Birds of the Middle East

by Porter, Richard; Aspinall, Simon; Christensen, Steen (CON); Schiermacker-Hansen, Per (CON); Gale, John

• ISBN13: 9780691148441
• ISBN10: 0691148449
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-11-08
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

Birds of the Middle Eastis now the most field-ready and comprehensive guide to the fantastic birds of this region. This fully revised and updated second edition covers all species--including vagrants--found in the Arabian Peninsula (including Socotra), Jordan, Lebanon, Israel, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Cyprus. It features 176 superb color plates depicting more than 800 species, as well as 820 color distribution maps that show the breeding range for almost every species. In this upgraded edition, maps and detailed species accounts are now located opposite the plates, making this stunningly illustrated field guide easier to use than ever. The most comprehensive field guide to the birds of the Middle East Covers more than 800 species--including 100 not covered in the first edition Features 176 color plates depicting all species Includes detailed species accounts and 820 color distribution maps Text and maps now located opposite the color plates

Author Biography

Richard Porter has had a long association with the Middle East and is an adviser on bird conservation for BirdLife International. His books include "Birds of the Middle East and North Africa". Simon Aspinall is a lifelong birder who lives in the United Arab Emirates. His books include "Shell Birdwatching Guide to the United Arab Emirates".

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. 8
Introduction	p. 9
The region and species covered	p. 9
Escapes and introduced birds	p. 10
Sequence, taxonomy and nomenclature	p. 10
Illustrations and Identification text	p. 11
Bird topography	p. 11
Voice	p. 12
Habitat	p. 12
Maps and status	p. 12
Code of conduct	p. 13
Species Accounts	p. 33
Partridges, francolins and quails Phasianidae 1-3	p. 14
Buttonquails Turnicidae 3	p. 18
Guineafowl Numididae 3	p. 18
Ducks and geese Anatidae 4-11	p. 20
Divers Gaviidae 12	p. 36
Grebes Podicipedidae 13	p. 38
Albatrosses Diomedeidae 14	p. 40
Petrels and shearwaters Procellariidae 14-17	p. 40
Storm-petrels Hydrobatidae 18	p. 48
Tropicbirds Phaethontidae 19	p. 50
Frigatebirds Fregatidae 19	p. 50
Gannets and boobies Sulidae 20	p. 52
Flamingos Phoenicopteridae 21	p. 54
Storks Ciconiidae 21-22	p. 54
Ibises and spoonbills Threskiornithidae 23	p. 58
Hamerkop Scopidae 24	p. 60
Bitterns, herons and egrets Ardeidae 24-27	p. 60
Pelicans Pelecanidae 28	p. 68
Cormorants Phalacrocoracidae 29	p. 70
Darters Anhingidae 29	p. 70
Hawks, buzzards and eagles Accipitridae 30-42	p. 72
Falcons Falconidae 43-45	p. 98
Bustards Otididae 46	p. 104
Cranes Gruidae 46	p. 104
Rails, crakes and gallinules Rallidae 47-49	p. 106
Thick-knees Burhinidae 50	p. 112
Coursers Glareolidae 50	p. 112
Oystercatchers Haematopodidae 51	p. 114
Crab-plover Dromadidae 51	p. 114
Stilts and avocets Recurvirostridae 51	p. 114
Painted-snipe Rostratulidae 51	p. 114
Jacanas Jacanidae 51	p. 114
Lapwings and plovers Charadriidae 52-55	p. 116
Sandpipers and allies Scolopacidae 56-64	p. 124
Pratincoles Glareolidae 65	p. 142
Gulls Laridae 66-72	p. 144
Terns Sternidae 73-77	p. 158
Skimmers Rynchopidae 77	p. 166
Skuas Stercorariidae 78-79	p. 168
Sandgrouse Pteroclidae 80-81	p. 172
Pigeons and doves Columbidae 82-85	p. 176
Parakeets Psittacidae 85	p. 182
Cuckoos and coucals Cuculidae 86-87	p. 184
Typical Owls Strigidae 88-91	p. 188
Barn owls Tytonidae 91	p. 194
Nightjars Caprimulgidae 92-93	p. 196
Swifts Apodidae 94-95	p. 200
Rollers Coraciidae 96	p. 204
Hoopoes Upupidae 96	p. 204
Kingfishers Alcedinidae 97	p. 206
Bee-eaters Meropidae 98	p. 208
Hornbills Bucerotidae 99	p. 210
Woodpeckers and wrynecks Picidae 99-101	p. 210
Tchagras Malaconotidae 102	p. 216
Orioles Oriolidae 102	p. 216
Drongos Dicruridae 102	p. 216
Shrikes Laniidae 102-104	p. 216
Paradise flycatchers Monarchidae 105	p. 222
Babblers Timaliidae 105	p. 222
Crows and lays Corvidae 106-109	p. 224
Waxwings and Hypocolius Bombycillidae 110	p. 232
Bulbuls Pycnonotidae 110	p. 232
Treecreepers Certhiidae 111	p. 234
Tits Paridae 111-112	p. 234
Long-tailed tits Aegithalidae 112	p. 236
Penduline-tits Remizidae 113	p. 238
Bearded Reedling Panuridae 113	p. 238
Wallcreeper Tichodromadidae 113	p. 238
Larks Alaudidae 114-118	p. 240
Swallows and martins Hirundinidae 119-121	p. 250
Cisticolas and allies Cisticolidae 122	p. 256
Bush warblers Cettidae 123	p. 258
Grasshopper warblers Megaluridae 123	p. 258
Reed warblers Acrocephalidae 124-128	p. 260
Leaf warblers Phylloscopidae 128-131	p. 268
Sylvia warblers Sylviidae 132-136	p. 276
White-eyes Zosteropidae 136	p. 284
Goldcrests Regulidae 136	p. 284
Nuthatches Sittidae 137	p. 286
Oxpeckers Buphagidae 138	p. 288
Starlings Sturnidae 138-139	p. 288
Thrushes Turdidae 140-142	p. 292
Wrens Troglodytidae 142	p. 296
Dippers Cinclidae 142	p. 296
Robins, chats and flycatchers Muscicapidae 143-154	p. 298
Sunbirds Nectariniidae 155	p. 322
Sparrows and petronias Passeridae 156-159	p. 324
Weavers Ploceidae 159-160	p. 330
Waxbills Estrildidae 159-160	p. 330
Accentors Prunellidae 161	p. 334
Wagtails and pipits Motacillidae 162-165	p. 336
Finches Fringillidae 166-171	p. 344
Buntings Emberizidae 172-176	p. 356
References and further reading	p. 366
Checklist of the birds of the Middle East	p. 368
Index	p. 376
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.