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This page lists books about birds and birdwatching in Portugal.

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

Europe

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- Britain/Europe field guides

Birds of Portugal: An Annotated Checklist

Goncalo Elias

"Birds of Portugal - An Annotated Checklist has been written with two objectives in mind. Firstly, to provide an update to the existing species lists and secondly, to make this information available in a practical and accessible format that can be easily understood and used by anyone with an interest in birds, including those that belong to the non-specialized public. This list is an update of the previous edition, which was published in 2013. The contents have been totally reviewed. Additionally, several species, which have been recorded for the first time during the last four years, have been added to the list. Several texts were also updated, in order to provide information about recent sightings."

The Birds of the Iberian Peninsula

Eduardo de Juana and Ernest Garcia

2015

"The Iberian Peninsula is one of Europe's most ornithologically varied regions offering a host of regional specialities. It includes famous birding hotspots such as the Coto Donaña wetlands, mountainous areas such as the Picos de Europa and the Pyrenees, the Mediterranean cork and holm oak forests of the southwest, the migration crossroads of the Strait of Gibraltar and the steppe-like plains of Extremadura and Alentejo. Large numbers of birders from around Europe visit the region to see this wealth of winged wildlife, but to date there has been no comprehensive regional avifauna in English. Birds of the Iberian Peninsula is a national avifauna that fills this gap in the ornithological literature. Full-colour throughout, the book begins with authoritative introductory chapters covering subjects such as geography, climate, habitats, the history of Iberian ornithology and the composition of the avifauna. The species accounts then cover every species recorded in mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands, Portugal, Gibraltar and Andorra, including the many vagrants. For each species there is detailed treatment of distribution – with maps of breeding and wintering ranges – habitat selection, population trends, historical and current status, migration and conservation."

A Birdwatchers' Guide to Portugal, the Azores & Madeira Archipelagos

Colin Moore, Goncalo Elias and Helder Costa

2nd edition

2013

"A Birdwatchers' Guide To Portugal: The Azores and Madeira Archipelagos is an enlargement of the first edition, published in 1997. Not only has all the information been carefully reviewed and updated but several new sites have been included for mainland Portugal (44 birding sites are now described). The scope of A Birdwatchers' Guide To Portugal: The Azores and Madeira Archipelagos has been significantly enlarged to include the Azores archipelago with all its rarity hotspots (not dealt with in the first edition). The section about Madeira has been thoroughly reviewed. This is now the first and only birdwatching guide to cover all of Portugal's territory. It is a fundamental reference for anyone, birder, birdwatcher or beginner planning to visit the country with an interest in its birds."

Finding Birds in South Portugal

Dave Gosney

Revised edition

2013

40 page guide to birdwatching sites.

A Guide to Wild Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar

Clive Finlayson, Geraldine Finlayson, Stewart Finlayson

2013

"A Guide to Wild Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar is a unique book that brings together the history of exploration of the Iberian Peninsula in the 19th Century with the current state of its wild places and wildlife. The authors re-trace the footsteps taken by British naturalists based in Gibraltar and Jerez over a hundred years ago. They explore the length and breadth of the peninsula, from the Strait of Gibraltar in the south to the Pyrenees in the north. This exquisitely illustrated book is intended for all those with an interest in the natural history of Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar. It tells the reader where to go to find particular species and to witness natural phenomena like the migration of birds of prey. But it also tells how this has changed, often for the worse, but happily sometimes also for the better. In essence, this book is a 21st Century snapshot of one of Europe's ecologically richest lands."

Birds of Portugal: An Annotated Checklist

Goncalo Elias

"Birds of Portugal: An Annotated Checklist has been written with two objectives in mind. Firstly, to provide an update to the existing species lists and secondly, to make this information available in a practical and accessible format that can be easily understood and used by anyone with an interest in birds, including those that belong to the non-specialized public."

Field Guide to the Birds of Macaronesia: Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands, Cape Verde

Eduardo Garcia-del-Rey

2011

"This Field Guide describes and illustrates all the species and subspecies of birds in Macaronesia (the Azores, Madeira, the Savage Islands, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde). The guide describes 573 species and subspecies, covering all resident, nesting, migrating and vagrant birds and includes more than 230 detailed distribution maps and 150 colour plates."

Finding Birds in Southern Portugal

Dave Gosney

Revised edition

2010

40 page guide to birdwatching sites.

Algarve Wildlife: The Natural Year

Clive Viney and Ray Tipper

2009

"Superbly illustrated and authoritative guide to Algarve wildlife, wildflowers and ecology through the year. Arranged in slots of two weeks to help holiday visitors as well as Algarve residents."

