On this page

This page lists bird related books published by David & Charles.

The books are listed by publication date with the most recent at the top.

David & Charles

Bird related books

'The Naturalist In' series

Penguin Life: Surviving with Style in the South Atlantic

Andy Rouse

2007

"Acclaimed photographer Andy Rouse photographs the 'forgotten' penguins; the Gentoos, Chinstraps, Rockhoppers and King Penguins that are in fact the most populous varieties and often the most interesting to observe. Captured here are the antics and fun that are such a large part of a penguin's world; the surfing, sliding and iceberg escapades. Andy Rouse has photographed penguins over a number of years, culminating in this powerful, poignant, amusing and amazing record of penguin life."

Thorburn's Birds and Mammals

Illustrations: Archibald Thorburn

Author: John Southern

2004 (New edition)

"Widely acclaimed as one of Britain's greatest natural history painters, Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) has the unerring ability to capture the living vitality of birds and animals, and set them in magnificent wild landscapes. His monumental watercolours now command high prices at home and abroad. A fitting tribute to this master of wildlife art, this superbly-produced volume contains a collection of some of the artist's most distinguished work, with large-scale reproductions of the highest quality. Including 64 colour plates, plus over 40 drawings and black and white photographs, this is the best of Thorburn's work from private collections throughout Britain - especially the author's which is the largest collection in the world."

Wildfowl of the British Isles and North-west Europe

Brian P. Martin

1993

A study of the history, conservation, habitat, behaviour, food, migration and identification of 38 species of ducks, geese and swans. Illustrated with colour paintings and photographs.

Birds of Prey of the British Isles

B.P. Martin

1992

"This book explores the history and current status of Britain's 23 birds of prey, including owls as well as the diurnal species. It contains details of their diet, behaviour, field characteristics, habitats, breeding, migration and movements. The paintings cover all the species and their eggs."

Parrots: A Natural History

John Sparks and Tony Soper

David & Charles (UK) / Checkmark Book (Facts On File?) (USA)

1990

"A natural history of parrots, this book reveals how the 333 species have diversified and spread into the arid land of Australia and even into the sub-Antarctic. The book discusses how the parrot has been valued as a pet for nearly 4,000 years, and how they were one of the natural treasures brought back from the tropics by early navigators. The trade in parrots and the destruction of the rain-forests is currently threatening 73 out of the 333 species. There are now only a handful of Spix's macaws and Mauritius parakeets left. But Psittacosis, a potentially lethal disease that people can catch from these birds, is on the increase and may be the best protection that parrots have against extinction."

Buy from amazon.co.uk

RSPB Guide to Bird and Nature Photography

Laurie Campbell

Hardback: 1990

Paperback: 1996

A guide to techniques and equipment with over 100 colour examples of wildlife photographs.

Owls: Their Natural and Unnatural History

John Sparks and Tony Soper

David & Charles

1989

A revised edition of the edition published in 1970. This study of owls focuses on British species but includes owls from around the world. Includes sections on evolution, anatomy, habitat, lifestyle, behaviour and the relationship between owls and man.

A Curlew in the Foreground: An RSPB warden's summer on North Uist

Philip Coxon

1988

"When the author arrives on the island to warden the RSPB reserve for the season, he is at first repelled and then enhanced by the watery horizontals of the landscape, the unpredictability of the climate and the distinctive island community of the crofters. With growing enthusiasm he explores the western beaches where thousands of waders pick among sand worms and deep-sea kelps left by the huge Atlantic seas; rare migrants come storm-blown to find rest and shelter on the rocky headlands. The marshes, hub of the nature reserve, a complex pattern of rush and reed, lagoons and its iris beds harbouring wildfowl secretly breeding in its colourful tangle; and the haunting island moors, stronghold of the island's golden eagles who bring out a fiercely protective instinct when their nest sites are threatened. Peat-cutting on the moors and corn stacking during golden harvest days are a welcome involvement with traditional island agriculture where corncrakes and crofters, skylarks and sowers co-exist in unique harmony. In an atmospheric evocation of the island, its close knit community of crofters and its abundant wildlife,the author defines its quintessential qualities, and shares with us a summer idyll."

Penguins

John Sparks and Tony Soper

David & Charles

1987

Thorburn's Birds and Mammals

Illustrations: Archibald Thorburn

Author: John Southern

1986

"A sumptious collection of 64 colour reproductions of the very best of Thorburn's work. Widely acclaimed as one of Britain's greatest natural history painters, Archibald Thorburn (1860-1935) had the unerring ability to capture the living vitality of birds and animals, and to set them in magnificent wild landscapes. Here is a fitting tribute to this master of wildlife art. This superbly produced volume contains a permanent collection of much of the artist's work, with large scale reproductions of the highest quality."

