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New Guinea

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

New Guinea species

Birds Of Paradise
Bowerbirds
Cassowary
Fairy-Wrens
Kookaburra
Megapodes

Oceania/Australasia

Oceania / Australasia
Pacific

Asia

Asia

Birds of New Guinea: Including Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville

Phil Gregory

2017

"This is the first field guide to cover the entire New Guinea region, comprising Indonesian West Papua (including the West Papuan Islands, Geelvink Bay Islands and Aru Islands) and Papua New Guinea and its associated islands, the Bismarcks and Bougainville. All of the 943 species known to occur are covered, including the extraordinarily high total of 456 endemics, as well as 5 introduced species, 2 species yet to be formally described and a separate appendix with 75 vagrants. Subspecies are listed also to give a comprehensive overview of the remarkable regional avifauna. The artists from Lynx Edicions have worked on many new and revised plates, which give an excellent visual coverage of the avifauna, with over 1780 illustrations. The taxonomy is up-to-date and the distribution maps have been carefully prepared and revised, whilst field identification and vocalizations are a major interest and should make Birds of New Guinea an essential and compact reference companion to anyone birding in the region."

Birds of New Guinea: Distribution, Taxonomy, and Systematics

Bruce M. Beehler and Thane K. Pratt

2016

"This comprehensive annotated checklist of distribution, taxonomy, and systematics of the birds of New Guinea is the first formal review of this avifauna since Ernst Mayr's Checklist, published in 1941. This new book brings together all the systematic, taxonomic, and distributional research conducted on the region's bird families over the last 70 years. Bruce Beehler and Thane Pratt provide the scientific foundation for the names, geographic distributions, and systematic arrangement of New Guinea's bird fauna. All technical information is annotated and a geographic gazetteer and bibliography are included. This book is an ideal complement to the Birds of New Guinea field guide also published by Princeton, and is an essential technical reference for all scientific libraries, ornithologists, and those interested in bird classification."

Birds of New Guinea and its Offshore Islands: A Checklist

Phil Gregory

2nd edition

2015

"A comprehensive checklist of all bird species found on mainland New Guinea, its nearby offshore islands, the Bismark Archipelago and Bougainville."

Birds of New Guinea

Thane K. Pratt and Bruce M. Beehler

Princeton Field Guides

Princeton University Press

2nd edition

2014

"Birds of New Guinea is the only guide to cover all 780 bird species reported in the area, including 366 endemics. Expanding its coverage with 111 vibrant color plates--twice as many as the first edition--and the addition of 635 range maps, the book also contains updated species accounts with new information about identification, voice, habits, and range. A must-have for everyone from ecotourists to field researchers, Birds of New Guinea remains an indispensable guide to the diverse birds of this remarkable region."

Birds of New Guinea and its Offshore Islands: A Checklist

Phil Gregory

2013

From the introduction: "This booklet is a checklist of the bird species of New Guinea, the world's second largest island and with the single greatest concentration of endemic species anywhere (363+). The deepwater offshore islands of the Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville / Buka are listed as appendices and add a further 64 endemic species. It has been some years since a checklist was published (Beehler & Finch 1985, Hicks 1987 & 1998, Coates & Peckover 2001) and many new records have accrued, as well as taxonomic changes. The list is designed to summarize these and stimulate debate about species classification and occurrence. The status of many seabirds in particular is very poorly known, whilst the number of vagrants from Asia is sure to rise. The taxonomy of large, overly lumped species groups such as Collared Kingfisher, Cicadabird and Golden Whistler remains to be unravelled and many surprises doubtless await."

