which covers 1,300 species breeding or migrating in Africa. There is a colour photo and a distribution map included for most species, together with a short description of the bird's appearance, habitat, and song."

Newman's Birds by Colour

Southern Africa's Common Birds Arranged by Colour

Kenneth Newman in association with Irene Bredenkamp and Phoebus Perdikis

Updated by Vanessa Newman

3rd edition

2011

"Newman's Birds By Colour remains a favourite among both younger birders and those starting out in the field. Bold colour sections group the more commonly seen birds by the dominant colour of their plumage and other distinctive features, offering users a quick and easy way to identify them. A comprehensive introduction to birds and birding includes such topics as bird classification, anatomy, flight, migration, feeding and nesting. There are helpful sections offering information on what you need to go birding, and where and when to look for birds. This third edition has been updated with the latest name changes as reflected in the commemorative edition of Newman's Birds of Southern Africa."

Wildlife of Southern Africa

Martin Withers and David Hosking

2011

"Highly portable, concise, and informative, this is the essential guide for identifying Southern Africa's most visible wildlife. Featuring full-color photos of more than 400 species of birds, mammals, snakes, lizards, and insects, Wildlife of Southern Africa provides a spectacular sense of what travelers can see in the major game reserves and national parks of South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and southern Mozambique. Each species in this guide is accompanied by at least one full-color photograph plus a full textual description."

Birds of Africa: South of the Sahara

Ian Sinclair and Peter Evans

2nd edition

2010

"With over 2,500 photographs, the text, by Africa's top birders, this indispensable companion in the field gives identification, call, habitat, status, breeding and diet, with calendar bars showing breeding, and distribution maps. Fully revised, Birds of Africa south of the Sahara provides unrivalled coverage of African birds in a single volume, and is the first book to describe and illustrate all of the birds found in Africa south of the Sahara Desert (the Afrotropic Region), including Socotra, Pemba and islands in the Gulf of Guinea. Despite its exceptional coverage of over 2,100 species described, plus 70 vagrants, this guide is compact enough to use in the field, and follows the standard field guide format, with texts and range maps appearing opposite the color plates. Comprehensively revised to reflect changes in taxonomy. Illustrations show most distinctive plumages, diagnostic flight patterns and major geographic variants."

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa

Revised by Vanessa Newman and Faansie Peacock

10th edition

2010

"This Commemorative edition of Newman's Birds of Southern Africa at once updates a classic and pays tribute to one of the region's best loved birding authors, the late Kenneth Newman. With the support of bird expert Faansie Peacock, the author's daughter, Vanessa Newman, has thoroughly revised, updated and expanded this new edition to reflect the latest research, both in terms of text and illustrations. Covering all the birds recorded from the Antarctic to the Zambezi River, its range includes the birds from the southern seas as well as those of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique. The familiar, user-friendly format of Newman's Birds uses colour coding to indicate major bird groups and, as always, large accurate paintings of each species reflect the bird as it is seen in the field, now labeled with diagnostic features. A revised introductory section takes readers step-by-step through how to use this latest edition of Newman's Birds of Southern Africa in the field."

Birds of Southern Africa

Ber Van Perlo

Princeton University Press

2009

"Birds of Southern Africa surpasses other field guides to the region by illustrating and describing all 1,250 bird species of South Africa, Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. In addition, this is the only guide to illustrate the birds of Angola (including Cabinda), whose river basins and rocky hillsides are home to the striking White-headed Robin Chat and the Angolan Cave Chat. The 84 color plates group similar species and subspecies and also depict vagrants and ocean wanderers that appear in this huge region characterized by widely varying habitats, from woodlands and forests to deserts to swamps. The text directly opposite the plates concisely describes each bird's habitat and key physical, behavioral, and vocal characteristics. All the larks are shown perching as well as in flight, and every swallow is pictured in flight from below. The most distinctive immature and nonbreeding plumages are included, and distribution maps show the range and frequency of each species. This is an essential guide for any birder contemplating a trip to southern Africa."

Birds of Southern Africa

Ber Van Perlo

2009

"Southern Africa is becoming an increasingly popular destination for people who want to see first-hand the abundant widlife of this vast continent. 'Birds of Southern Africa' is the only field guide to illustrate and describe all species commonly found in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Angola (including Cabinda). Featuring over 1,250 species, the text details the kind of habitat the birds are found in, key identification features and notes on the songs and calls of each species. The 84 colour plates appear opposite their relevant text for quick and easy reference. Distribution maps are also included for each species. Comprehensive and easy-to-use, this book is a must for all those visiting the region."

Birds of Eastern Africa

Ber Van Perlo

Princeton University Press

Updated edition

2009

"This is a fully updated edition of the only pocket guide that illustrates and describes all 1,487 bird species of eastern Africa, an area that includes Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, and Yemen's Socotra Island. This huge region's rich birdlife includes some of the most colorful species anywhere on earth - including ostriches, albatrosses, boobies, lovebirds, parrots, parakeets, kingfishers, and bee-eaters. The 96 color plates group similar species and subspecies, and the text directly opposite the plates describes each bird's habitat and key physical, behavioral, and vocal characteristics. Distribution maps show the range and frequency of each species. This is an indispensable guide for any birder who wants to explore eastern Africa's wealth of birds."

Birds of Eastern Africa

Ber Van Perlo

2009

"Eastern Africa is becoming an increasingly popular destination for people who want to see first-hand the abundant widlife of this vast continent. 'Birds of Eastern Africa' is the only field guide to feature over 450 species found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia and Somalia (including Socotra Island). Including full colour illustrations of each bird, key features on habitat, songs and calls, and distribution maps for each species, this guide contains all the information needed to quickly identify the birds found in this vast region."

Birds of The Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Socotra

Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan

2009

"The Horn of Africa has the highest endemism of any region in Africa, and around 70 species are found nowhere else in the world. Many of these are confined to the isolated highlands of Ethiopia and Eritrea, but a large number of larks specialise in the arid parts of Somalia and adjoining eastern Ethiopia, whilst the island of Socotra has its own suite of endemic species. The region is also an important migration route and wintering site for many Palearctic birds. This is the first field guide to the birds of this fascinating region, and a companion to Birds of East Africa by two of the same authors. Over 200 magnificent plates by John Gale and Brian Small illustrate every species that has ever occurred in the five countries covered by the guide, and the succinct text covers the key identification criteria. Special attention is paid to the voices of the species, and over 1000 up-to-date colour distribution maps are included."

