Books About Birds A guide to books about birds and birdwatching Home | Index | Search | Links | Contact


On this page

World Bird Atlases

A selection atlases that cover birds of the world. The books are listed by publication date with the most recent at the top.

 

The Atlas of Birds: Diversity, Behaviour and Conservation

Mike Unwin

Princeton University Press

2011

"The Atlas of Birds captures the breathtaking diversity of birds, and illuminates their conservation status around the world. Full-color maps show where birds are found, both by country and terrain, and reveal how an astounding variety of behavioral adaptations - from flight and feeding to nest building and song - have enabled them to thrive in virtually every habitat on Earth. Maps of individual journeys and global flyways chart the amazing phenomenon of bird migration, while bird classification is explained using maps for each order and many key families. Conservation provides a strong focus throughout, with maps illustrating where and why birds are most under threat, and what is being done to protect them. Separate sections examine key factors influencing their distribution and endangering their survival, from deforestation and climate change to invasive species and the cage-bird trade. Bird groups most affected, such as island endemics, are highlighted, while a fascinating chapter explores the complex historical relationship between birds and humans, with maps and data for everything from poultry farming to birdwatching."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The Atlas of Birds: Mapping Avian Diversity, Behaviour and Habitats Worldwide

Mike Unwin

Christopher Helm

2011

"Authoritative and concise, this beautifully illustrated atlas captures the dazzling diversity of bird life around the world. Its stunning full-colour maps reveal where birds are found and explain the many factors behind their distribution, while numerous photographs and illustrations showcase the most fascinating and colourful aspects of bird behaviour. Conservation concerns are highlighted throughout, underpinned by the very latest data from BirdLife International on the threats birds face worldwide. The atlas reveals how an astonishing variety of behavioural adaptations - from flight and feeding to nest building and song - have enabled birds to exploit virtually every habitat niche available. It also unveils the miracles of bird migration, charting key flyways around the globe and drawing upon the latest satellite-tracking technology to shed new light on this most mysterious phenomenon. The greatest threat to birds today comes from the human impact on their environment. Such forces as deforestation, wetland drainage, pollution, the introduction of alien species and climate change have placed at least 1,200 species in danger of extinction. The atlas draws on work by BirdLife International and other organisations to explore this issue, using maps and case studies to illustrate where and why birds are most under threat, and what is being done to protect them."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Atlas of Rare Birds

Dominic Couzens

New Holland

2010

(Same publication as the MIT book below)

"A guide to some of the rarest birds in existence, brought together by the maps showing where in the world you can find them. The book will focus on 50 captivating stories of the very rare, including remarkable discoveries of species new to science, rediscoveries of species not seen for centuries and 'back from the brink of extinction' successes like Seychelles Magpie-Robin and California Condor. Each species has its own mini-chapter and the book will be broken down into key groups of species, with the five most amazing tales of island endemics, five most bizarre cases of a bird becoming threatened, and so on. This will be an accessible, readable and visually appealing take on a serious subject of threatened birds and possible extinctions - a topic that is constantly in the news due to increasing concerns over climate change and habitat destruction. The atlas format shows the global nature of the problem and brings together the many strands of the concerted bird conservation effort that is taking place on every continent. It also lends and element of accessibility to the reader as many of the species featured can be watched on birding tours these days."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Atlas of Rare Birds

Dominic Couzens

MIT Press

2010

(Same publication as the Helm book above)

"This book offers a guide to some of the rarest birds in existence, with maps that show where to find them. Focusing on fifty captivating stories of the very rare, it describes remarkable discoveries of species not seen for centuries and brought back from the brink of extinction, successes like the Seychelles Magpie-Robin and the California Condor. The book is organized around key groups of species, with each species the subject of its own mini-chapter; we learn about the five most amazing tales of island endemics, the five most bizarre cases of a bird's becoming threatened, and other astonishing tales of bird life. Atlas of Rare Birds is an accessible, readable, and visually appealing take on the serious subject of threatened birds and possible extinctions - a timely topic because of increasing concerns about climate change and habitat destruction. The atlas format - featuring 200 color photographs and 61 color maps - shows the global nature of the problem and brings together the many strands of the concerted bird conservation effort taking place on every continent. Atlas of Rare Birds is published in association with BirdLife International, the world's largest global alliance of bird conservation organizations."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Atlas of Bird Migration: Tracing the Great Journeys of the World's Birds

Jonathan Elphick

Foreword: Malcolm Ogilvie

The Natural History Museum

2007

"How far can birds fly? Where do they go? And why? Follow one of nature's most enigmatic and breathtaking spectacles with the "Natural History Museum Atlas of Bird Migration". This fascinating and comprehensive book traces the world migration routes of over 100 species. An illustrated introduction explains flight techniques, feeding, biology and navigation including the amazing results of new satellite tracking. Additional sections focus on the current environmental threats to migratory species and conservation initiatives worldwide. A supplementary catalogue details the routes of 500 additional migrant bird species. With stunning maps and artwork throughout, this authoritative and up-to-date guide will captivate amateur bird watchers and nature enthusiasts alike. From cranes and cuckoos to wagtails and woodpeckers, this indispensable reference reveals the mysteries of these remarkable journeys."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The World Atlas of Birds

Gramercy Books

2006

"This comprehensive reference guide to the birds of the world includes beautiful full-color illustrations of 500 species of birds, as well as more than 200 line drawings. With color maps and diagrams, tour the globe's eight geographic regions and see the birds that inhabit them."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


The World Atlas of Birds

Random House

1974

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover


Atlas of European Birds

K.H. Voous

Nelson & Co

1960

Buy from amazon.co.uk

book cover




Last updated October 2011