Field Guide to New Guinea Birds of the Hewa Territory

William Thomas, Tama Alulu and Randall FitzGerald

2012

"The primary goal in producing this field guide is to encourage cross-cultural communication between the people of the New Guinea Highlands - the Hewa - and those interested in the region's birds. We gathered information about where the birds can be found, what elevations they prefer, what environments they frequent and what they eat. We purposely avoided any analysis of linguistic or cognitive categories so that this book would speak plainly to bird lovers and conservationists. The book goes beyond a lest of local bird names to establish a common understanding between the Hewa and western naturalists. On one level, the book is merely a bird finder. However, since the book contains much information on local avian ecology provided by the Hewa, the book helps to conserve their traditional knowledge for future generations. In addition, we hope the book will serve as an educational tool for the first generation of literate Hewa school children and encourage the conservation of their culture by educating outsiders to the richness of traditional knowledge. Since many of the finest naturalists living among the Hewa are pre-literate, we relied heavily on symbols to bridge the gap. It is our hope that English speakers will be able to find the birds that they are interested in by pointing to the symbols and attempting to pronounce the Hewa name for the bird, habitat, diet and elevation. In this way the English speakers can begin to access the local naturalist s traditional knowledge of the bird and its habits. Each page of the Field Guide addresses one of the 184 species of birds to be found in this region. The plates contain a drawing of the bird donated with the permission of Princeton University Press. The drawings are supplemented with symbols representing the preferred altitude, ecosystem and diet of each bird. The written text gives the user the common name as well as the genus and species in English. These are followed by the Hewa names for each bird in four of the five dialects spoken by the Hewa people: Wanakipa, Yakasone/Isureke, Pabake and Sisimen/Waiki regions. For clarity, text related to altitude, habitat and diet for each species is reported in only the Wanakipa dialect, since informants for each language group have indicated that they are able to understand Wanakipa."

Birds of New Zealand, Hawaii, Central and West Pacific

Ber Van Perlo

Harper Collins

2011

"Featuring over 750 species, Birds of New Zealand, Hawaii, Central and West Pacific is the only field guide to illustrate and describe every species of bird you may see in the area, from New Zealand and New Guinea to Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Text gives information on key identification features, habitat, and songs and calls. All plumages for each species are illustrated, including those of males, females and juveniles. The stunning 95 colour plates appear opposite their relevant text for quick and easy reference. Distribution maps are included, showing where each species can be found and how common it is, to further aid identification. This comprehensive and highly portable guide is a must for all birdwatchers visiting the region."

Notebooks from New Guinea: Fieldnotes of a Tropical Biologist

Vojtech Novotny

2011

"Hailed by Edward O. Wilson as "one of the most amazing books I have ever read," this exhilarating volume offers a rare combination of first-rank science and top-notch storytelling. Vojtech Novotny, a world-class researcher and a brilliant writer, works on location in one of the toughest regions of the world - a high-risk locale rife with tropical diseases and venomous wildlife. Moreover, Novotny works closely with the indigenous peoples--natives who still hunt food with spear and arrow - involving them in his research and profiting from their deep familiarity with this rugged landscape. As a result, he has many a fascinating tale to tell, and he is a marvelous storyteller. Indeed, this is an unusual and fascinating collection of almost one hundred brief vignettes, adventurous tales, and reflections that illuminate the native culture and what the West can learn from it. Ably translated by David Short, this delightfully engaging book brings to life--with warmth and wisdom--the place, the people, and the pursuit of knowledge deep in the jungles of New Guinea."

Life in the Cape York Rainforest

Robert Heinsohn and Michael Cermak

2008

"The remote, beautiful and poorly known rainforests of Cape York Peninsula tell a special story about Australia's historic and present-day connections to New Guinea. This book highlights the connections by examining the fascinating biology of some of the most spectacular birds and other animals shared between the two regions.The author recounts his own ground-breaking research on 'cross-dressing' eclectus parrots, musical palm cockatoos and multi-coloured pythons, together with the exotic lifestyles of other animals, while painting the bigger picture of the past when Australia and New Guinea were joined by extensive landbridges.Australia's disconnection from New Guinea is probably only temporary, and even today many bird species continue to fly the short distance between the two landmasses."

Birds of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago: A Photographic Guide

Brian J. Coates

Dove Publications

2001

"This is the first photographic field guide to the remarkable birdlife of these fascinating islands. It includes a superb reference collection of over 650 colour photographs, with many species illustrated in photographs for the first time. There are illustrations of 444 species, many of which are endemic to the subregion. The text is ornithologically accurate, and provides information on identification, habits, voice, habitat, range and status of each species."

