Birds of the Seychelles

by Skerrett, Adrian

• ISBN13: 9780691088631
• ISBN10: 0691088632
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-04-16
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

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. There is simply no other choice for either the serious ornithologist or the casual birder.

Table of Contents

Introduction	4	(1)
Acknowledgements	5	(1)
Style and layout of the book	6	(3)
The islands	9	(8)
Important birdwatching sites	17	(2)
The climate	19	(1)
Abbreviations used in the text	19	(1)
Seychelles Bird Records Committee	20	(1)
Plants mentioned in the text	21	(2)
Glossary of terms	23	(2)
Origins of the birds of Seychelles	25	(2)
Checklist of the birds of Seychelles	27	(5)
Colour plates	32	(107)
Species accounts	139	(171)
Bibliography	310	(8)
Index	318