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A selection of books that are concerned with rare birds of the world.

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

Back from the Brink

Malcolm Smith

2015

"Back from the Brink is an antidote to a world that seems full of stories of wildlife doom and gloom. Amongst all the loss of habitat and the animals and plants that are in spiralling decline, it's easy to forget that there are a huge number of positive stories too; animals threatened with extinction, such as the gigantic European Bison - extinct in the wild - having their fortunes reversed and their futures secured. This is the story of some of these successes."

The book comprises fifteen chapters each covering a specific species or groups of species. There are six bird related chapters: Wild Turkey, Houbara Bustard, India's Vultures, Whooping Crane, Zino's Petrel and Mauritius Kestrel.

The Search for the Rarest Bird in the World

Vernon R.L. Head

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. 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."

Facing Extinction: The World's Rarest Birds and the Race to Save Them

Paul F. Donald, Nigel J. Collar, Stuart J. Marsden & Deborah J. Pain

2nd edition

2013

"Almost two hundred species of birds have become extinct in the past 400 years, and a similar number today are in imminent danger of following them. The world's conservationists are leading the fight to prevent the demise of these remaining critically endangered birds, with a fair degree of success. This new book examines the process and issues concerning extinction - how and why it happens and what can be done about it. Whilst man is to blame for many of the causes, such as persecution and habitat loss, species have become extinct on a regular basis since life began. After several thought-provoking introductory chapters, the book showcases about 20 species on the brink of extinction from around the world and describes the work that is being undertaken to save them. Some are success stories, but a few are not. This is a subject close to the hearts of all birders and ornithologists and this book, written by a team of leading conservationists, will strike a chord in most of them."

The World's Rarest Birds

Erik Hirschfeld, Andy Swash and Robert Still

2013

"This illustrated book vividly depicts the most endangered birds in the world and provides the latest information on the threats each species faces and the measures being taken to save them. Today, 571 bird species are classified as critically endangered or endangered, and a further four now exist only in captivity. This landmark book features stunning photographs of 500 of these species - the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specifically for this book. It also showcases paintings by acclaimed wildlife artist Tomasz Cofta of the 75 species for which no photos are known to exist. The World's Rarest Birds has introductory chapters that explain the threats to birds, the ways threat categories are applied, and the distinction between threat and rarity. The book is divided into seven regional sections - Europe and the Middle East; Africa and Madagascar; Asia; Australasia; Oceanic Islands; North America, Central America, and the Caribbean; and South America. Each section includes an illustrated directory to the bird species under threat there, and gives a concise description of distribution, status, population, key threats, and conservation needs."

The Woodhen: A Flightless Island Bird Defying Extinction

Clifford Frith

2013

"This book tells the fascinating success story of saving the flightless Woodhen of Lord Howe Island. This unique large rail, an iconic and highly endangered Australian bird, was at the very brink of extinction with just 15 individuals found in 1980, when bold and risky actions were taken to save it. The book begins with the discovery and ecology of Lord Howe Island. It then details the history of the Woodhen, its place among the rails and their evolution of flightlessness, the planning, implementation and trials, tribulations and successes of the captive breeding programme and the way in which the wild population recovered. The ecology, behaviour and breeding biology of this unique flightless island rail are also discussed. The text is accompanied by numerous photographs and drawings."

The Kirtland's Warbler: The Story of a Bird's Fight Against Extinction and the People Who Saved It

William Rappai

2013

"In The Kirtland's Warbler, William Rapai explores the bird's fascinating natural history as well as the complex and evolving relationships between the warbler, its environment, its human protectors, and state and federal policies that today threaten to eradicate decades of work done on the species' behalf. Beginning with an account of the warbler's discovery in the mid-nineteenth century and ornithologists' desperate hunt for information on the elusive new species, the book goes on to examine the dramatic events that quickly led to the warbler's precarious status and its eventual emergence as a lightning rod for controversy. The Kirtland's warbler is often described as a "bird of fire" for its preference for nesting in areas cleared by wildfire. But it also warrants the name for the passion it ignites in humans. Both tragic and uplifting, the story of this intriguing bird is a stirring example of how strong leadership, vision, commitment, sustained effort, and cooperation can come together to protect our natural world."