The Birds of Dorset

E.D.V Prendergast and J.V.Boys

David & Charles

1983

An account of the Dorset Avifauna up to 1983.

Merlins of the Welsh Marches

D.A. Orton

1980

"This book describes four years, 1971 to 1974, during which the author spent many hours watching Merlins on the Welsh borders. The books is based on detailed diaries."

The Birdwatcher's A-Z

Alan J. Richards

David & Charles

1980

British Birds: A Field Guide

Alan J. Richards

1979

Tony Soper's Bird Table Book: In Colour

Tony Soper

David & Charles

1977

Everyday Birds

Tony Soper

David & Charles

1976

The Birds of Nottinghamshire

Editor: Austen Dobbs for the Trent Valley Bird Watchers

1975

"This County bird book brings the record of Nottinghamshire's ornithology up to dateand presents it in an easily usable form for today's large numbers of birdwatchers - whether local, visiting or just interested in birds anywhere. The systematic list, the first comprehensive one since 1907, is designed to answer the innumerable questions on arrival and departure times of migrants, on recorded visits by rarities, or changes in numbers or distribution. In the earlier chapters, the county's various habitats and their bird populations are discussed and this concentrated look at a limited area gives an unusually sharp picture of the status and problems of bird life today, on how density and distribution are affected by the ever-faster rate of change resulting from man's activities."

Titmice of the British Isles

John A.G. Barnes

1975

An account of the British tits based on contemporary research and the authors observations and records.

The Second Bird-Watchers' Book

Editor: John Gooders

1975

Wildlife Begins At Home

Tony Soper

David & Charles

1975

Swans Of The World

Sylvia Bruce Wilmore

1974

Ann illustrated study of the worlds swans. Traces their evolution and provides information on behaviour and biology. Also describes their relationships with humans. Includes black & white photographs, maps and line drawings.

The Countryman: Bird Book

Editor: Bruce and Margaret Campbell

David & Charles

1974

A 200 page collection of essays, articles, notes, photographs and illustrations mostly taken from The Countryman magazine.

The Buzzard

Colin R. Tubbs

1974

"This book is an account of the ecology and history of the buzzard in Britain, the main purpose of which is to record the size and reproductive success of the population, and try to identify the factors controlling it. Interest is focused closely on the territorial behaviour of the birds as possible mechanism of population control. The birds' behaviour leaves interesting anomalies still to be explained. The book naturally draws extensively on the author's experiences in the New Forest, where he has studied buzzards since 1962, but it seeks, too, to synthesise the available information about buzzard populations elsewhere in Britain and also, where relevant, to draw comparisons with studies of the buzzard on continental Europe. An analysis of the British trust for ornithology nest records cards for the buzzard is used to compare the success of populations in different parts of Britain."

Summer of a Million Wings: Arctic Quest for the Sea Eagle

Hugh Brandon-Cox

1974

"For centuries the Lofoten Islands in the North of Norway, and especially the islands of Vaeroy and Rost, have been the summer nesting sites for millions of sea birds such as puffins, guillemots, Arctic and common terns, Arctic skuas and many other cliff and shore-rock nesting species. The author with his Finnish companion lived a primitive life in a lonely and deserted village under the great cliffs which the sea eagles patrolled and vividly trace the story of the birds that return each season."

Ocean Wanderers, The Migratory Sea Birds of the World

R.M. Lockley

David & Charles

1974

168 pages with 8 colour plates and many b/w illustrations and maps. Includes a bibliography.

Roadside Wildlife Book

Richard Mabey

1974

"Roads are at the very heart of our experience of the countryside and here is an enterprising and delightfully presented and illustrated book that will enrich that experience for young and old alike. It is a guide not just to some of the fascinating natural history you may encounter on the road (anything from migrating toads to gale-blown sea-ducks), but an introduction to how wildlife adapts to the influence of its dominant mammal, travelling man: the colourful weeds brought over as seeds in the crops of Roman soldiers, the herbs planted near waysides to serve the needs of early travellers. Richard Mabey shows how versatile living creatures are in making use of the whole range of roadside habitats: birds use roadside furniture for perches and scavenge off the tarmac, the famous motorway kestrels hunt for voles in the broad grass verges, while a ditch can be as good as a pond for water plants and insects, and a central reservation provides a home for grassland fungi."

The New Bird Table Book

Tony Soper

David & Charles

1973

Owls: Their Natural and Unnatural History

John Sparks and Tony Soper

David & Charles

1970

A study of owls which focuses on British species but includes owls from around the world. Includes sections on evolution, anatomy, habitat, lifestyle, behaviour and the relationship between owls and man.

The Birds Of Devon

Robert Moore

1969

Descriptive checklist with black and white photographs, maps and line drawings. Subsequently revised at least once.

Penguins

John Sparks and Tony Soper

David & Charles

1967