I am looking into buying a field guide of Australian birds. There are a few out there and I was wondering if there is a particular book that you could recommend? Preferably an up to date edition...
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G'day Jellycakes,
Personally I prefer Slater as I've grown up with it. It is especially good for carting around birdwatching as it's about the size of a large pocket. I also really like Pizzey & Knight and I keep Donald and Molly Trousons photographic guide because I like to look at actual photographs every now and again. Of course it all comes down to personal preference and each guide offers different bits and pieces of information, different pictures, distribution maps even nest and egg pictures. Some other good ones to check out are Simpson and Day (a popular standard) and Morcombe.
Hope thats of some help and I haven't confused the issue further.
Cheers,
Bourke
You may do well by asking your local bird club members if there are any that are/are not as good for your area. Aside from that look at as many as you can before making a purchase. I still use my first one I bought in 1981 because I am used to it. Some will say photos are better but I disagree so once again, personal choice.
See Yez
Trev
Thanks Bourke, you were a definite help. At this point I have whittled it down to Slater vs Morcombe's compact edition. I am leaning towards Morcombe as it seems good for a beginner. On the other hand, Slater has its merits and I am quite torn! I wish I too had taken an interest in birds as a child, but I guess it's never too late to start. Thanks for your input :)
Hey Trev, that is one of my big considerations - photos vs illustrations. At the moment I am content with illustrations (might eventually get one with photographs as I get more experience). What matters to me most at this point is ease of use in terms of layout and organisation of information. I am Cheers for the advice
No Worries Jellycakes,
Also I agree with Trev, I prefer illustrations to photos as you do get variation between individual birds. A good field guide will have illustrations that depict key characteristics well and point them out in the info (these can often be less clear in photos). Photos can show birds at odd angles or sitting in unusual poses. A photo can look very different to a bird in the field. Having said that I do think photos can be useful and I sometimes use a number of field guides comparing photos and illustrations if the bird is a real tough one.
Bourke
Hello, I recently asked the same question and ended up getting a Simpson and Day. What I'd like to say is that I haven't ever seen a field guide with photos in it, just curious if anyone can let me know the name of one or something.
Hi, 3 of the guide books with photographs that I know are,
1. Reader's Digest: Complete Book Of Australian Birds
2. Photographic Guide To Birds Of Australia
By Peter Rowland
3. Photographic Field Guide: Birds Of Australia
By Jim Flegg
Bryan
See also this old thread:
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/messages.cfm?threadid=36C13E7E-BED9-484B-E15B0B2B3FD12DCC
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
ahem...
http://www.birdsinbackyards.net/forum/messages.cfm?threadid=36C13E7E-BED9-484B-E15B0B2B3FD12DCC
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
Michael Morecombe - great pointers for features on every species. I have both large and small versions
Pizzey and Knight. Another fabulous guide.
I do have the Simpson and Day one too. And think at times it's necessary to consult more than one guide.