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Israel

This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in Israel.

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


Asia

For bird books that cover all of Asia see:

Asia


Europe

Many field guides for GB and Europe also cover the Middle East, see:

- Europe (All)
- Britain/Europe field guides

 

Drawing Inspiration from the Hula Valley

Zev Labinger and Edna Gorney

Artists: Farid Abu Shakra, Amir Balaban, Varda Breger, Keith Brockie, John Busby, Iraida Cano, Jean Chevallier, Denis Clavreul, David Daly, Jaap Deelder, Charles Donker, Paschalis Dougalis, Noam Gonnen, Vadim Gorbatov, Robert Greenhalf, Paul Henery, Zev Labinger, Kioko Mwitiki, Bruce Pearson, Greg Poole, Andrea Rich, Elie Shamir, Robin D. Shillcock, Juan Varela Simó, Barry Van Dusen, Erik Van Ommen, Michael Warren, Wolfgang Weber, Darren Woodhead

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel / Artists for Nature Foundation

2011

"The artwork in this book forms a unique portrait of the Hula Valley, an important agricultural region in northern Israel. This area is located at the crossroads of Eurasia and Africa and is situated along the Great Rift Valley. It is an area rich in wetlands, woodlands, open fields and mountains, and is a critical stopover, breeding, and wintering site for more than 300 bird species, 20 of which are globally threatened. An estimated 500 million birds pass through here while migrating, which is why the Hula Valley is currently being proposed as the largest UNESCO World Heritage Transnational Serial Nomination. The Israel Ornithological Center of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) teamed up with the International Artists for Nature Foundation (ANF) to produce this book. They brought together 34 artists from around the world to participate in two festivals held during the winter of 2008 and the spring of 2009. The reproductions of their works shows us the Hula Valley in all its splendour."

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Birds of the Middle East

Richard Porter and Simon Aspinall

Illustrations: John Gale, Mike Langman, Brian Small

Helm Field Guides

Christopher Helm

2010

"This is a completely revised second edition of the bestselling field guide to the birds of the Middle East. For the first time, the text and maps appear opposite the plates, and as a consequence there are fewer species per plate than before. The text and maps have been fully revised and many new artworks have been painted. There are more than 100 new species in this new edition, which features more than 810 species in total. It will be the essential field guide for anyone visiting the Middle East."

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Birds of the Middle East

Richard Porter and Simon Aspinall

Illustrations: John Gale, Mike Langman, Brian Small

Princeton Field Guides

Princeton University Press

2nd edition

2010

"Birds of the Middle East is now the most field-ready and comprehensive guide to the fantastic birds of this region. This fully revised and updated second edition covers all species - including vagrants - found in the Arabian Peninsula (including Socotra), Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Cyprus. It features 176 superb color plates depicting more than 800 species, as well as 820 color distribution maps that show the breeding range for almost every species. In this upgraded edition, maps and detailed species accounts are now located opposite the plates, making this stunningly illustrated field guide easier to use than ever."

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Checklist of the Birds of Israel

Yoav Perlman and Jonathan Meyrav

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

2009

28 page checklist covering 540 species with brief information on status and distribution.

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A Photographic Guide to Birds of the Middle East

David Cottridge

New Holland

2nd edition

2006

"This is a compact, easy-to-use bird identification guide for any birdwatcher visiting the Middle East and the UAE in particular. The Middle East offers some of the most exciting birdwatching anywhere in the world, and the UAE in particular is an increasingly popular destination for birdwatchers. 252 species are described here in detail, covering all the bird families found in the region from the majestic Lammergeier to the jewel-like Palestine Sunbird. With easy-to-use thumbnail silhouettes, a regional distribution map showing the best birding localities, up-to-date tips on local birdwatching and information on bird biology and behaviour, this guide is an invaluable aid for any visiting birdwatcher."

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Vertebrates in Israel: The Red Book

Editor: Amit Dolev and Avi Perevolotsky

Israel Nature and Parks Authority / Society for Protection of Nature in Israel

2005

"The Red Book of the endangered vertebrates covers more than 30 freshwater fishes, 100 mammals, 100 reptilians, and 200 birds, their status determined according to IUCN criteria. It includes all information for endangered vertebrates in Israel, and reflects the most complete depiction of the situation to date. It presents a most important tool in the task of preserving the unique faunal diversity of the country."

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Birds of the Middle East

Richard Porter, S Christensen and P Schiermacker-Hansen

Helm Field Guides

Christopher Helm

2004

"This guide covers all the species, including vagrants, found in the Arabian peninsula (including Socotra), Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Cyprus. Over 700 species are described in concise text with full details of pulmage and voice. Distribution maps appear opposite the plates and are annotated with each species' status and preferred habitat. This authoritative book will not only be an indispensable guide to the visiting birder, but also a vital tool for those engaged in work to conserve and study the avifauna of this region, which is of such importance to both the indigenous species and those which pass through on migration."

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A Photographic Guide to Birds of the Middle East

David Cottridge

New Holland

1st edition

2001

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The Makhteshim Country: A Laboratory of Nature: Geological and Ecological Studies in the Desert Region of Israel

B. Krasnov, E. Mazor

Pensoft Publishers

2001

"A comprehensive survey of the geology and natural history of the Makhteshim country, situated in the desert zone of Israel. The various topics of study covered in the book include: the tectonics and local geological parameters; plant and animal diversity; and the intervention of man in the past and present."