Birds of the Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and Socotra

Nigel Redman, Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Princeton University Press

2009

"Birds of the Horn of Africa is the first field guide to the more than 1,000 species of resident, migrant, and vagrant birds found in northeast Africa. Covering Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, and the Socotra archipelago, this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide features more than 2,600 illustrations on 213 full-color plates, and a color distribution map for every species. Detailed species accounts on facing pages include descriptions of key identification features, similar species, geographical variation, habitat, status, and voice. This field-ready guide also includes a glossary, identification tips, and information about bird habitats. Birds of the Horn of Africa is an essential resource for birders, naturalists, and travelers in the region."

Roberts Bird Guide

A Comprehensive Field Guide to Over 950 Bird Species in Southern Africa

Hugh Chittenden

2009

"A comprehensive field guide to over 950 bird species in southertn Africa. This is the first comprehensive field guide in southern Africa that gives information on food and breeding strategies. Included too, are the meaning of scientific names(Etymology) and colloquial names in 13 languages. This information, together with 166 annotated plates illustrated by seven of southern Africa's finest bird artists, makes this guide essential for both beginners and experts in the field of ornithology."

Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair

2009

"A photographic identification guide to 500 southern African bird species, this book replaces our "Photographic Guide to Birds of Southern Africa" in a more user-friendly format and covers double the number of birds. Distribution maps and an 'occurrence bar' depicting months in which the birds can be seen are added features. Emphasis is on quick identification in the field."

The Complete Photographic Guide Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan

2009

"A photographic field guide to the birds of southern Africa. It presents more than 2500 images showing a wide selection of age and sex plumage variations, perched and in-flight birds, and color morphs where relevant. It focuses on identification, call, status, breeding details and diet."

Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair

Struik

2009

"A photographic identification guide to 500 southern African bird species, this book replaces our "Photographic Guide to Birds of Southern Africa" in a more user-friendly format and covers double the number of birds. Distribution maps and an 'occurrence bar' depicting months in which the birds can be seen are added features. Emphasis is on quick identification in the field."

Pocket Guide To Birds of Southern Africa

Burger Cillie and Ulrich Oberprieler

2009

"To beginner and experienced birdwatchers, this compact guide will prove as indispensable as binoculars. Special features include: fits your pocket; user-friendly; over 400 bird species listed; excellent colour photographs; colour variations indicated; concise biological information; English and Afrikaans names; Southern African bird numbers; updated distribution maps; and, quick index."

The Raptor Guide of Southern Africa

Ulrich Oberprieler and Burger Cillie

1st edition

2009

"All Southern African raptors are described, both diurnal and nocturnal species in a user-friendly system of 11 groups which are colour-coded and cross-referenced. This comprehensive text emphasises field recognition, behaviour, feeding methods, breeding and the origin of the name. It includes concise information that indicates measurements, distribution, habitat preference, food and status. It features English, Afrikaans, French, German, Portuguese and scientific names. There are distribution maps that indicate abundance and migratory patterns. It contains both old and new 'Roberts numbers' that are indicated, and features over 600 excellent colour photographs to indicate males, females, juveniles, other colour variations and flight patterns. It also includes colour illustrations of all flight patterns and sonograms to interpret the calls of owls. A comprehensive section on confusing birds is included. This is a must for every birdwatcher and raptorphile."

Atlas of Wader Populations in Africa and Western Eurasia

Simon Delany, Derek Scott, Tim Dodman, David Stroud

2009

"This milestone publication is a compilation of current knowledge of the numbers, distribution and movements of one of the most remarkable groups of birds in the region covered by the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA). Long-term waterbird count data have been combined with an extensive literature review, especially published results of bird ringing and national bird atlases, to produce maps showing the population boundaries that are used as a basis of the conservation of these species. The maps are supported by informative species accounts that highlight the movements, population status and conservation of waders in the AEWA region. Many wader species depend for their survival on networks of key sites for breeding, for moulting, and for building reserves of fat and protein to fuel their incredible migrations. Identified key sites are also shown on the maps, and listed in detailed and informative tables. The information presented in this Atlas will be of use and interest to anyone involved in the conservation or study of wetlands and waterbirds. In particular, it will provide parties to international treaties such as the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and AEWA (under the Convention on Migratory Species) with a basis for the conservation of waders and the sites and habitats necessary for their survival. It will also be useful for other nature conservation practitioners such as nature reserve wardens, and of interest to birdwatchers and those who spend time in the places graced by these wonderful birds."

Birdwatching in Southern Africa

Peter Ryan

2008

"Birdwatching in Southern Africa addresses questions such as what to look for when purchasing equipment, what field guides and other resources exist, and how cultivate skills in the field. In a down-to-earth, rich-in-experience style, the guide covers identification problems, aspects of sea- and nightbirding and the ways in which amateur birders help to make birds the best studied group of amimals in the world. Brief descriptions of Southern African habitats include a selection of top birding spots in each area. The guide ends with a well-compiled list of addresses and useful information for beginners and more experienced birders."

East African Wildlife

Philip Briggs

Bradt

2008

"The wildlife of east Africa is the major visitor attraction of this region, thanks to the legendary game reserves of Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. This new guide provides a colourful overview of the region's variety of large animals together with information on their habits and habitats. The book also provides an excellent introduction to the region's less heralded variety of smaller creatures including 1,500 bird species and butterflies."