The Kingdom of Rarities

Eric Dinerstein

2013

"The Kingdom of Rarities presents a new context for understanding rarity and its implications, both for our understanding of how the natural world works and for what it can teach us about protecting biodiversity during a time of large-scale environmental change. Using cutting-edge science from remote outposts around the world, award-winning author Eric Dinerstein animates the key questions that scientists are asking themselves about why some species are so abundant and others not. What are the rarest species and why are they most likely to be found in certain types of environments? Which species have always been rare, and which have only recently been made rare? Which should we seek to protect most? Throughout, Dinerstein explores rarity as a central principle within conservation biology, advancing both our understanding of the natural world and inspiring the creation of new tools and technologies that can help us add to our knowledge and design more effective conservation strategies. He focuses on real-time threats to biodiversity, from climate change to habitat fragmentation, and draws on his long and distinguished scientific career to illuminate the concept of rarity for readers across the spectrum of scientific knowledge."

Call Of The Kokako

Jeff Hudson

2013

"Call of the Kokako is a journey of discovery into what makes the kokako ‘tick' in order to save the species. This journey and work resulted in the restoration of the largest population of kokako in New Zealand with the help and dedication of many down to earth conservationists. Jeff Hudson spent 20 years helping to save the kokako from extinction. He was a passionate, multi-talented man who made an enormous impression on all those lucky enough to work and socialize with him."

Rare Birds: The Extraordinary Tale of the Bermuda Petrel and the Man Who Brought It Back from Extinction

Elizabeth Gehrman

2012

"This tiny island in the middle of the North Atlantic was once the breeding ground for millions of Bermuda petrels. Also known as cahows, the graceful and acrobatic birds fly almost nonstop most of their lives, drinking seawater and sleeping on the wing. But shortly after humans arrived here, more than three centuries ago, the cahows had vanished, eaten into extinction by the country's first settlers. Then, in the early 1900s, tantalizing hints of the cahows' continued existence began to emerge. In 1951, an American ornithologist and a Bermudian naturalist mounted a last-ditch effort to find the birds that had come to seem little more than a legend, bringing a teenage Wingate - already a noted birder - along for the ride. When the stunned scientists pulled a blinking, docile cahow from deep within a rocky cliffside, it made headlines around the world - and told Wingate what he was put on this earth to do. Starting with just seven nesting pairs of the birds, Wingate would devote his life to giving the cahows the chance they needed in their centuries-long struggle for survival - battling hurricanes, invasive species, DDT, the American military, and personal tragedy along the way."

On Rare Birds

Anita Albus

2011

"Weaving together natural history and investigative reporting with mythological and cultural material, On Rare Birds tells the compelling stories of ten rare or extinct bird species - from the tragic demise of the once-abundant Passenger Pigeon to the shooting death of the last Carolina Parakeet in the wild, and from the startling natural defences of the wilful Nightjar to the diverse cultural significance of the Kingfisher. Some stories bear sad witness to precious species we have lost, but they are all fascinating and often heartwarming or humorous depictions of the unique lives and loves of birds. On Rare Birds is a visually stunning volume illustrated by author Anita Albus's own superb artwork and by images ranging over five centuries. It will delight anyone who loves birds, laments the depletion of their populations by human hands, and cares about the survival of those species that still stand a chance. With knowledge, devotion, and a true artist's eye, Albus explains in graceful, precise prose why the decline of these bird species is a great loss both to the natural world and, unavoidably, to culture. With each species lost, a world is lost to human understanding-to our arts, our mythology, and our environment."