Summer Birding on the Central Algarve

Jon Hardacre

A 126 page guide to birdwatching sites in the Central Algarve.

Where to Watch Birds in the Madeira Archipelago

Claudia Delgado

2006

A guide to 14 birdwatching sites on the Archipelago

A Field Guide to the Birds of the Atlantic Islands: Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores, Cape Verde

Tony Clarke, Chris Orgill and Tony Disley

Christopher Helm

2006

"This is the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this spetacular region. It covers all resident, migrant and vagrant species found in Macaronesia which comprises the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and Cape Verde. Over 450 species are illustrated with full details all the plumages and major races likely to be encountered. Concise text describes identification, status, range, habits and voice."

Walking in the Algarve: 40 Coastal and Mountain Walks

Julie Statham

Cicerone Press

2006

"For many years the Algarve has not been considered as a 'real' walking destination. That opinion is rapidly changing. An increasing number of people are beginning to realise that there is far more to this area than first meets the eye - besides a spectacular and dramatic coastline, there is a huge interior that sees very few visitors. Here the varied geology helps produce a rich range of scenery from volcanic hills to dramatic limestone escarpments. This diversity is complemented by the local flora and fauna that flourish in the equable climate of mild, sunny winters and long, hot summers. All this, combined with a local population that is warm and generous, makes walking here fascinating. The walks in this guide will take you right away from the large tourist developments so that you too can discover the huge welcoming heart of the Algarve."

Birds Of Iberia

Clive Finlayson and David Tomlinson

2nd edition

2003

"Since the early days of the Victorian naturalists who 'discovered' the ecological treasures of, the Iberian Peninsular, this region of Europe has attracted many with an interest in birds. Despite this interest, there have been remarkably few books on birds and birdwatching in the area. Among those that have appeared Santana's Birds of Iberia has stood out as a bright beacon since it was first published in 1993. Beautifully illustrated with fine line drawings and more than 150 colour photos, the book examines 150 bird species of special interest and the main areas where they can be found. The descriptions give an indication of the status of each species within Iberia and of their more global context. Other bird species which have been recorded in Iberia are also listed and their status summarised."

Quadros De Vida / Living Paintings

Artists for Nature in Quinta Do Lago

2002

Bilingual: Portuguese / English

"The artworks of this project celebrate the beauty and importance of the remaining coastal nature and wetlands in the Algarve."

Artists include: Michael Benington, John Busby, Andrew Haslen, Bruce Pearson, Jose Pojecto, Greg Poole, Juan Varela Simo, Michael Warren, Darren Woodhead, Jonathan Yule

Birdwatchers' Guide to Portugal and Madeira

C.C. Moore, G. Elias and H. Costa

1998

"This is a comprehensive guide to 32 of the best birdwatching sites, giving details of location, access, best times to visit, bird species expected, and other interesting wildlife present. Also includes a selective bird list giving brief details on the distribution and status of the uncommon birds which may be found, cross-referenced to site information, and a full species list. In addition, advice on preparing for a trip, transport and accommodation details are provided."

Las Aves Marinas de España y Portugal: Península Ibérica, Islas Baleares, Canarias, Azores y Madeira / Seabirds Of Spain And Portugal

Andy Paterson

1997

Spanish with extensive English summaries

Covers 86 species of seabird recorded around the Iberian peninsula and associated islands.

A Birdwatching Guide To The Algarve

Kevin & Christine Carlson

1996

A guide to birdwatching sites in the Algarve that includes day trip itineraries and a full checklist of species.

Where to Watch Birds in Spain and Portugal

Laurence Rose

1995

"This birdwatching guide lists 190 of the best sites near holiday destinations in Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, the Azores, the Balearics, the Canaries and Madeira, including a wide variety of different habitat types. Details of birds to be seen at each season, illustrations of specialities, and directions are included for each site."

Breeding Birds of the Algarve

G.A. Vowles and R.S. Vowles

1994

An Atlas of the Wintering Birds in the Western Algarve

M. Bolton

1987

Describes Winter status and distribution of just over 150 species.

Birds Of Southern Portugal

Randolph Cary

1973

Birds Of The Atlantic Islands, Volume 3

David A. Bannerman and W. Mary Bannerman

Oliver & Boyd

1966

The third of a four volume publication. This volume describes the birds of the Azores.

Birds Of The Atlantic Islands, Volume 2

David A. Bannerman and W. Mary Bannerman

Oliver & Boyd

1965

The second of a four volume publication. This volume describes the birds of Madeira, the Desertas, and Porto Santo Islands.

The Birds Of Portugal

William C. Tait

1924