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A Guide to the Birding Hotspots of Northern Israel

Hadoram Shirihai, James P Smith, Guy M Kirwan and Dan Alon

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

2000

One volume of a two volume publication. Contents: Northern Israel: a brief tour; what to expect; habitats; climate; timing your visit; birding sites in northern Israel (Ma'agan Mikhael, Tel Shiqmona, The Jezreel Valley, The Hula Valley, Mount Hermon, Golan Heights, Sea of Galilee and immediate area, Upper Galilee-Olive-tree Warbler site, Bet Shean Valley, Mount Gilboa); and a systematic checklist of the birds of Israel.

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A Guide to the Birding Hotspots of Southern Israel

Hadoram Shirihai, James P Smith, Guy M Kirwan and Dan Alon

Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel

2000

One volume of a two volume publication. Contents: Southern Israel: a brief tour; what to expect; habitat, climate and geography; the great migration; timing your visit; some final tips; birding sites of southern Israel (Eilat and immediate area, Eilat Mountains, The km 20 area, Southern Arava, Kibbutz Lotan and immediate area, Southern Negev Plateau, Mizpe Ramon area, Sede Boquer and Nahal Zin, Northern Arava, Hazeva and En Yahav, Dead Sea region, Nizzana area, Beer Sheva and surroundings, North-western Negev); and a systematic checklist of the birds of Israel.

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A Photographic Guide to Birds of Israel and the Middle East

Richard Porter and David Cottridge

New Holland

1st edition

2000

"This text is a compact, easy-to-use bird identification guide suitable for any birdwatcher visiting Israel of travelling around the Middle East. The book features descriptions of 252 species, thumbnail silhouettes for ease of use, up-to-date tips and information on bird biology and behaviour."

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Raptor Migration in Israel and the Middle East: A Summary of 30 Years of Field Research

Hadoram Shirihai, Reuven Yosef, Dan Alon, Guy Kirwan and R. Spaar

International Birdwatching Centre Eilat

2000

"Published for the Raptors 2000 Congress (held under the auspices of the Raptor Research Foundation and the World Working Group on Birds of Prey), this is an immensely useful compilation of information on the history of raptor research in Israel. Well organised and readable, with fine illustrations, this book is a worthy addition to raptor literature."

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Passerines and Passerine Migration in Eilat

John H. Morgan and Handoram Shirihai

International Birdwatching Centre Eilat

1997

Summarises data collected during a decade (1984-1993) of ringing at the Eilat Centre.

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The Birds of Israel

Hadoram Shirihai

Editors: E. Dovrat and D.A. Christie

Line drawings: Alan Harris

Pprinceton University Press / Academic Press

1996

"Situated on one of the major Palearctic-African migration routes, Israel is an area of tremendous interest to ornithologists. This book is the most complete, up-to-date reference on bird distribution in, and migration through, Israel, compiled by a foremost authority. The book especially distinguishes those subspecies found in Israel, and includes hundreds of maps and diagrams detailing seasonal occurrence. The addition of hundreds of color photographs ensures that this book will become the most significant work on birds of this fascinating region."

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Finding Birds in Israel

Dave Gosney

A Gostours Guide

Easybirder

1996

A 30 page guide to birdwatching sites in Israel.

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Birdwatching in Eilat

Reuven Yosef

International Birdwatching Centre Eilat

2nd edition

1995

A 34 page guide to birding in Eilat.

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Important Bird Areas in the Middle East

Editors: M.I. Evans

BirdLife Conservation Series 2

BirdLife International

1994

"The Middle East contains some of the largest wetland, steppe desert and marine ecosystems in the world, providing habitats for more than 800 species of bird, of which more than 60 are endemic. This book identifies and describes the 391 sites most important for the conservation of these birds and other biodiversity. Maps, tables and line drawings show site locations, species and population data. The whole Middle East is covered, from the Levant and Arabia to the West Himalayas. The only book of its kind, "Important Bird Areas in the Middle East" is currently being used by conservationists developing systems of site protection in Iraq and Afghanistan."

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Birdwatching in the Deserts of Israel

Hadoram Shirihai and Ofer Bahat

International Birdwatching Centre Eilat

1993

A guide to birdwatching sites.

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Migration of waders and other waterbirds along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, spring 1989

G.O. Keijl, M.W.J. van Roomen, P.S. Ruiters & A. Wijker

WIWO Report 30

Working Group International Waterbird and Wetland Research

1992

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Raptors in Israel: Passage and Wintering Populations

Editor: David Yekutiel

International Birdwatching Centre Eilat

1991

"This book from the International Birdwatching Center at Eilat contains six papers, covering the Eilat migration, Kefar Kassem migration survey, surveys in the Northern valleys, wintering raptors, a guide to where to watch raptors in Israel, and a full checklist of raptors of Israel."

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Birdwatching in Eilat

David Yekutiel

International Birdwatching Centre Eilat

1989

A 32 page guide to birding in Eilat.

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Birds of the Middle East and North Africa

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

Illustrations: Robert Gillmor

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."

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Eilat: An Intercontinental Highway for Migrating Birds

International Birdwatching Centre Eilat

1987

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The Birds Of Israel

Uzi Paz

Photographs: Yossi Eshbol

Christopher Helm

1985

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Birdwatching in Israel

E. Lachman

Israel Economist

1983

A 48 page booklet.

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Birds Of Israel

Paula Arnold and Walter Ferguson

Shalit Publishers

1967

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Last updated March 2017