Saraband edition

Buy from amazon.co.uk

Greystone edition

Cerulean Blues: A Personal Search for a Vanishing Songbird

Katie Fallon

2011

"Taking the reader from the mountains of Appalachia to a coffee plantation near Bogotá, Colombia, this investigation into the plight of the cerulean warbler – a tiny migratory songbird – describes its struggle to survive in ever-shrinking bands of suitable habitat. This elusive creature – a favorite among bird watchers and the fastest-declining warbler species in the United States – has lost three percent of its total population each year since 1966. This precipitous decline means that today there are 80 percent fewer ceruleans than 40 years ago, and their numbers continue to drop because of threats including deforestation, global warming, and mountaintop-removal coal mining. With scientific rigor and a sense of wonder, Fallon charts their path across more than 2000 miles and shows how the fate of a creature weighing less than an ounce is vitally linked to that of our own."

Atlas of Rare Birds

Dominic Couzens

2010

(Same publication as the MIT book below)

"A guide to some of the rarest birds in existence, brought together by the maps showing where in the world you can find them. The book will focus on 50 captivating stories of the very rare, including remarkable discoveries of species new to science, rediscoveries of species not seen for centuries and 'back from the brink of extinction' successes like Seychelles Magpie-Robin and California Condor. Each species has its own mini-chapter and the book will be broken down into key groups of species, with the five most amazing tales of island endemics, five most bizarre cases of a bird becoming threatened, and so on. This will be an accessible, readable and visually appealing take on a serious subject of threatened birds and possible extinctions - a topic that is constantly in the news due to increasing concerns over climate change and habitat destruction. The atlas format shows the global nature of the problem and brings together the many strands of the concerted bird conservation effort that is taking place on every continent. It also lends and element of accessibility to the reader as many of the species featured can be watched on birding tours these days."

Atlas of Rare Birds

Dominic Couzens

2010

(Same publication as the Helm book above)

"This book offers a guide to some of the rarest birds in existence, with maps that show where to find them. Focusing on fifty captivating stories of the very rare, it describes remarkable discoveries of species not seen for centuries and brought back from the brink of extinction, successes like the Seychelles Magpie-Robin and the California Condor. The book is organized around key groups of species, with each species the subject of its own mini-chapter; we learn about the five most amazing tales of island endemics, the five most bizarre cases of a bird's becoming threatened, and other astonishing tales of bird life. Atlas of Rare Birds is an accessible, readable, and visually appealing take on the serious subject of threatened birds and possible extinctions - a timely topic because of increasing concerns about climate change and habitat destruction. The atlas format - featuring 200 color photographs and 61 color maps - shows the global nature of the problem and brings together the many strands of the concerted bird conservation effort taking place on every continent. Atlas of Rare Birds is published in association with BirdLife International, the world's largest global alliance of bird conservation organizations."

Facing Extinction: The World's Rarest Birds and the Race to Save Them

Paul Donald / Nigel Collar / Stuart Marsden / Debbie Pain

Poyser

2010

"Almost two hundred species of birds have become extinct in the past 400 years, and a similar number today are in imminent danger of following them. The world's conservationists are leading the fight to prevent the demise of these remaining critically endangered birds, with a fair degree of success. This new book examines the process and issues concerning extinction - how and why it happens and what can be done about it. Whilst man is to blame for many of the causes, such as persecution and habitat loss, species have become extinct on a regular basis since life began. After several thought-provoking introductory chapters, the book showcases about 20 species on the brink of extinction from around the world and describes the work that is being undertaken to save them."

Critically Endangered Birds: A Global Audit

2008

An 18 page report reviewing the status and conservation needs of the world's critically endangered birds.

The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird: The Discovery and Death of the Po'ouli

Alvin Powell

2008

"Thirty years ago researchers discovered a previously unknown species of bird in the rain-soaked and remote mountains of Hawaii. As they studied the creature - which sported a black mask and was called the po'ouli - they soon learned that its population was shrinking quickly, and they worked frantically to find out what was killing the species and how they might prevent its extinction. This fast-paced account of their work, done in one of the world's most inhospitable environments, describes a stirring fight for survival. It also illustrates the challenge of protecting endangered species in a rapidly changing world."