Conserving Biodiversity in Africa: Guidelines for Applying the Site Support Group Approach

Editors: Solomon Mwangi Ngari

2007

"An important new publication from the BirdLife International Africa Partnership provides a step-by-step guide to establishing and managing Site Support Groups. Although the focus is on Africa, "Conserving Biodiversity In Africa: Guidelines for applying the Site Support Group Approach" will be equally useful to partners on other continents. Site Support Groups (also known as IBA Local Conservation Groups and Caretaker Groups) are organised, independent groups of volunteers who work with their communities, with the national BirdLife Partner and with other organisations to promote conservation and sustainable development at Important Bird Areas and other key biodiversity sites. They are one of the most practical approaches to conservation. The book has a section on identifying the organisations or individuals who will form the SSG, and on building partnerships between the SSG and governments, development organisations and the private sector. Another section deals with developing and managing the SSG: its skills and capacity, its funding and governance, and managing the inevitable conflicts. Other areas covered include the factors that make a group sustainable, the efficient use of funds, alternative income generation, the need for clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and even what happens when a well established SSG begins competing for donors with the BirdLife Partner which set it up. The final paragraphs describe how to devise an 'exit' strategy - preparing the SSG for the day when it must stand on it own feet, while the partner shifts some of its support to fledgling SSGs elsewhere."

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa

P.A.R. Hockey, W.R.J. Dean and P.G. Ryan

2006

"After the publication of Roberts 6, it was decided that Roberts (as it was affectionately known as) would be totally revamped. It would be produced in a larger format as a major handbook to encapsulate all current knowledge of southern African birds. The text would be comprehensive and detailed, while the plates would serve to enhance the book's appeal. The project was entrusted to the Percy FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology, and a scientific editorial committee comprising Phil Hockey (Editor in Chief), Richard Dean and Peter Ryan. To them fell the task of selecting the experts to write the texts and of overseeing the contributions of 58 co-authors, 36 of whom provided 10 or more species accounts. In addition, each text was assessed either by other authors in the team or by external referees. The 951 species included in the new Roberts was dealt with under the usual headings of a handbook, but there are a number of additional features worth noting. Although no attempt is made to fill a niche as a field guide, identification is nevertheless dealt with in detail, with special emphasis on confusing species. Other innovative aspects included are etymology, moult, population and demography, taxonomy, geographical variation and conservation issues. The distribution maps, largely based on The Atlas of Southern African Birds, are fully up to date."

Southern African Birdfinder: Where To Find 1400 Bird Species In Southern Africa And Madagascar

Callan Cohen, Claire Spottiswoode and Jonathan Rossouw

2006

"Southern African Birdfinder: Guide to finding over 1 000 species from South Africa to Zambia, is the ideal companion to all local field guides to birds, and fills a gap in the market for a comprehensive guide to the region's top birding spots and to finding southern Africa's most desirable birds. After an introduction to birding in the southern African region, the authors identify and describe more than 200 top birding sites and associated birds across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, the Indian Ocean islands and the little-documented, but increasingly popular areas of Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. All sites are ranked into one of three categories of priority: essential (the region's best); excellent (top sites but expendable to a time-limited visitor) and local interest (ideal for those looking for new areas to explore). All sites include practical details of access, best times to visit, habitat diversity and general natural history. A guide to finding the region's top 100 birds and an annotated checklist conclude the book."

Birds: the Inside Story: Bird Biology and Behaviour in Southern Africa

Rael and Helene Loon

2006

"A book that goes beyond bird identification into bird behaviour and biology. Sasol Birds: The Inside Story looks at flight; feathers and their function; bird senses; breeding; nest building; eggs (colouring, markings etc.); songs and sound; feeding; migration, and tracks - with an aim to uncover the fascinating facts about southern African birds. Brightly and boldly illustrated with colour photographs and illustrations, the book's lively design is bound to engage and fascinate all bird enthusiasts, both young and old."

Land Cover and Avian Biodiversity in Rice Fields and Mangroves of West Africa

Daan Bos, Ion Grigoras and Abdoulaya Ndiaye

2006

"The west coast of Africa, from southern Senegal to Sierra Leone, is characterised by extensive mangrove vegetation, interspersed with rice-fields and tidal flats. Many millions of people live in this area and depend on its resources - rice, fish, wood etc. The region is of great biological importance, particularly since it harbours extensive wetlands that function as staging sites for Afro-tropical and migrating Palaearctic birds. Over the past decades, rainfall has been erratic and the severe droughts in the 1970s and 1980s impacted on the existing mangrove stands and rice fields. A change in land cover over time could also have occurred due to developments in management and the socio-economical framework. Such change potentially affects people and biodiversity. This report aims to quantify the availability of different wetland habitats for birds and the changes therein, over the past 15 to 20 years. Furthermore, it investigates the composition of the bird populations in the different wetland types and identifies the threats to these systems."

Pipits of Southern Africa: The Complete Guide to Africa's Ultimate LBJ's

Faansie Peacock

2006

"Ask any birder and they will confirm that pipits are arguably the most challenging birds in Africa from an identification perspective. In addition, pipit taxonomy is by no means conclusive-two new species have been described in the last decade! Despite this challenging state of affairs, identification of this group is possible. In Pipits of Southern Africa, emphasis is shifted towards identification methods based largely on posture, feeding strategy, display flights, vocalizations and other non-plumage features. The book stems directly from the author's field notes (instead of from museum collections and ornithological papers alone) and it is immediately apparent that this is a book written by a birder for birders. However, despite the great care that has been taken to ensure that the book is readable and relevant, scientific technicalities are also covered in detail-Pipits of southern Africa should appeal to beginners, advanced birders and ornithologists alike. A vast amount of ink drawings are used to emphasize important points or illustrate complicated concepts, and a multitude of graphs, keys and diagrams to facilitate easy and correct identification are included. All southern African pipit species (including the recently described Kimberley and Long-tailed Pipits), are covered in detail."

Birds of Western Africa

Nik Borrow and Ron Demey

Princeton University Press

2005

"This new field guide uses all 147 color plates from Princeton's A Guide to the Birds of Western Africa, with concise, authoritative text on facing pages, to create a compact, lightweight field reference covering all 1,285 species found in the region - from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic and south to Congo. It is the first field guide to cover this region exclusively and in such comprehensive depth, and will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the twenty-three countries and territories covered. Birds of Western Africa also has an updated color distribution map for each species, conveniently placed on interleaved pages within the color plates. The plates, all original and painted by the same leading illustrator, comprise over 3,000 figures - including a number of new images painted for this field guide - and depict almost all the species described. The entries opposite the plates focus on key identification marks for all main plumages."

