The Complete Book of Southern African Birds

Published by Struik Winchester, 1989, hardcover, illustrated, index, 760 pages, 26 cms x 39.4 cms x 4.9 cms, condition: as new.

With more than 900 bird species known to occur, southern Africa is one of the richest avifaunal areas in the word. It is not surprising, therefore, that THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN BIRDS is one of the biggest single volumes ever to be published on the natural history of the region. Leading bird photographers have contributed the more than 1,000 color photographs featured in the book's 760 pages. Each photograph has been carefully chosen to show to best advantage the outstanding or characteristic features of that particular species. This truly impressive collection compiled by pictures editor Geoff McIlleron, includes some showing extremely rare migrants. For the few species for which suitable photographs were unavailable, paintings by well-known bird illustrator Graeme Arnott were commissioned. The text for THE COMPLETE BOOK OF SOUTHERN AFRICAN BIRDS was written by ornithologists, many of them world authorities, with valuable contributions by amateurs who have extensive field experience. The individual species entries give a general account of the bird, followed by details of its distribution and occurrence within the region, points for field recognition (such as appearance, voice and behavior), food and feeding methods, and breeding biology. A map showing the bird's latest recorded distribution in the region is provided for the majority of species. Also included are special, illustrated sections on the origin, evolution and behavior of birds in general, and bird habitats and distribution in Southern Africa.