Where to Watch Birds in Australasia and Oceania

Nigel Wheatley

1998

"Where to Watch Birds in Australasia and Oceania is the fourth guide in a series that will ultimately cover the whole world. It describes over two hundred major sites in detail and many more in passing, from New Guinea to New Zealand and across the Pacific to Hawaii. Most important, it answers crucial questions you find yourself asking before you go: Where can I see birds that epitomize the region? Which country supports the best cross section of species and the most endemics, and which sites do I need to visit to see most of them? How long do I need, and when is the best time to go? The layout of the book is practical, with countries, archipelagos, and islands treated alphabetically. General introductions to each country are followed by site details, which include bird lists under the headings "Endemics," "Specialties," and "Others"; a list of other wildlife if applicable; and the latest information on where to look for the best birds. Over one hundred maps and fifty line drawings complement the text. This guide will prove invaluable in both the preparation and execution of birding trips to any country, archipelago, or island in this highly varied region of the world."

A Naturalist in New Guinea

Bruce M. Beehler

University of Texas Press

1991

The Birds of Papua New Guinea: Volume II: The Passerines

Brian J. Coates

1990

A guide to the passerines of the Papua New Guinea part of the island of New Guinea and associated Papua New Guinea islands. Covers over 360 species with colour photographs, distribution maps and information about status, distribution, habitat, behaviour, song and identification.

Birds of New Guinea

Bruce M. Beehler, Thane K. Pratt and Dale A. Zimmerman

Princeton University Press

1987

"This book is the first definitive ornithological field guide to New Guinea, the world's second largest island and one of the richest tropical environments in the Old World. Because of its isolation, New Guinea's biota includes spectacular radiations of unusual plants and animals (of which the birds of paradise are perhaps best known). The region has long attracted naturalists, ecologists, and anthropologists. This book treats all of the more than 700 species of birds recorded from the region, illustrating more than 600 of them in forty-seven fine color plates and eight black-and-white halftone plates. The text contains species accounts treating identification, distribution, ecology, vocalizations, and behavior. This is preceded by a detailed introduction to the region, with sections on climate, biogeography, rainforest ecology, and conservation. A chief contribution of the book is the wealth of information on the habits of many of the region's little-known species. Included is an ornithological gazetteer, along with four maps showing natural features and important ornithological localities."

Papua New Guinea Birds

Roy D. MacKay

1987

Reprint 2012

A 36 page booklet.

Species-Checklist Of The Birds Of New Guinea

Bruce M. Beehler, Brian W. Finch

Royal Australian Ornithologists Union

1985

126 page booklet with annotated list that covers 708 species.

The Birds of Papua New Guinea: Volume I: The Non-Passerines

Brian J. Coates

1985

A guide to the non-passerines of the Papua New Guinea part of the island of New Guinea and associated Papua New Guinea islands. Covers over 370 species with colour photographs, distribution maps and information about status, distribution, habitat, behaviour, song and identification.

Papua New Guinea Birds in Colour

Brian J. Coates

1982

Ornithological Literature Of The Papuan Subregion 1915 To 1975: An Annotated Bibliography

Clifford B. Frith

1979

Birds In Papua New Guinea

Brian J. Coates

1977

"The most beautiful birds in the world in a setting of cloudy mountains, tropical rain forests, coral atolls, dry savannahs, mighty rivers, volcanoes, swamps and alpine grasslands - this is Papua New Guinea....Here are found such unique species as plumed birds of paradise, flightless cassowaries, bower birds, tiny pygmy parrots and magnificent crowned goura pigeons. This book reveals this avian heritage in its natural setting for the first time....In all, 139 species are illustrated in 179 colour photographs plus line drawings. Information in the text on an additional 60 species is also given."