The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair and Phil Hockey

Struik

Second edition

2005

"This eagerly awaited new edition of The Larger Illustrated Guide to Birds of Southern Africa has been brought fully up to date with the third edition of the Field Guide to Birds of Southern Africa. The new edition incorporates the most recent information about bird taxonomy, as well as the latest bird names based on recommendations of the International Ornithological Committee. All distribution maps have been revised and feature dual shading to show relative abundance of a species in the region, as well as crosses to indicate the occurrence of vagrants. Numerous illustrations have been updated and revised where necessary. The essays on identifying problem species have also been revised and updated to bring the book in line with international birding developments."

Birds of Southern Africa

Nigel Dennis

Second edition

2005

"Nigel Dennis is renowned for his wildlife photography, but his birding shots are, if anything, even better. The birds featured are loosely grouped within four major divisions: Birds of Prey, Wetland Birds, Grassland Birds, and Birds of the Bush and Forest - concentrating on the most noticeable and colourful birds, as these are those which are likely to be seen and recognised. Lots of close up and larger than life shots show why Southern Africa is so popular with birders worldwide. Whether a visiting tourist or an inveterate 'twitcher', the stunning close ups will appeal to a wide spectrum of customers."

Birds of Europe: With North Africa and the Middle East

Lars Jonsson

2005

Latest edition of the Jonsson guide. "This guide covers all but a few of the Western Palearctic's breeding birds, and includes information on all regularly encountered vagrants. It has over 400 colour plates and, with distribution maps and illustrations on facing pages, it is practically designed and easy to use."

The Birds of Africa, Volume VII: Sparrows to Buntings

Editors: C Hilary Fry and Stuart Keith

Poyser

2004

"This is the final volume in the Birds of Africa series - looking at the rich avifauna of the world's second largest continent. Volume VII treats the remainder of the passerine families of Africa and various offshore islands, covering the sparrows, weavers, whydahs, waxbills, finches and buntings. Like its predecessors, this book boasts an exhaustively researched and referenced text, distilling all available data on the identification, ecology, distribution, behaviour and status of the species covered. Martin Woodcock's colour identification plates are complemented by a wealth of line drawings by Ian Willis which illustrate details of Africa's birdlife such as weaver nest structure and Ploceidae display postures."

Field Guide To The Birds of Western Africa

Nik Borrow and Ron Demey

Christopher Helm

2004

"This field guide utilises all the plates from Birds of Western Africa: An Identification Guide by the same authors, with a concise, authoritative text on facing pages, to create a lightweight guide covering all 1285 species found in the region. The guide also contains an updated colour distribution map for each species and a number of new images have been painted just for this guide."

Field Guide to Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi

Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe

Christopher Helm

2004

"This is the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this spetacular region. It covers all resident, migrant and vagrant species found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. Over 1300 species are illustrated with full details all the plumages and major races likely to be encountered. Concise text describes identification, status, range, habits and voice with range maps for each species."

Birds of Africa South of the Sahara

Ian Sinclair & Peter Ryan

Illustrated by Norman Arlott, Peter Hayman, and Alan Harris

Princeton Field Guides

Princeton University Press

2004

"This compact and easy-to-use guide is the first book to describe and illustrate all of the birds found in sub-Saharan Africa. Detailing more than 2,100 species, it covers the entire Afrotropic Region, including Socotra, Pemba, and the islands in the Gulf of Guinea. Stunning color illustrations depict most distinctive plumages as well as diagnostic flight patterns and major geographic variants. Range maps are provided for each species, and the well-formatted text highlights precise identification features and differences between similar species as well as providing concise information on habitat, status, and calls. All information is completely up-to-date, incorporating the latest taxonomy (including descriptions of many new species never before illustrated) and the most recent atlas surveys."

What's That Bird?: A Starter's Guide to Birds of Southern Africa

Kenneth Newman

2004

"This guide introduces the major bird families likely to be encountered throughout southern Africa by casual observers or inexperienced enthusiasts. With classic, easily interpreted illustrations and clear photographs, the book details the distinctive features of 50 families, including related birds."

Sasol Owls and Owling in Southern Africa

Warwick Tarboton and Rudy Erasmus

2004

"his hands-on guide tells the reader where and when to look and listen for owls and how to encourage them in our gardens. The authors of this unique guide both have a passion for owls and have learnt much about them over the years of observing and photographing these shy night birds. Over 200 full-colour photographs accompanied by informative text makes this a very handy guide."

Birds of Africa: South of the Sahara

Ian Sinclair and Peter Evans

2003

"This title describes and illustrates all of the birds found in Africa south of the Sahara (the Afrotropic region), including Socotra and islands in the Gulf of Guinea. The guide covers nearly 2100 species and features more than 340 plates. The illustrations portray the most distinctive plumages, as well as diagnostic flight patterns and other details where necessary. Despite the breadth of its coverage, the volume is compact enough to be used in the field and follows the standard field guide format. The most up-to-date taxonomy is used and the text is formatted to give precise identificatin features, habitat, status and calls. Different groups and families have introductory sections and there are distribution maps - combined with atlas surveys - to show species distribution over sub-Saharan Africa."

Birds of Western and Central Africa

Ber Van perlo

Princeton University Press

2003

"This is the only pocket guide to all the species of bird known to inhabit Western and Central Africa. Ber van Perlo introduces more than 1,500 species through 109 expertly rendered full-color plates and concise, easy-to-consult entries. The territory covered is vast - nearly 2,500 miles down the coast and over 1,000 miles inland, including not only Senegal, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo but all or part of Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cte d'Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Prncipe, So Tom, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The plates show all plumages for each species where these differ, including male, female, and juvenile. Succinct textual entries on each species appear on the facing pages, providing key notes for identification and basic information about habitats and voice. Distribution maps follow in the next section, and an appendix provides the French and Portuguese names. Presenting the most essential, up-to-date information in convenient, highly portable form, Birds of Western and Central Africa is the definitive guide for all birders planning or simply pondering a visit to the region."

