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Ethiopia

This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in Ethiopia.

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


Africa

For bird books that cover all, or large parts, of Africa see:

- Africa guides

 

The Search for the Rarest Bird in the World

Vernon R.L. Head

Jacana Publishers

2014

"In 1990 an expedition of Cambridge scientists arrived at the Plains of Nechisar, tucked between the hills of the Great Rift Valley in the Gamo Gofa province in the country of Ethiopia. On that expedition they found three hundred and fifteen species of birds; sixty one species of mammal and sixty nine species of butterfly were identified; twenty species of dragonflies and damselflies; seventeen reptile species were recorded; three frog species were filed; plants were listed. And the wing of a road-killed bird was packed into a brown paper bag. It was to become the most famous wing in the world. When the specimens finally arrived at the British Natural History Museum in Tring it set the world of science aflutter. It seemed that the wing was unique, but they questioned, can you name a species for the first time based only on the description of a wing, based on just one wing? After much to and fro confirmation was unanimous, and the new species was announced, Nechisar Nightjar, Caprimulgus solala, (solus:only and ala:wing). Twenty-two years later an expedition of four led by Ian Sinclair set off to try to find this rarest bird in the world. Vernon R.L. Head captivates and enchants as he tells of the adventures of Ian, Dennis, Gerry and himself as they navigate the wilderness of the plains, searching by spotlight for the elusive Nechisar Nightjar. But The Search for the Rarest Bird in the World is more than a boy's own adventure in search of the rarest bird in the world. It is a meditation on nature, on ways of seeing, on the naming of things and why we feel so compelled to label. It is a story of friendships and camaraderie. But most of all it embraces and enfolds one into the curious and eye-opening world of the birdwatcher."

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

Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan

Chistopher Helm

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."

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Bird Diversity Of Chebera Churchura National Park, Ethiopia

The Study Of Avian Relative Abundance, Distribution And Seasonal Habitat Association

Dereje Woldeyohannes Tanga

VDM Verlag

2011

"The park is found in the region where the remaining 3% of the country forest cover is found, south west of the country.It is the area where you can see five crater lakes sparsely distributed, large extensive natural forest, good population of endangered African elephant . A total of 137 bird species belonging to 52 different families were identified during the wet and dry season surveys. Of which 5 of them, namely Black-headed Forest Oriole (Oriolus monacha), Wattled Ibis (Bostrychia carunculata), Thick-billed Raven (Corvus crassirostris), Banded Barbet (Lybius undatus) and White-winged cliff-Chat (Myrmecocichla cinnamomeiventris) are endemic to Ethiopia. Some other bird species like black winged love bird (Agapornis taranta) are restricted only to Ethiopia and Eritrea.Like any other national parks of the country, there is a pressure from the local people living around the park area in search of agricultural land and subsistence hunting."

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Birding Ethiopia: A Guide to the Country's Birding Sites

Ken Behrens, Keith Barnes and Christian Boix

Lynx Edicions

2010

"Interested in seeing some of Africa's most incredible endemic birds, from Stresemann's Bush-Crow and Prince Ruspoli's Turaco to Rouget's Rail and Spot-breasted Lapwing? What about the rugged mountains of the 'roof of Africa', the continent's most extensive highland forests, endless bird-rich savannas, and some of Africa's most spectacular archaeological sites? If so, then Ethiopia is your destination, and this book will guide you to the best birding sites in this remarkable country. A far cry from the dull, text-heavy bird-finding guides of the past, this book is copiously illustrated with over 110 spectacular photos that show the region's sweeping landscapes and unique birds. Even someone with no interest in travel will enjoy this glimpse into the ancient world of Abyssinia and its mysterious endemic birds. There are dozens of maps, with parallel icons making reference to the text convenient. A section on the specialties of Ethiopia helps in planning a trip, and a complete, indexed list of the country's birds, will aid in tracking your sightings once you arrive in the country. This guide is indispensable for any birder planning or considering a trip to Ethiopia."

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Where to Watch Birds in Ethiopia

Claire Spottiswoode, Merid Gabremichael & Julian Francis

Christopher Helm

2010

"Ethiopia is one of Africa's top birding destinations, harbouring dramatic scenery, a wonderful diversity of habitats, over 30 endemic species, and a number of other regional specialities that cannot be easily seen anywhere else in the world. No self-respecting world lister can afford not to go there! This new book is a comprehensive site guide to the 50 best birding sites in the country. Each site describes how to get there, what you can see there, and when to visit. A number of full colour maps complement the site texts, and GPS co-ordinates allow sites to be located with great accuracy. A section covering the top 50 species gives details of how to see each of these special birds. The book is completed with an annotated checklist of all the country's birds and more than 150 photographs of birds, habitats and even some of Ethiopia's other fauna and flora."