Birds Of My Kalam Country

Ian Saem Majnep; Ralph Bulmer

Auckland University Press

1977

Birds Of New Guinea And Tropical Australia

William S. peckover and L.W.C. Filewood

1976

Avifauna of the Eastern Highlands of New Guinea

Jared M. Diamond

1972

Birds Of New Guinea

160 Colour Plates From The Lithographs Of John Gould

A. Rutgers

1970

Handbook of New Guinea Birds

Austin L. Rand & E. Thomas Gilliard

1967

Annotated List Of Birds Of The Adelbert Mountains, New Guinea: Results Of The 1959 Gilliard Expedition

E. Thomas Gilliard, Mary Lecroy

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

1967

From the introduction: "The basis of the present report is a collection of 385 specimens of birds obtained by the late E. T. Gilliard and his wife in the Adelbert Mountains of northeastern New Guinea in March and April, 1959. At the time of Gilliard's death in January, 1965, parts of this report already existed in manuscript form. The junior author had been working in the laboratory with Gilliard on this report, and the present publication combines this manuscript and a short introduction written from field notes made by Gilliard."

Birds Of The Middle Sepik Region, New Guinea: Results Of The American Museum Of Natural History Expedition To New Guinea In 1953-1954

E. Thomas Gilliard, Mary Lecroy

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

1966

From the introduction: "At the death of E. Thomas Gilliard, on January 26, 1965, the present report existed in rough manuscript form. The notes on each species are published as they were originally extracted by Gilliard from his field journal, and persons referred to in these extracts are E. Thomas and Margaret Gilliard, who made up the expedition in the field. The junior author was not a member of the expedition but assisted Gilliard in the laboratory with this collection. She has edited the report with regard to laboratory work and has compiled the present short introduction from notes left by the senior author."

Birds Of The Victor Emanuel And Hindenburg Mountains, New Guinea: Results Of The American Museum Of Natural History Expedition To New Guinea In 1954

E. Thomas Gilliard, Mary Lecroy

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

1961

From the introduction: "The present report is based on a collection of 666 specimens of birds obtained by the senior author and his wife, Margaret Tifft Gilliard, during the period from March 19 to May 25, 1954, in the Victor Emanuel and Hindenburg Mountains. The expedition was a continuation of the exploration of New Guinea in which the American Museum has been engaged for nearly three decades. The Victor Emanuel and the Hindenburg Mountains are situated in the Telefomin region of central New Guinea at the headwaters of the Fly, Sepik, and Strickland rivers. Politically speaking, the Victor Emanuel Mountains are in the Territory of New Guinea, and the Hindenburg Mountains are in Papua. The geographical region they occupy is at the center of one of the leastknown areas of New Guinea."

The Animal World Of Netherlands New Guinea

L.D. Brongersma

1958

Birds of New Guinea

Tom Iredale

Georgian House

1956

Published in two volumes. Covers 347 species with 35 colour plates.

Birds Of Central New Guinea: Results Of The American Museum Of Natural History Expeditions To New Guinea In 1950 And 1952

Ernst Mayr, E. Thomas Gilliard

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

1954

From the introduction: "Continuing the ornithological exploration of New Guinea in which this institution has been actively engaged for two decades, the Department of Birds sent parties to the interior of that island in 1950 and 1952."

Birds of Karakar and Bagabag Islands, New Guinea

Jared M. Diamond and Mary Lecroy

1952

List of New Guinea Birds: A Systematic and Faunal List of the Birds of New Guinea and Adjacent Islands

Ernst Mayr

1941

From the introduction:

"In 1930, on my return from New Guinea, I planned to write an ornithogeography of the Papuan Region. It soon became apparent to me that no such work was possible without a reliable list of the birds of the New Guinea region and that it would be my first task to prepare such a list. The last complete list (Salvadori, 1880-1882, Ornit. Pap. Mol.) was fifty years old and quite out-of-date. The manuscript of the first draft of my New Guinea list was completed in 1931, but it was nothing better than a compilation of information found in the literature and its shortcomings and inaccuracies were quite apparent to me. I, therefore, decided to undertake a critical revision of every genus of New Guinea birds so that my check-list would be a lasting and reliable basis for all future work. In connection with this program visits were made in the years 1930, 1932, 1934 and 1938 to the museums in London, Paris, Leiden, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Dresden, Frankfurt and Genoa, and the majority of the doubtful types were examined. The acquisition of the Rothschild Collection by the American Museum, with its beautiful series of New Guinea birds, much facilitated my work. I believe it can be stated truthfully that I have examined nearly all the type specimens of birds described from the New Guinea area, in particular all those about which there was any question. The most important exceptions to this are the De Vis types in the Queensland Museum, Brisbane. An effort also has been made to cover the literature as completely as possible. Every paper on New Guinea birds that was published between 1880 and 1940 has been checked against the manuscript of the present list in order to cover all the published locality records. The number of papers studied, arranged in ten year periods, is as follows : 42 ( 1880-1889), 109 (1890-1899), 57 (1900-1909), 44 (1910-1919), 42 (1920-1929) and 126 (1930-1940), a total of 420 publications."

The Birds Of The 1933-1934 Papuan Expedition

Results Of The Archbold Expeditions, No. 14

Ernst Mayr, A.L. Rand

Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History

1937

From the introduction: "The basis of the present report is the bird collection made by the American Museum's 1933-1934 Papuan Expedition in southeast and south New Guinea, sponsored and led by Mr. Richard Archbold. At the same time, a collection made by Mr. J.T. Zimmer in southeast New Guinea in 1920-1921, a collection made by the Whitney South Sea Expedition (Mr. Hannibal Hamlin) in 1928-1929 in southeast New Guinea, and a few specimens collected by Mr. R.H. Beck in extreme eastern New Guinea in 1928 were also worked out and the results are included."

Reports on the collections made by the British Ornithologists' Union Expedition and the Wollaston Expedition in Dutch New Guinea 1910-1913

Editor: W.R. Ogilvie-Grant

Francis Edwards

1916

A two volume work that collects together reports that summarise the findings of two expeditions to Dutch New Guinea in 1909-10 and 1912-13. Some of the reports had been published prior to 1916 in the Journal of the Royal Geographic Society, the Transactions of the Zoological Society, the Transactions of the Linnean society of London, the Ibis, and the Proceedings of the Zoological Society. The work includes 10 colour plates and a number of uncoloured plates.

Notes on Birds from the Papuan Region, with Descriptions of some new Species

Dr. A.B. Meyer

Ibis: Volume 32, Issue 4, pages 412-424

1890

Opening lines:

"The Dresden Museum has recently received, from several sources and from different parts of New Guinea and New Britain, a series of birds, on which I beg leave to offer the following remarks. I do not propose to give a complete list of the species, but only to mention such as present something new as regards their countries, their native names, their plumages, or their specific differences. In their nomenclature I follow Salvadori's standard work on Papuan ornithology as nearly as possible."

The cruise of the Marchesa to Kamschatka & New Guinea

F.H.H. Guillemard

Engraving: Edward Whymper

Published in two volumes

John Murray

1886

Opening lines:

"However blase or disillusioned a traveller may have become, there must surely be something in the first glimpse of a new land to arouse in him a more than ordinary interest. His last expedition has been, perhaps, a failure. He has projected a book on the religions of West Africa, and has discovered that the gods he has intended for illustration have been constructed in Birmingham ; or he has been hunting in the far interior of the Dark Continent, and has found a billiard talkie and a Good Templars' Lodge where he had hoped for elephants.^ If he be a naturalist he has possibly experienced more instances than he could wish of the destructive powers of the white ant, or, worse fate still, he has reached his journey's end with no collections to destroy. But, with a new country lying before him, all these recollections vanish, and, even if its exploration be impracticable, he none the less conjures up the images of its infinite possibilities It was with some such thoughts as these in my mind, that I found myself gazing one morning in June, 1882, at the southern point of the island of Formosa, regretting that we had but a few days to devote to it. Day was just breaking, and our new acquaintance seemed to wish to show herself under her most attractive aspect. A calm sea, brushed into crisp ripples by the early morning breeze, led the eye up to a wide stretch of bay lying right ahead of us.."

