Birds Of Western Africa

by Borrow, Nik

• ISBN13: 9780691123219
• ISBN10: 0691123217
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-10
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

This new field guide uses all 147 color plates from Princeton'sA Guide to the Birds of Western Africa, with concise, authoritative text on facing pages, to create a compact, lightweight field reference covering all 1,285 species found in the region--from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic and south to Congo. It is the first field guide to cover this region exclusively and in such comprehensive depth, and will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the twenty-three countries and territories covered. Birds of Western Africaalso has an updated color distribution map for each species, conveniently placed on interleaved pages within the color plates. The plates, all original and painted by the same leading illustrator, comprise over 3,000 figures--including a number of new images painted for this field guide--and depict almost all the species described. The entries opposite the plates focus on key identification marks for all main plumages. Both authors have gained extensive field experience over many years in western Africa. Their knowledge and expertise shines through in this unprecedented and outstanding field guide to one of the world's most exciting birding regions.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDNENTS	8	(1)
INTRODUCTION	9	(8)
Area covered	9	(1)
Nomenclature	10	(3)
The plate captions	13	(2)
The plates	15	(1)
The maps	16	(1)
Authors' note	16	(1)
CLIMATE, TOPOGRAPHY AND MAIN HABITATS	17	(4)
RESTRICTED-RANGE SPECIES AND ENDEMIC BIRD AREAS	21	(2)
TAXONOMY: SOME DEFINITIONS	23	(1)
ORGANISAFIONS	24	(1)
BIRD TOPOGRAPHY	25	(3)
GLOSSARY	28	(5)
ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS	33	(1)
COLOUR PLATES 1-148
Ostrich
Struthionidae	34	(12)
Albatrosses
Diomedeidae	46
Petrels and Shearwaters
Procellariidae	38	(2)
Storm-petrels
Hydrobatidae	40	(6)
Penguins
Spheniscidae	46
Grebes
Podicipedidae	34	(6)
Tropicbirds
Phaethontidae	40	(4)
Gannets and Boobies
Sulidae	44
Cormorants
Phalacrocoracidae	34	(1)
Darters
Anhingidae	34	(1)
Pelicans
Pelecanidac	34	(10)
Frigatebirds
Fregatidae	44	(6)
Herons, Egrets and Bitterns
Ardeidae	50	(6)
Hamerkop
Scopidae	56	(2)
Storks
Ciconiidae	58	(4)
Shoebill
Balaenicipitidae	62	(1)
Ibises and Spoonbills
Threskiornithidae	62	(1)
Flamingos
Phoenicopteridae	62	(6)
Ducks and Geese
Anatidae	68	(12)
Osprey
Pandionidae	80	(1)
Vultures, Eagles, Hawks and allies
Accipitridae	80	(1)
Secretary Bird
Sagittariidae	80	(32)
Falcons
Falconidae	112	(6)
Guineafowl
Numididac	118	(4)
Quails, Partridges and Francolins
Phasianidae	122	(2)
Buttonquails
Turnicidae	124	(4)
Rails, Flufftails, Crakes and Gallinules
Rallidae	128	(8)
Cranes
Gruidae	136
Finfoots
Heliornithidae	134	(2)
Bustards
Otididae	136
Jacanas
Jacanidae	134	(8)
Painted-snipes
Rostratulidae	142
Oystercatchers
Haematopodidae	140	(1)
Avocets and Stilts
Recurvirostridae	140	(1)
Thick-knees
Burhinidae	140	(2)
Coursers and Pratincoles
Glareolidae	142	(4)
Plovers and Lapwings
Charadriidae	146
Sandpipers and allies
Scolopacidae	142	(22)
Skuas
Stercorariidae	164	(4)
Gulls
Laridae	168	(8)
Terns
Sternidae	176	(4)
Skimmers
Rynchopidae	180	(2)
Auks
Alcidae	182	(4)
Sandgrouse
Pteroclidae	186	(2)
Pigeons and Doves
Columbidae	188	(8)
Parrots and Lovebirds
Psittacidae	196	(4)
Turacos
Musophagidae	200	(2)
Cuckoos and Coucals
Cuculidae	202	(10)
Barn and Grass Owls
Tytonidae	212	(1)
Typical Owls
Strigidae	212	(8)
Nightjars
Caprimulgidae	220	(6)
Swifts
Apodidae	226	(4)
Mousebirds
Coliidae	230	(1)
Trogons
Trogonidae	230	(4)
Kingfishers
Alcedinidae	234	(6)
Bee-eaters
Meropidae	240	(6)
Rollers
Coraciidae	246	(2)
Wood-hoopoes
Phoeniculidae	248	(1)
Hoopoes
Upupidae	248	(4)
Hornbills
Bucerotidae	252	(8)
Barbets
Capitonidae	260	(6)
Honeyguides
Indicatoridae	266	(2)
Woodpeckers
Picidae	268	(6)
Broadbills
Eurylaimidae	274	(1)
Pittas
Pittidae	274	(4)
Larks
Alaudidae	278	(6)
Swallows and Martins
Hirundinidae	284	(8)
Pipits and Wagtails
Motacillidae	292	(6)
Cuckoo-shrikes
Campephagidae	298	(4)
Bulbuls
Pycnonotidae	302	(12)
Thrushes, Chats and allies
Turdidae	314	(18)
Warblers
Sylviidae	332	(36)
Flycatchers
Muscicapidae	368	(6)
Monarchs
Monarchidae	374	(4)
Batises, Wattle-eyes and allies
Platysteiridae	378	(8)
Picathartes
Picathartidae	386
Babblers
Timaliidae	384	(6)
Penduline Tits
Remizidae	390	(1)
Spotted Creeper
Salpornithidae	390	(2)
Sunhuds
neetariniidae	392
White eyes
zosteropidae	390	(12)
True Shrikes
Laniidae	402	(6)
Bush-shrikes
Malaconotidae	408
Helmet-shrikes
Prionopidae	406	(12)
Orioles
Oriolidae	418	(2)
Drongos
Dicturidae	420	(1)
Crows
Corvidae	420	(4)
Starlings
Sturnidae	424	(2)
Oxpeckers
Buphagidae	426	(4)
Sparrows
Passeridae	430	(1)
Weavers
Ploceidae	430	(24)
Estrildid Finches
Estrildidae	454	(14)
Indigobirds and Whydahs
Viduidae	468	(4)
True Finches
Fringillidae	472	(2)
Buntings
Emberizidae	474	(4)
Island Forms	478	(10)
REFERENCES	488	(5)
INDEX OF SCIENTIFIC NAMES	493	(9)
INDEX OF ENGLISH NAMES	502