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Birds of Ethiopia & Eritrea

John Ash and John Atkins

Christopher Helm

2009

"Ethiopia and Eritrea have a fascinating and unique avifauna. Poorly known in comparison to many parts of Africa, knowledge on bird distribution in the two countries is scattered throughout the literature. For more than 35 years, the authors have been painstakingly collecting bird records in the region and plotting them on half-degree maps, including published records, data from museum specimens, sightings from their own extensive travels and, more recently, records from the many birdwatchers that now visit Ethiopia. The resulting atlas provides, for the first time, an accurate assessment of the distribution of each of the 870 species known from the two countries, including valuable information on breeding. The succinct text summarises the results and discusses distribution to subspecies level. Extensive introductory chapters cover topics such as topography, geology, vegetation, climate, habitats, conservation, migration, breeding seasons, bird ringing, and the history of ornithology in the region. This groundbreaking book fills a large hole in the literature for one of the most diverse and least known areas of Africa."

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Birds of Eastern Africa

Ber Van Perlo

Princeton Illustrated Checklist

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."

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Birds of Eastern Africa

Ber Van Perlo

Collins

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."

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

Ian Sinclair and Peter Ryan

Chistopher Helm

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."

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

Nigel Redman, Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe

Princeton Field Guides

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."

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Important Bird Areas of Ethiopia: A First Inventory

Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society / BirdLife International

1996

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A Checklist of the Birds of Ethiopia

Emil K. Urban and Leslie H. Brown

Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural History Society

1994

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Artist and Naturalist in Ethiopia

Louis Agassiz Fuertes and Wilfred Hudson Osgood

Doubleday, Doran & Company

1936

Based on diaries kept by Osgood and Fuertes during the Field Museum Expedition to Ethiopia in 1926. Includes 16 colour plates by Fuertes.

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Album of Abyssinian Birds and Mammals

From Paintings by Louis Agassiz Fuertes

Introduction: Wilfred H. Osgood

Through the generosity of Mr. C. Suydam Cutting

Field Museum Of Natural History

1930

From the introduction:

Through the generosity of Mr. C. Suydam Cutting, Field Museum is privileged to present in the accompanying portfolio a selected series of reproductions of the last work of the late Louis Agassiz Fuertes. The original paintings, made on the Field Museum - Chicago Daily News Abyssinian Expedition of 1926-27, were purchased by Mr. Cutting, after the artist's untimely death, and presented to the Museum. The great popularity and the prominence of Mr. Fuertes as the leading American painter of birds, together with the opinion freely expressed that these final studies represented the height of his power, brought a demand for their reproduction in some form that would make them available to a wide circle. When this became known to Mr. Cutting he promptly and most generously guaranteed the cost, with the result here produced. The Field Mu&eum - Chicago Daily News Abyssinian Expedition was doubly fortunate in having Mr. Fuertes as one of its members. His talent and skill as an artist and ornithologist were scarcely less important than his charm of personality and his unfailing loyalty. This expedition traversed a large part of Abyssinia (Ethiopia), making collections which cover a wide variety of conditions. The opportunity it gave Fuertes for life studies of African birds was varied and unusual. Theretofore engaged solely in painting American birds, he found a tremendous enthusiasm in a new field and plunged into it with joyous abandon and tireless energy. The conditions under which he worked were ideal for him, although to a less versatile painter they might have been distressing instead of stimulating. A large expedition constantly on the march offers extraordinary opportunities for observing birds under various environments, but it also presents many practical difficulties for a painter.
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Observations On The Geology And Zoology Of Abyssinia, Made During The Progress Of The British Expedition To That Country In 1867-68

W.T. Blanford

Illustrations: J.G. Keulemans, and others

Macmillan & Co

1870

Includes 6 colour plates by J.G. Keulemans.

Fron the preface:

"The present work contains an account of the Geological and Zoological Observations made by the author in Abyssinia, when accompanying the British army on its march to Magdala and back in 1868, and during a short journey in Northern Abyssinia, after the departure of the troops. The book is divided into three parts. The first of these contains a brief description of the journey, and of some of the principal Geological and Zoological features of the countries visited. The second part is devoted to Geology ; it comprises a brief notice of the observations made by previous explorers, a general account of the formations examined, and a few remarks on the geological configuration of the country. The third part contains the Zoological observations, and consists of an enumeration of the various animals collected, with remarks on their habits, distribution, &c., preceded by a short account of the principal works on Abyssinian Zoology hitherto published, and some brief observations on the relations and distribution of the Abyssinian fauna. A few species of Vertebrata which appear to have escaped the researches of previous explorers are described and figured."
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On the Oriolidse of the Ethiopian Region

R.B. Sharpe

2 color plate (Oriolus nigripennis and Oriolus notatus / Oriolus brachyrhynchus and Oriolus baruffii): J.G. Keulemans

Volume 12, Issue 2, pages 213-229

Isis

1870

Opening lines:

"The following sketch of the Orioles of Africa has been suggested to me during a recent study of the species in my collection; and as my series is extensive, I trust I may be able to throw some light upon the synonymy of the different species, some of which are involved in considerable obscurity. Mr. Gray's 'Hand-list of Birds' indicates ten species of African Oriolidae as having been distinguished by modern authors. This is very nearly correct; but he has omitted Oriolus crassirostris, Hartl., apparently a very good species, and he has included 0. moloxita, Rupp., as distinct from 0. monacha (Gmel.), to which I think it may be undoubtedly referred."
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Last updated December 2013