Birds of Western Africa

Nick Borrow

Christopher Helm

2002

"This major new handbook covers 1282 species which occur in the western countries of Africa. The countries covered are Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Rio Muni, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, part of Mauritania and the islands of Sao Tome, Principe, and Bioko (Fernando Po). It is the only field guide available which covers the region's birds in detail and provides colour illustrations of all the species described. The book is illustrated with 142 colour plates which cover all the species described apart from a few vagrants (which are depicted in black and white within the text). Distribution maps are provided for the majority of species."

Birds of Western and Central Africa

Ber Van Perlo

Collins

2002

"This is the only pocket guide to all the species of bird known to inhabit Western and Central Africa. Ber van Perlo introduces more than 1,500 species through 109 expertly rendered full-color plates and concise, easy-to-consult entries. The territory covered is vast - nearly 2,500 miles down the coast and over 1,000 miles inland, including not only Senegal, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo but all or part of Benin, Burkina, Cameroon, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Cte d'Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Prncipe, So Tom, Sierra Leone, and Togo."

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton

3rd edition

2002

"This comprehensively revised edition of Sasol Birds of Southern Africa ensures up-to-the-minute information, latest taxonomy and an advanced technique for improved field identification. Already established as a leading field guide to birds of the region, Sasol Birds of Southern Africa has now been revised by its authors to bring it abreast of latest developments and discoveries in the birding world. The new edition incorporates the most recent information about bird taxonomy, presenting a host of recently recorded species splits and correcting previous misidentifications. New names - based on recommendations of the International Ornithological Committee - have been added, and name hyphenation updated. The checklist, reading list, family summaries, cross-references to species accounts, and societies an club details have also been updated. All distribution maps have been reviewed, and feature dual shading to show relative abundance of a species in the region, as well as crosses to indicate occurrence of vagrants. Numerous illustrations have been updated and revised and, where necessary, plates have been cleared of superfluous foliage detail."

Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton

Princeton University Press

2002

"Birds of Southern Africa is the best and most authoritative guide to the birds of one of the world's most fertile birding regions. Two hundred color plates comprising over 4,000 expert illustrations help birders to distinguish all of southern Africa's approximately 950 bird species. The illustrations have labels highlighting diagnostic features, and many birds are depicted in flight as well as still. Special attention is given to plumage variation by age, sex, and season. The informative text, written by eminent ornithologists, is fully integrated with the color plates to facilitate use in the field. Detailed species accounts emphasize the essential characteristics of each bird, including information on behavior, calls, and habitat preferences. All species names and divisions are in line with the latest recommendations of the International Ornithological Committee, while well-known and local common names are also included. Both beginners and advanced birders will appreciate the regional checklist, quick reference guides, and excellent family summaries. Up-to-date distribution maps feature dual shading to indicate areas of low and high abundance, while cross-referencing is made easy with color coding and a simple numbering system."

A Guide to the Birds of Western Africa

Nick Borrow and Ron Demey

2002

"A Guide to the Birds of Western Africa describes 1,285 species, representing the entire avifauna of the region. There are 147 original color plates, all painted by the same leading illustrator, comprising over 3,000 figures and depicting almost all the species described. The detailed species accounts cover all identification criteria, including differences between similar species, voice, habits, habitat, breeding, distribution, and status. The text also features color distribution maps for over 1,100 species, and numerous line drawings illustrate particular aspects of behavior and identification."

Birds of Southern Africa

Kenneth Newman

8th edition

2002

"A field guide to birds, this title illustrates and describes fully all the birds recorded from the southern seas as well as those of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho and Mozambique. The eighth edition has been updated to incorporate the information obtained since the previous edition relating to the birds of the region. The user-friendly design makes it ideal for use in the field, with aids such as colour-coding of major bird groups, running heads at the top of each page to indicate which family of birds is being described, large page numbers for easy reference and large accurate paintings which reflect the bird as it is seen in the field."

Practical Birding: A Guide for Birdwatchers in Southern Africa

Peter Ryan

2002

"Practical Birding addresses questions such as what to look for when purchasing equipment, what field guides and other resources exist, and how cultivate skills in the field. In a down-to-earth, rich-in-experience style, the guide covers identification problems, aspects of sea- and nightbirding and the ways in which amateur birders help to make birds the best studied group of amimals in the world. Brief descriptions of Southern African habitats include a selection of top birding spots in each area."

Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands: Priority Sites for Conservation

Editors: Lincoln D.C. Fishpool and Michael I. Evans

BirdLife International

2001

"Africa's 2,300 bird species include 340 of global conservation concern. This book details 1228 sites in 58 countries in Africa which support such threatened species, or meet other criteria to qualify as Important Bird Areas. Africa's IBAs cover 7 percent of the continent's land area. The island of Bouvetoya has one IBA of 50 km2; South Africa has 101 IBAs, while the total area covered by Sudan's IBAs is more than 180,000km2. Country summaries provide environmental, geographic, political and cultural information as well as conservation factors and ornithological summaries. Sites are mapped and line drawings of some key bird species are included. 16 pages of full-colour photographs show main habitat types."

Bibliography of the African quelea species

H.D. Oschadleus

2001

"The Redbilled Quelea is a major pest in much of subsaharan Africa and is the bird species that has had the greatest economic impact on the continent. In consequence it is probably Africa's best studied bird species. This book becomes the definitive bibliography of the genus Quelea. The bibliography lists 1880 references."

The Birds of Africa, Volume VI: Picathartes to Oxpeckers

Editors: C Hilary Fry and Stuart Keith

Poyser

2000

"This is the sixth volume in a set of seven, follows the standard taxonomic sequence and deals with songbirds from the babblers to starlings. A new introduction brings the reader up-to-date with recent developments in the series and includes an essay on aspects of biogeography illustrated through African birds. Overviews of the families are followed by genus summaries (with associated superspecies maps, where appropriate) and the species accounts themselves, organized under standard heading: Range and Status, Description, Field Characters, Voice, General Habits, Food, Breeding Habits, and Key References. Each species has a distribution map and many are illustrated with line drawings by Ian Willis showing nests and behavior. There are 36 superb color plates by Martin Woodcock that illustrate all the plumages of all species covered in the volume."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of Prey of Southern, Central and East Africa

David Allan

2nd edition

2000

"This compact, easy-to-use format is the ideal pocket-sized book for a travelling companion. It contains authoritative text describing key identification features and full-colour photographs depicting each of the 88 species."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of East Africa

Dave Richards

2nd edition

2000

"The text for each species highlights the diagnostic feature or combination of features that will enable the birdwatcher to most easily identify the bird. Clear colour photographs have been chosen to illustrate the guide. For those species that are sexually dimorphic, have both breeding and non-breeding plumage, or in which the juvenile plumage differs markedly from that of the adult, more than one photograph has been included. Thumbnail silhouettes aid the reader in quickly locating the correct group of birds, and for each species account a map shows the bird's distribution."