The Birds of New Guinea, and the Adjacent Papuan Islands

Volume I

John Gould

Completed by R. Bowdler Sharpe

Published by the author

1875-1888

This is volume one of a five volume collected edition published in 1888 and dated 1875-1888. The work was originally published for subscribers in 25 parts between 1875 and 1888. Following the authors death in 1881 the final parts and the collected 5 volume edition were completed by R. Bowdler Sharpe.

Preface (R. Bowdler Sharpe):

"In fulfilment of the promise made by the Publishers to the Subscribers, and in accordance with the intention of the late Mr. Gould, the present work has been brought to a close with the issue of the Twenty-fifth part. For the last thirteen of these parts, which have appeared since the author's death, I have been solely responsible, as will be seen by the initials appended to the foot of each article; and I greatly regret that the pledges given to the subscribers have necessitated the curtailment of the work at a period when the development of European enterprise in New Guinea and the neighbouring islands seems t point to the discovery of many new and highly interesting birds. The recent finding of two beautiful new Birds Of Paradise in North-eastern New Guinea must be the forerunner of many other discoveries, and it is to be hoped that the subscribers will feel sufficient interest in the subject to warrant the continuation of the present work, so that the avifauna of Papussia may be completely illustrated. Should such a wish be expressed, I shall be only too happy to continue the work."

The Birds of New Guinea, and the Adjacent Papuan Islands

Volume II

John Gould

Completed by R. Bowdler Sharpe

Published by the author

1875-1888

This is volume two of a five volume collected edition published in 1888 and dated 1875-1888. The work was originally published for subscribers in 25 parts between 1875 and 1888.

The Birds of New Guinea, and the Adjacent Papuan Islands

Volume III

John Gould

Completed by R. Bowdler Sharpe

Published by the author

1875-1888

This is volume three of a five volume collected edition published in 1888 and dated 1875-1888. The work was originally published for subscribers in 25 parts between 1875 and 1888.

The Birds of New Guinea, and the Adjacent Papuan Islands

Volume IV

John Gould

Completed by R. Bowdler Sharpe

Published by the author

1875-1888

This is volume four of a five volume collected edition published in 1888 and dated 1875-1888. The work was originally published for subscribers in 25 parts between 1875 and 1888.

The Birds of New Guinea, and the Adjacent Papuan Islands

Volume V

John Gould

Completed by R. Bowdler Sharpe

Published by the author

1875-1888

This is volume five of a five volume collected edition published in 1888 and dated 1875-1888. The work was originally published for subscribers in 25 parts between 1875 and 1888.

The Malay Archipelago: The Land Of The Orang-Utan, And The Bird Of Paradise

A Narrative Of Travel, With Studies Of Man And Nature

Alfred Russel Wallace

Published in two volumes

Macmillan

1869

From the preface:

"My readers will naturally ask why I have delayed writing this book for six years after my return; and I feel bound to give them full satisfaction on this point. When I reached England in the spring of 1862, I found myself surrounded by a room full of packing cases, containing the collections that I had from time to time sent home for my private use. These comprised nearly three thousand bird-skins, of about a thousand species; and at least twenty thousand beetles and butterflies, of about seven thousand species; besides some quadrupeds and land-shells. A large proportion of these I had not seen for years; and in my then weak state of health, the unpacking, sorting, and arranging of such a mass of specimens occupied a long time. I very soon decided, that until I had done something towards naming and describing the most important groups in my collection, and had worked out some of the more interesting problems of variation and geographical distribution, of which I had had glimpses while collecting them, I would not attempt to publish my travels. I could, indeed, at once have printed my notes and journals, leaving all reference to questions of natural history for a future work; but I felt that this would be as unsatisfactory to myself, as it would be disappointing to my friends, and uninstructive to the public. Since my return, up to this date, I have published eighteen papers, in the Transactions or Proceedings of the Linnean Zoological and Entomological Societies, describing or cataloguing portions of my collections; besides twelve others in various scientific periodicals, on more general subjects connected with them."