Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania

by Zimmerman, Dale A.; Turner, Donald A.; Pearson, David J.; Willis, Ian; Pratt, H. Douglas

• ISBN13: 9780691026589
• ISBN10: 0691026580
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1996-09-01
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

Here is the definitive guide to the birds of Kenya and, indeed, to all of Eastern Africa. For the first time, each of the 1,114 species of the region is described and illustrated. This long-awaited book includes detailed information for every species, including appearance, plumage, vocalization, habits, status, and distribution, as well as detailed treatments of habitats and ranges. The product of more than ten years of development and field testing, Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania renders obsolete all other guides to the area.The Republic of Kenya is home to more bird species than any other African nation, with the exception of Zaire, which has a land area four times greater than that of Kenya. This book serves as both a handbook and a field guide to this fascinating region--one that will meet the needs of professional ornithologists and amateur birders alike. It is the only guide to this region that is truly comprehensive. In 112 color plates and numerous line drawings, every one of Kenya's 1,080 bird species is illustrated. In addition, 34 species from northern Tanzania are illustrated and described. In all, approximately 90 percent of Tanzania's birds are included, as are more than 85 percent of the birds of Uganda and a majority of all species endemic to the entire area."In East Africa, where Kenya alone boasts nearly 1,100 species, scarcely more than half are figured in the most widely used field guide. Because there has been so much guesswork by traveling birders about the hundreds of unfigured species, a superb team has finally done something about it and filled the gap. There will be no more guesswork.... The present volume should be hailed not only by birders but by conservationists aware of the urgent need for African governments to establish strong strategies to preserve their rich natural heritage."--From the foreword by Roger Tory Peterson

Table of Contents

Preface	p. 5
Acknowledgements	p. 6
Introduction	p. 7
The Species Accounts	p. 7
Illustrations	p. 8
Plate Caption Notes	p. 9
Distribution Maps	p. 9
Habitat Terminology	p. 9
Taxonomy and Scientific Nomenclature	p. 10
English Names	p. 11
Abbreviations Used in the Text and Plate Captions	p. 11
Terms Relating to Bird Identification	p. 12
Color Plates	p. 19
The Species Accounts	p. 269
Ostriches, Struthionidae	p. 269
Grebes, Podicipedidae	p. 269
Albatrosses, Diomedeidae	p. 270
Petrels and Shearwaters, Procellariidae	p. 271
Storm-petrels, Hydrobatidae	p. 273
Tropicbirds, Phaethontidae	p. 274
Pelicans, Pelecanidae	p. 274
Boobies, Sulidae	p. 275
Cormorants, Phalacrocoracidae	p. 276
Darters, Anhingidae	p. 276
Frigatebirds, Fregatidae	p. 277
Shoebill, Balaenicipitidae	p. 277
Herons and Bifterns, Ardeidae	p. 277
Hamerkop, Scopidae	p. 282
Storks, Ciconiidae	p. 282
Ibises and Spoonbills, Threskiornithidae	p. 284
Flamingos, Phoenicopteridae	p. 286
Ducks and Geese, Anatidae	p. 286
Secretary Bird, Sagittariidae	p. 292
Vultures, Hawks, Buzzards, Eagles and Osprey, Accipitridae	p. 293
Falcons, Falconidae	p. 309
Quail and Fraincolins, Phasianidae	p. 314
Guineafowl, Numididae	p. 319
Button-quail and Quail-plover, Turnicidae	p. 320
Rails, Rallidae	p. 321
Cranes, Gruidae	p. 325
Finfoot, Heliornithidae	p. 326
Bustards, Otididae	p. 326
jacanas, Jacanidae	p. 329
Painted-snipe, Rostratulidae	p. 329
Crab-plover, Dromadidae	p. 330
Oystercatchers, Haematopodidae	p. 330
Stilts and Avocets, Recurverostridae	p. 330
Thick-knees, Burhinidae	p. 331
Coursers and Pratincoles, Glareolidae	p. 332
Plovers, Charadriidae	p. 335
Sandpipers, Scolopacfdae	p. 340
Skuas, Stercorariidae	p. 348
Gulls and Terns, Laridae	p. 349
Skimmers, Rynchopidae	p. 357
Sandgrouse, Pteroclidae	p. 357
Pigeons and Doves, Columbidae	p. 359
Parrots and Lovebirds, Psittacidae	p. 363
Turacos, Musophagidae	p. 364
Cuckoos and Coucals, Cuculidae	p. 366
Barn Owls and Grass Owls, Tytonidae	p. 372
Typical Owls, Strigidae	p. 372
Nightjars, Caprimulgidae	p. 376
Swifts, Apodidae	p. 382
Mousebirds, Couidae	p. 385
Trogons, Trogonfdae	p. 386
Kingfishers, Alcedinidae	p. 387
Bee-eaters, Meropidae	p. 389
Rollers, Coraciidae	p. 393
Hoopoe, Upupidae	p. 394
wood-hoopoes and Scimitarbills, Phoeniculidaf	p. 395
Hornbills, Bucerotidae	p. 397
Barbets and Tinkerbirds, Capitonidae	p. 400
Honeyguides, Indicatoridae	p. 406
woodpeckers and Wrynecks, Picidae	p. 408
Broadbills, Eurylaimfdae	p. 412
Pittas, Pittidae	p. 412
Larks, Alaudidae	p. 413
Wagtails, Pipits and Longclaws, Motacillidae	p. 419
Swallows and Martins, Hirundinidae	p. 424
Bulbuls, Pycnonotidae	p. 428
Babblers, Chatterers and Illadopses, Timaliidae	p. 435
Thrushes and Chats, Turdidae	p. 439
flycatchers, Muscicapidae	p. 453
Warblers, Sylviidae	p. 457
White-eyes, Zosteropidae	p. 482
Tits, Paridae	p. 484
Penduline Tits, Remizidae	p. 485
Creepers, Certhhdae	p. 486
Monarch Flycatchers, Monarchidae	p. 486
Batises and Wattle-eyes, Platysteiridae	p. 488
Helmet-shrikes, Prionopidae	p. 492
Shrikes, Lanhdae	p. 494
Bush-shrikes, Malaconotidae	p. 497
cuckoo-shrikes, Campephagfdae	p. 504
Drongos, Dicruridae	p. 505
Orioles, Oriolidae	p. 506
Crows, Corvidae	p. 508
Starlings and Oxpeckers, Sturnidae	p. 509
Sunbirds, Nectariniidae	p. 516
Sparrows and Petronias, Passeridae	p. 527
Weavers, Ploceidae	p. 528
Waxbills, Estrildidae	p. 549
Seedeaters and Canaries, Fringillidae	p. 559
Old World Buntings, Emberizidae	p. 562
Index	p. 564
Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.