First Field Guide to Birds of Prey of Southern Africa

David Allan

1999

"These natural history guides have been developed in the hope that young people and anyone with a budding interest in natural history will take up the challenge to learn the secrets of southern Africa's fascinating fauna and flora. They are a resource for the beginner, providing information at a glance through superb photographs, maps and easy-to-read text."

Birds of Southern Africa

Nigel Dennis

1999

"Field guide to the Southern African avifauna suitable for beginners and more experienced bird watchers. It features over 400 bird species, is illustrated throughout in full-colour photographs and contains concise biological information."

A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa

W. Searle, G.J. Morel and W. Hartwig

1999

Covers over 1000 species with 500 of those illustrated.

Birds of Europe: With North Africa and the Middle East

Lars Jonsson

1999

"A highly illustrated guide covering all but a few of the Western Paleactic's breeding birds, and includes information on all regularly encountered vagrants."

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton

2nd edition

1998?

"This field guide to the birds of Southern Africa incorporates many features to allow the reader to quickly and easily identify birds and find information about them. Each species account provides the bird's common name in English and Afrikaans, its scientific name, its Roberts number and its length. To help identify species, information is provided on plumage of the male, female and immature bird, typical behaviour, voice, habitat and nests and food. To make the information more accessible, entries are colour coded, reduced bird images make finding bird groups easier and a list of bird families in alphabetical order with their page references appears inside the front cover for quick reference. Recent discoveries and reclassifications are included and the text and maps have been updated."

The Important Bird Areas of Southern Africa

Editor: Keith N. Barnes

1998

"Authoritative directory identifying a network of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) in Southern Africa, across a range of bird species for which a site-based approach is appropriate. Covers site selection, data presentation and IBAs in South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe."

Guide to Owls and Owling in Southern Africa

Warwick Tarboton and Rudi Erasmus

1998

"In seven chapters Tarboton and Erasmus present each of Southern Africa's owl species. The guide tells readers where and when to look and listen for owls, what tell-tale signs to look for, how to encourage them to your garden, and where to find nests. It also discusses conservation issues regarding owls. Owls are introduced in their various aspects, and the chapters are grouped according to habitat - for example, city owls, bushveld owls, and owls that live near water."

The Birds of Africa, Volume V: Thrushes to Puffback Flycatchers

Editors: Emil K Urban, C Hilary Fry and Stuart Keith

Poyser

1997

"Volume V is the second of four volumes to deal with the Passerine birds of the continent. The families treated fall into the following groups: thrushes, Old World warblers, Old World flycatchers, monarch flycatchers wattle-eyes and puffback flycatchers. The editors and artists have worked closely with nine other authors - all acknowledged experts on their bird families - to produce a superb reference in which encyclopedic texts on every species are complemented by accurate and detailed paintings and drawings of the birds themselves."

Breeding Birds of Southern Africa

Peter Steyn

1997

"Over 700 bird species breed in southern Africa: a mixture of resident and migrant birds in a huge range of habitat. Steyn, the author of several important works on African birds, brings his extensive knowledge, gained from over 45 years of study, to the multitude of species included in this large format book. His meticulous text and excellent photographs capture the nesting strategies and courtship behaviour of over 90 groups of birds - from ostriches to buntings. The information is presented in an easily digestible form and there are charts and tables for at-a-glance reference. A key reference work."

The Atlas of Southern African Birds

Volume 1: Introduction, Non-passerines

Volume 2: Passerines

Editor: J.A. Harrison, D.G. Allan, L.G. Underhill, M. Herremans, A.J. Tree, V. Parker and C.J. Brown

1997

"The atlas contains introductory chapters describing the methodology employed and providing an in-depth description of the avi-geography of southern Africa. This chapter is visually reinforced by a selection of habitat photographs, carefully chosen to be representative of the wide diversity of habitat types in southern Africa. All contributors of five or more atlas cards are acknowledged. Volume 1 (c. 900 pages) contains the introductory chapters and the non-passerines. Volume 2 (c. 700 pages) contains the passerines. 500 species receive two (or occasionally three) pages; 200 species are covered with map and text on a single page; for the 200 species that have been recorded as vagrants in southern Africa there is no map, but a fully researched paragraph of text giving details of occurrence in the region. For each species, statistics provide a convenient summary of the data and a measure of the relative abundance within the range. The species texts were written by leading ornithologists, and were carefully refereed and checked by a team of editors representing all areas of southern Africa. The texts go far beyond a verbal representation of the information in the maps and graphics, and present fresh interpretations in the light of existing knowledge. For many species, this is the longest essay ever published. In short, the texts represent building blocks towards a handbook of southern African birds. For most species, the text concludes with a considered statement on conservation issues, reflecting the conservation ethos that lies at the heart of the objectives of both the bird atlas project and its publishers, BirdLife South Africa."

Field Guide Birds of Southern AFrica

Ian Sinclair

1997

"This text uses colour photographs to identify more than 900 species of birds known to occur from Antarctica to the Zambezi River. The book is divided into more than 150 plates, each grouping similar birds which are often difficult to distinguish in the field. Comparative descriptions are given, drawing attention to those diagnostic or distinctive characters that make field identification easy. For each species the scientific and English and Africaans common names, length, habitat and call is given. Relative abundance within the region is indicated and whether the species is endemic or not, while maps show where the birds are likely to be found."

Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa

Kevin Baker

Christopher Helm

1997

"This guide covers 145 species of Warblers, covering all aspects of identification. The text includes sections on moult, voice, habitat and behaviour, distribution and measurements. Colour plates and a distribution map are provided for all the species."