Whio: Saving New Zealand's Blue Duck

David Young

2006

"The blue duck, or whio, is one of New Zealand's ancient treasures, a beautiful torrent duck that once lived on clear, fast-flowing rivers throughout most of the country. Sadly, this is no longer the case. While the plight of many of our high-profile endangered species, such as the kakapo and kiwi, are well known, the blue duck belongs to the not so well known 'second tier' of endangered species (including kaka, kea, parakeets and North Island brown kiwi) whose numbers have dropped alarmingly in the last 15 years, and who now require urgent recovery programmes to prevent a slide toward extinction. Whio tells the story of how a dedicated group of scientists, field workers and volunteers have set about saving the blue duck, and combines a natural history of the bird with an illustrated history of human interaction, as well as a social history of the blue duck then and now. Recovery efforts are focussed on populations that are found in Te Urewera, the Central North Island, the rivers that flow off Mt Taranaki, Kahurangi National Park, and Fiordland. Heavily illustrated with superb photographs from some of New Zealand's leading wildlife photographers, this is an inspiring, delightful book. The blue duck is particularly special, carrying with it the emblematic power of a bird whose home has come to symbolise the very heart of natural New Zealand."

Back from the Brink

Gerard Hutching

2004

"A good-news book celebrating the on-going efforts of scientists and DOC workers to save our endangered and rare bird species. New Zealand has some of the most endangered species in the world: the kaki is the world's rarest wading bird and the taiko is the most threatened seabird in the world. Over the past decades scientists have effectively saved many of the most threatened bird populations, inventing brilliant new ways of doing so. Their success rate has been amazing. The black robin was down to just five birds in 1980 and now numbers over 200. The key to kakapo breeding has been cracked and the population of this bird is on the increase with 24 kakapo chicks hatched in 2002. These are fascinating stories. The book is divided into sections on individual birds that are illustrated with superb photographs from DOC files."

Spix's Macaw: The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird

Tony Juniper

2002

"On June 3, 1817, Johann Baptist Ritter von Spix set sail for the New World on an expedition sponsored by the Bavarian Royal Academy of Sciences. What he found in Brazil's thorny caatinga woodlands would one day transform our understanding about evolution, survival, and - in the case of the long-tailed blue parrot now known as "Spix's Macaw" - extinction. In this fascinating natural history, esteemed environmentalist Tony Juniper brings the caatinga bird beautifully to life. Not long after Spix's discovery, his parrot - whose beauty, dexterity, and clear-eyed passion made it a favorite among scientists and bounty hunters alike - had become more valuable than heroin, and worth thousands of dollars on the black market. By 1990, only one lone male was known to be living in the wild. Spix's Macaw tells the tale of Juniper's race to save the species, from joining an international rescue operation in the caatinga to calling on private collectors to mate their illegal birds to waiting in vain for a hybrid nest of eggs to hatch. His story brings new meaning to Emily Dickinson's poem "Hope Is the Thing with Feathers." A heart-stopping homage to the long, lonely flight of the last Spix's Macaw, this is a compassionate addition to the annals of nature literature and an environmental parable for our time."

The Takahe: Fifty Years of Conservation Management and Research

Editor: William G. Lee and Ian G. Jamieson

2001

"The takahe is a large, flightless, herbivorous bird found in New Zealand. Nine contributions from the joint conference of the Ecological Societies of Australia and New Zealand reflect on attempts to conserve the takahe since its rediscovery (after presumed extinction) in 1948. A sampling of topics includes the origins and prehistoric ecology of takahe; population trends, dynamics and problems of fjordland takahe; and captive rearing."

Threatened Birds of the World

Editor: A. Stattersfield and D. Capper

2000

"A shocking 1,186 bird species risk becoming extinct in the next 100 years. Even worse, 182 of these are Critically Endangered - meaning they could be extinct in just 10 years. Which birds are threatened? What do they look like? Where are they found? Why are they threatened? What needs to be done? Threatened Birds of the World provides you with all this information and much more… The good news is that there are many opportunities to help these species. Threatened Birds of the World highlights these, providing full information on each species. The challenge for us all now will be to use these facts and figures to ensure that action takes place before it is too late. Full colour throughout, technical information is provided in a highly visual and understandable format using hundreds of illustrations, maps, graphs and charts. A detailed species account is provided for each of the 1,186 Globally Threatened bird species. Information is also provided on a further 727 species classified as Near Thretened. An introductory chapter gives information on the extinction crisis, the use of birds as indicators of biodiversity and in ecosystem conservation. Analyses show where threatened birds occur, territories with the highest numbers, principal habitats, key issues to tackle and conservation action targets."

