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

Indian Ocean

- Indian Ocean books

Orange Omelettes & Dusky Wanderers: Studies and Travels in Seychelles Over Four Decades

Chris J Feare

2017

"Chris Feare is an ecologist whose career has been devoted to research on birds that interact with man's interests in the form of conservation problems or in posing threats to man's livelihoods and safety. He first visited Seychelles in 1971, living there for two years to undertake research on Sooty Terns and the effects of commercial harvesting of their eggs. This led to a lifelong interest in Sooty Terns and other seabirds, and to his enduring love of the islands. For over 40 years he has travelled widely in Seychelles and witnessed remarkable changes, affecting both birds and humans. The aim of Orange Omelettes & Dusky Wanderers is to describe these in the hope that they will interest Seychellois, tourists and visiting scientists alike, and also to inform his family and friends why he regularly forsakes Britain for the verdant mountains, white coral sands, crystal clear blue ocean and tropical warmth of this beautiful corner of the Indian Ocean."

Complete Birds of Seychelles

Narainsamy Ramen, Adrian Skerrett

"In Complete Birds of Seychelles, highly accomplished bird photographer Narainsamy Ramen teams up with Adrian Skerrett, author of many Seychelles books. Together they have produced a grand celebration of the birds of these islands. All sixty-species that breed in Seychelles are illustrated in a wonderful series of colour photographs together with further twenty-six regular visitors. In addition a flavour is given of the many vagrant species from Europe, Asia, Africa and even Antarctica that have been sporadically recorded at these shores by Seychelles Bird Records Committee. There is a checklist of every species ever recorded in Seychelles and even a dedication to the six native species that have sadly been lost since the human occupation of this island nation."

Birds of Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands

Frank Hawkins, Roger Safford, Adrian Skerrett

Helm Field Guides

Bloomsbury Publishing / Christopher Helm

2015

"This new field guide in the Helm Field Guides series covers the whole of the Malagasy region, which comprises the unique island of Madagascar and the various islands and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean including the Seychelles, Comoros and Mascarenes (Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues). Every resident and migrant species is covered in full detail with a colour distibution map for each species. Vagrants are also treated in detail, but without maps. All species are illustrated on a beautiful series of 124 colour plates, with artwork from John Gale and Brian Small. Conveniently, the plates have been arranged so that all the key species of the various archipelagos are placed together in sections. This is a major work of reference on the birds of the region and will remain the standard text for many years to come."

Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, Seychelles and the Comoros

Ian Sinclair and Olivier Langrand

Struik / New Holland

2nd edition

2013

"irds of the Indian Ocean Islands is a comprehensive guide to the bird life of Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Comoros, and the Mascarenes – an area that boasts high levels of endemism. This new, expanded edition is fully updated to reflect taxonomic changes, and now describes and illustrates 502 species. The species accounts cover the birds' appearance, basic behaviour, preferred habitats, geographical distribution and IUCN threat status. The text is complemented by newly designed plates with labels pinpointing key differentiating features. The introduction includes maps for each island, lists the region's 211 endemic species, and gives pointers on where to go bird-watching."

The Birds of Africa, Volume VIII: The Malagasy Region

Editors: Roger Safford, Frank Hawkins

Christopher Helm

2013

"The Birds of Africa series, volumes I–VII, covered the avifauna of continental Africa. This volume fulfils the aspiration, expressed in that series, of a single volume that treats the birds of Madagascar, Seychelles, the Comoros, the Mascarenes and their associated smaller outlying islands – the Malagasy region. It follows The Birds of Africa series in treating each of the 352 regularly occurring species known from the region in detail, through the assembly of a wealth of information, much of it very recent. Distribution, description, identification, general behaviour, feeding and breeding habits are comprehensively covered, by a roster of the key experts on the birds of the region. All 135 vagrant species are also treated, more briefly, and for the first time the distribution of species across the region is presented in a series of detailed and informative maps. Each species is also extensively illustrated, showing variation in plumage across ages, sexes and geographic regions. One plate illustrates species that have recently become extinct in the region, and a separate plate section covers vagrants."

Birds of Seychelles

Adrian Skerrett and Tony Disley

Christopher Helm

2nd edition

2011

"This compact field guide, based on Birds of Seychelles by Adrian Skerrett, Ian Bullock and Tony Disley (Helm 2000), is the only field guide to cover every species recorded in Seychelles. It covers more than 250 species, including all residents, migrants and vagrants. Concise text on facing pages highlights key identification features, including habitat, distribution, status and voice. The plates are based on the authors' previous work, but with the addition on many new images. The text has been completely re-written and revised for this edition, and the plates are been re-worked to accommodate a number of new additions to the country's list. There are now 12 more plates than in the first edition."

A Checklist Of The Birds of Seychelles

Seychelles Bird Records Committee: Adrian Skerrett, Michael Betts, Ian Bullock, David Fisher, Ron Gerlach, Rob Lucking, John Phillips and Bob Scott

2010

"A summary of all 242 bird species recorded in Seychelles by island. Includes extinctions, residents, migrants and vagrants (with number of records of each species). Ringing recoveries and the history of records are included."

Wildlife Of The Seychelles

Mike Hill and Dave Currie

Collins

2007

"An easy-to-use, compact photoguide to the wildlife of the Seychelles, including tips on where to go to make the most of your visit The 115 coral islands that make up the Seychelles are a haven for wildlife, and 60 per cent of its visitors each year come from Europe. The tourist industry in the Seychelles has grown dramatically over the past 25 years and several marine and nature reserves have been formed to ensure the wildlife remains protected and can be enjoyed. Trips to Bird Island - just one of the many paradise islands for birdwatchers - are now strictly regulated, but better marketed for visitors. The distant atoll of Aldabra is a world heritage site and boasts the world's largest population of giant tortoises. There are many species unique to the Seychelles due to the relatively late arrival of humans on the islands. Despite the fact that many visitors go to the Seychelles for its wildlife, there is no photographic guide for the general tourist. This pocket-sized photographic guide is perfect for the traveller, showing and describing all the birds, mammals and plants you're likely to see, as well as all the fish that can be seen while snorkelling."