Common Birds of East Africa

Martin B. Withers & David Hoskings

1996

"This guide covers all the common birds found in East Africa and the major areas visited by safaris - Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. Each species is illustrated, with the differences betwen the male and female pointed out."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of East Africa

Dave Richards

1996

"This photographic guide deals with the basics of bird identification in East Africa by presenting those species that are most likely to be seen in accessible habitats throughout the region. The book is aimed directly at field identification. For those species that are sexually dimorphic, have both breeding and non-breeding plumages, or in which the juvenile plumage differs markedly from that of the adult, more than one photograph has been included. Thumbnail silhouettes aid the reader in quickly locating the correct group of birds, and for each species account a map shows the bird's distribution."

A Photographic Guide to Birds of Prey of Southern, Central and East Africa

David Allan

1st edition

1996

"This guide is aimed directly at the field identification of the birds of prey of Southern, Central and East Africa. Where males differ from females, photographs have been included to show the different plumages, as well as those of juveniles. Colour illustrations depict the underwing and upperwing patterns of the birds in various plumages. Silhouettes help the reader locate the correct bird and for each species a map shows the bird's distribution."

Birds of Eastern Africa

Ber Van Perlo

1995

"East Africa is one of the only places in the world where it is possible to see over 200 species of bird in one day. This richness has attracted bird watchers from the four corners of the world and has made Kenya and Tanzania the most popular wildlife tourist spots in the world. This book illustrates and describes every species of bird found in the area. The text details what kind of habitat the birds are found in, key identification features and notes on the calls and songs of each species. Maps are also included for every species to show where the species occurs in the area."

Southern African Birds: A Photographic Guide

Ian Sinclair and Ian Davidson

1995

A photographic guide covering 700 species.

Waders of Southern Africa

Phil Hockey and Clare Douie

1995

"Deals with the more common wader species of Southern Africa. Each species account in the book deals with general aspects of wader distribution and ecology, containing scientific information translated for the layman. A section on the rarer species of wader is also included."

Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East

Hermann Heinzel, Richard Fitter, and John Parslow

1995

"A guide that describes and illustrates all 887 species of birds found in Britain and Europe including all rarities and introduced species. The book provides the information needed to identify every species - whatever its age or sex - and special pages highlight groups of birds that are difficult to identify."

Palearctic Birds: A Checklist of the Birds of Europe, North Africa and Asia North of the Foothills of the Himalayas

Mark Beaman

1994

The Illustrated Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey, W.R. Tarboton, Peter Hayman, Norman Arlott

1993

"A comprehensive, illustrated guide to South African birds. Covering over 750 species, it describes distinctive features, plumage, behaviour, calls, songs and habitats. Each bird is depicted in typical stance, and plumage variations and birds in flight or at the nest are also shown."

Birds of Europe: With North Africa and the Middle East

Lars Jonsson

1993

Waterbirds: The Birds of Southern Africa's Wetlands

Nigel Dennis and Warwick Tarboton

1993

"Over 80 species of waterbird, including kingfishers, flamingos and herons, are described in this study of the ornithological inhabitants of the great wetlands of Southern Africa. Photographs combine with text to provide a wealth of information on the different species."

The Birds of Africa, Volume IV: Broadbills to Chats

Editors: Stuart Keith, Emil K Urban and C Hilary Fry

Poyser

1992

"This definitive and authoritative volume covers the first 312 of the 1,200 or so passerine species which occur in continental Africa and the outlying islands. As in the first three volumes, each breeding species receives full coverage with sections on range and status, description, voice, general habits, food, and breeding biology. Non-breeding visitors are treated more briefly. The text concentrates on the bird's status and biology while in Africa. Range maps are given for each bird and super species maps are shown where appropriate. Large color plates, illustrated by Martin Woodcock, show the birds and adopt a more formal, field-guide style to emphasize the identification points of the more difficult groups. Ian Willis' line drawings elaborate on displays and patterns of behavior described in the text. The beauty and scholarship of this now standard reference on African birds must ensure it a place on every ornithologist's bookshelf."

The Complete Book of Southern African Birds

Editors: Peter Ginn, W. Geoff McIlleron and Peter le S. Milstein

1990

"Comprehensive and stunningly illustrated book covering 900 species. The species accounts give full identification details, plus a full account of distribution and occurrence, points for field recognition, food and feeding methods, and breeding biology."

The Birds of Africa, Volume III: Parrots to Woodpeckers

Editors: C Hilary Fry, Stuart Keith and Emil K Urban

Poyser

1988

"This volume completes the non-passerines, dealing with all species occurring on the continent - residents and visitors alike - in the following families: parrots, turacos, cuckoos, owls, nightjars, swifts, colies, kingfishers and their allies, and woodpeckers and their allies. All are illustrated, and all known biological information is included."

Key Forests for Threatened Birds in Africa: Seventy-five Forests Important for Bird Species at Risk

N.J. Collar and S.N. Stuart

BirdLife International

1988

"This book is written by the authors of Threatened Birds of Africa and Related Islands. This book describes the 75 forests which must be conserved to protect the forest-dwelling birds identified in the earlier work. Most of the forests covered were chosen because they hold more than one threatened bird species, and the book presents a powerful argument for treating the forest as the unit of conservation concern, rather than the single species. Although primarily intended to set priorities for conservation, the book can be used as a guide to finding Africa's rarest birds. Rare primates and other fauna and flora are also included in the site descriptions."

Birds of the Middle East and North Africa

P.A.D. Hollom, R.F. Porter, S. Christensen, I. Willis

Poyser

1988

"A field guide to the birds of the Middle East and North Africa from Morocco to Iran. It covers 700 breeding, wintering, migratory and vagrant species, with over 350 illustrated in colour and the distribution of 510 shown in distribution maps."

Birds of East Africa, Volume 2

C. A. W. Guggisberg

Mount Kenya

1988

(There are earlier editions)

Covers passerines.

Birds of East Africa, Volume 1

C. A. W. Guggisberg

Mount Kenya

1988

(There are earlier editions)

Covers non-passerines.