Rare and Endangered New Zealand Birds

Peter Gaze

1994

A guide to some of New Zealand's most endangered birds including the kokako, black robin and yellow-eyed penguin.

The Black Robin: The Saving of the World's Most Endangered Bird

David Butler & Don Merton

1993

"This book tells the story of the rare Chatham Island black robin. It will inspire all those concerned with the conservation of endangered species and demonstrates that recovery is possible even in the most extreme cases. In fact, the black robin was nearly extinct--reduced to one surviving breeding pair--when the program described here was put into effect. The innovative techniques used by the team responsible for this effort are described in detail and will allow wildlife biologists around the world to adopt similar strategies suited to their own needs. One of the book's co-authors led the black robin program, and the other was one of the scientists on the team. Written in a lively, nontechnical manner, this book will be of interest to a wide range of conservationists, wildlife biologists, and general readers."

Endangered Birds

James ferguson-Lees

Foreword: Gerald Durrell

Philips

1992

A review of the status of 103 endangered species.

Rare Birds Of The World

Guy Mountfort

A Collins/ICBP Handbook

Collins

1988

250 pages with many full page colour illustrations. Covers 1000 species.

Save The Birds

Anthony W. Diamond, Rudolf L. Schreiber, David Attenborough, Ian Prestt

Cambridge University Press

1987

"Save the Birds is about the endangered birds of the world, why they are threatened, and what actions are being taken and should be taken to ensure their survival. This unique book spearheads an international campaign for the conservation of the world`s threatened birdlife - the save the birds world campaign. Written by experts for a broad audience ranging from children and teachers to conservationists, scientists, government leaders, and policy makers. Covers all the major natural environments of the earth, with examples of the endangered species of those environments. With over 600 colour illustrations (500 colour photographs, 55 specially commissioned bird portraits, 60 maps and diagrams) the book provides a unique visual record of the rare and endangered bird species of our planet."

Birds at Risk: Rare or Endangered Species of New Zealand

Richard B. Sibson

Reed

1982

Endangered Birds of the World: The ICBP Bird Red Data Book

Warren B. King

1981

Vanishing Birds: Their Natural History and Conservation

Tim Halliday

1978

Endangered Birds: Management Techniques For Preserving Threatened Species

Editor: Stanley A. Temple

1977

Extinct and Vanishing Birds of the World

J.C. Greenway

1958

Reprinted by Dover Publications in 1967.

"Describes the physical characteristics, and habitats of extinct or threatened bird species and discusses man's role in their disappearance."

Lost And Vanishing Birds

Charles Dixon

John MacQueen

1898

From the preface:

"One of the saddest features of civilisation is the disappearance of so many beautiful and curious creatures from this world of ours. From all parts of the earth the same story comes; and we now seem to be within measurable distance of a time when wrecks and remnants of once compact and indigenous assemblages of organisms will be all that remain to us, and such a thing as a complete fauna will be unknown. This is not only a crime, but the violation of a sacred trust which we hold for posterity. Civilisation has already ground away under its merciless heel most of the faunal facies of Europe; Asia fares but little better, and is fast being reduced to the same state ; Africa is being rapidly depleted of all its most curious and striking forms of animal life; Australasia is a wretched object lesson of civilised man's exterminating progress ; whilst North America has already lost some of its ancient types, and is fast losing the remainder: South America alone retains its prehistoric fauna in greatest completeness, although even here the sad work of extermination has commenced. Birds have suffered severely in this general spoliation, and their extermination and persecution furnish material for some of the saddest chapters in the annals of ornithology. In the present volume an effort has been made not only to focus in a popular form our knowledge of the species we have lost and are still likely to lose, but to excite a greater interest in the protection of birds, particularly in those species, at home and abroad, that are more or less threatened with extermination at the present time."