A Photographic Guide to the Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion and the Comoros

Ian Sinclair, Olivier Langrand, Fanja Andriamialisoa

2006

"This photographic guide depicts a selection of the most commonly encountered and striking bird species of Madagascar, the Seychelles, the Comoros, and the Mascarenes - a region boasting high levels of endemism. Each species account includes a colour photo, a distribution map, and a description of appearance, behaviour, habitats and geographic distribution."

The Vertebrates of Seychelles: A Field Guide

Justin Gerlach

2006

"The only field guide to all the terrestrial vertebrates of the Seychelles islands: amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals."

Wildlife Of Seychelles

John Bowler

2006

"A photographic guide to selected wildlife of the Seychelles, covering the birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates most likely to be encountered by a visitor."

Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, Seychelles and the Comoros

Ian Sinclair and Olivier Langrand

2004

"Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands is the first comprehensive guide to the bird life of a region that embraces Madagascar, the Seychelles group, and the Comoros and the Mascarenes (comprising Mauritius, Reunion and Rodrigues). Together, these magical islands and the warm waters of the surrounding ocean host a total of 359 regularly encountered species, many of them endemic to the area, and all of them fully described here in clear, concise text. The species entries, which are accompanied by up-to-date distribution maps, highlight identification features, preferred habitats, current status, and vocalization. Each species is beautifully illustrated to show plumage details. A special chapter discusses the practicalities of birding in the region's main locations. The plates, of which there are 71, have been superbly researched and executed by Norman Arlott, Hillary Burn, Peter Hayman and Ian Lewington - among the world's leading bird artists."

Birds of Seychelles

Adrian Skerrett, Ian Bullock and Tony Disley

Christopher Helm

2001

"A guide to 242 species of birds in Seychelles illustrated in colour including 26 endemics. Information on the islands' geography, climate and birdwatching sites is also included in the introduction."

Birds of The Seychelles

Adrian Skerrett & Ian Bullock

Princeton University Press

2001

"This is the first comprehensive guide to the birds of the Seychelles, a spectacular archipelago of 115 islands north of Madagascar. It describes and illustrates every species for the first time - more than 250 in all - and gives extended species accounts for all 66 breeding species. These accounts cover breeding biology and, for all indigenous species, threats and conservation. The volume also offers the first detailed accounts of all 26 Seychelles' endemics, including their origins, in popular form. Given the archipelago's location, almost any European migrant can turn up in the Seychelles. This makes it all the more remarkable that the authors consider every species recorded to date, as well as unrecorded potential vagrants. Beautiful color plates and clear plumage details, as well as information on confusion species, are included to aid identification by sex and age. This is a valuable reference for anyone contemplating a trip to this popular birding destination or anyone with an interest in the natural history of the western Indian Ocean region."

Birds of the Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion, Rodrigues, Seychelles and the Comoros

Ian Sinclair and Olivier Langrand

1998

"Following in the format of Sasol Birds of Southern Africa, this guide presents all the birds of Madagascar and the other Indian Ocean islands (Seychelles, Reunion, Mauritius and Mascarenes), a great many species of which are endemic to these islands. In field guide form, this text presents concise descriptions of each species, highlighting diagnostic features for ease of identification. Differences between sexes and plumages are discussed as well as the status of the bird, its habitat and call. Distribution maps accompany each entry. The birds are illustrated in full colour and where necessary are depicted in all plumages relevant to identification (male, female and immature). In-flight illustrations present the bird from above and below, providing comprehensive coverage of the birds in the field."

Beautiful Birds of Seychelles

Adrian Skerrett

1995

A photographic guide to birds on Seychelles.

Birdwatchers' Guide to Seychelles

Adrian Skerrett and Ian Bullock

1992

"Written by two leading authorities on the birds of this Indian Ocean island group, this is a comprehensive guide to the best birdwatching sites, giving details of location, access, best times to visit, bird species expected, and other interesting wildlife present. In addition, advice on preparing for a trip to the islands, transport details, information on climate, accommodation, health and medical facilities are given. The guide is completed by a bibliography, list of local contacts and societies, and a selective, annotated species list. This guide will be invaluable to birders, naturalists, or indeed anyone visiting these islands."

Birds of Seychelles And The Outlying Island

Malcolm Penny

Collins Field Guide

Collins

1986

"A summary of all 242 bird species recorded in Seychelles by island. Includes extinctions, residents, migrants and vagrants (with number of records of each species). Ringing recoveries and the history of records are included."

Birds of Seychelles: Seychelles Nature Booklet

Tony Beamish

1981

On Birds Collected By Doctor W. L. Abbott In The Seychelles, Amirantes, Gloriosa, Assumption, Aldabra, And Adjacent Islands, With Notes On Habits, Etc., By The Collector

Robert Ridgway

Proceedings Of The United States National Museum

1895

Opening lines:

"The present paper is based upon two collections made by Dr. W. L. Abbott, of Philadelphia; one, of 59 specimens, on the Seychelles, during March, April, and May, 1890; the other, of 205 specimens, on Aldabra, Assumption, the Amirante group, Ile Glorieuse, and other islands northwest of Madagascar, during the period extending from July, 1892, to January, 1893, inclusive. The representation of species, including several accidental visitants, is believed by Dr. Abbott to be very nearly complete, as the following extract from a letter received from him, written at Mahe, Seychelles, March 10, 1893, will more fully explain."