Ducks, Geese and Swans of Africa and its Outlying Islands

Neville Brickell

Frandsen Publishers

1988

"A guide to all the resident, migratory and introduced species including hybrids and mutations found on the continent."

Shrikes Of Southern Africa

Tony Harris

Struik Winchester

1988

224 pages with 34 full page colour plates, 25 full page colour sketches and a number of line drawings. Covers true shrikes, helmet-shrikes and bush-shrikes. A limited collector's edition was published in addition to the standard edition.

A Field Guide to the Waders of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East

Peter R. Colston and Philip Burton

1988

The Birds of Africa, Volume II: Gamebirds to Pigeons

Editors: Emil K Urban, C Hilary Fry and Stuart Keith

Poyser

1986

"The second volume in this series continues the high standards set by the first. The three editors have followed the vision of the late Leslie Brown and organized a team of internationally known experts to help them produce an up-to-date and comprehensive work. This volume covers all birds found in Africa, from gamebirds to pigeons. In order to do justice to the ever increasing volume of publications on African birds and the wealth of material collated by the contributors, and to fulfil the aim of illustrating all main plumages of every species, the series has been expanded to six volumes, the first three to cover the non-passerines and the last three the passerines. As in Volume I, all species of birds found in Africa are covered, including migrants and vagrants. Resident birds are treated in full detail, with sections on their range and status, description, field characters, voice, general behaviour, food and breeding biology. Visitors are also given extensive coverage, with emphasis on their status and behaviour within Africa."

The Rare Birds of Southern Africa

P.A. Clancey

1985

512 page book covering 94 species.

Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa

Ian Sinclair

1984

Covers about 900 species.

Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East

Hermann Heinzel, Richard Fitter, and John Parslow

1984

Covers 887 speices found in Britain and Europe.

The Doves, Parrots, Louries and Cuckoos of Southern Africa

M.K. Rowan

David Phillip

1983

The Birds of Africa, Volume I: Ostriches to Falcons

Editors: Leslie H Brown, Emil K Urban and Kenneth B Newman

Poyser

1982 (reprint 2002)

Birds of Prey of Southern Africa: Their Identification & Life Histories

Peter Steyn

1982

Bird Migration in Africa, Volume 1 & 2

Kai Curry-Lindahl

1981

Published in two volumes.

A Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa

J.G. Williams and N. Arlott

1980

48 colour plates with over 650 illustrations.

Birds of East Africa

P.L. Britton

1980

Birds Of The African Waterside

Leslie Brown

Collins

1979

110 pages with 24 full page colour painting by Rena Fennessy.

An Atlas of Speciation in African Non-Passerine Birds

David W. Snow

1978

A Field Guide to the Birds of West Africa

W. Searle, G.J. Morel and W. Hartwig

1977

"A complete bird guide for Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, the Gambia and the whole West African region from the Atlantic to Chad and the Central African Republic in the east, and northwards from the Congo River to the Sahara at 18ºN - 20ºN - the border between the Ethiopian and Palaearctic faunal regions. Over 500 species are illustrated and fully described, with notes on identifying characters, measurements, details of voice, distribution, habitat, nests and eggs. A further 200 allied species are dealt with more briefly and the 371 local or uncommon species are included in the Checklist on pages 263-94. The illustrations by Wolfgang Hartwig were painted specially for this book and are arranged on the Peterson pattern with facing caption pages. A special feature is the list on pages 295-336 which gives the scientific and English, Spanish, French and German vernacular names."

Birds of Britain and Europe with North Africa and the Middle East

Hermann Heinzel, Richard Fitter, and John Parslow

1972

"Over 1000 birds illustrated, all in colour, 825 distribution maps."

African Birds Of Prey

Leslie Brown

1971

A study of Africa's 89 diurnal raptors and 31 owls.

Birds of West Central and Western Africa

African Handbook Of Birds: Series 3

C. W Mackworth-Praed and C.H.B. Grant

1970-1973

This series was published in two volumes, Volume 1 covers non-passerines, volume 2 covers passerines. This series is part of the 6 volume African Handbook Of Birds.

An Atlas of Speciation in African Passerine Birds

B.P. Hall, R.E. Moreau

Natural History Museum Publications

1970

Birds of North Africa

R.D. Etchecopar, Francois Hue

Translation: P.A.D. Hollom

Oliver & Boyd

1967

612 pages with colour and black and white plates and line drawings. This is the first English edition of a work originally published in France in 1964.

The Bird Faunas Of Africa And Its Islands

R.E. Moreau

1966

A Field Guide to the Birds of East And Central Africa

J.G. Williams

1963

459 species described and illustrated, 179 in colour.

Birds Of The Southern Third Of Africa

African Handbook Of Birds: Series 2

C. W Mackworth-Praed, C.H.B. Grant

1962-1963?

This series was published in two volumes, Volume 1 covers non-passerines, volume 2 covers passerines. This series is part of the 6 volume African Handbook Of Birds.

Birds Of The West African Town And Garden

J.H. Elgood

1960

A guide to 100 species of commoner birds of West Africa.

Larger Birds Of West Africa

David A.Bannerman

1958

196 pages condensed from the 1953 two volume Birds Of West And Equatorial Africa. Covers 340 non-passerine species;

Birds Of Eastern and North Eastern Africa

African Handbook Of Birds: Series 1

C. W Mackworth-Praed, C.H.B. Grant

Longmans

1952-1955?

This series was published in two volumes, Volume 1 covers non-passerines, volume 2 covers passerines. This series is part of the 6 volume African Handbook Of Birds.

The Birds Of West And Equatorial Africa

David A. Bannerman

1953

Published in 2 volumes with over 1,500 pages in total and 30 coloured plates. This two volume set is a condensed version of the earlier 8 volume publication.

(There appear to be editions of this set with different dust jacket images.)

The Birds Of Tropical West Africa

David A.Bannerman

Crown Agents For The Colonies

1931-1951

Published in 8 volumes with over 3,500 pages in total and 85 coloured plates.

Handbook Of The Birds Of West Africa

George Latimer Bates

J. Bale & Sons & Danielsson Ltd

1930

570 pages with black and white illustrations and two maps.