Product Description

The Field Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka is the first fully comprehensive, modern field guide to this ornithologically fascinating country. All of Sri Lanka's 426 official avian species are described in the text and depicted in 48 stunning new colour plates painted by Tim Worfolk, one of Britain's leading bird artists. The text, accessible to both experienced ornithologists and beginners, highlights the important identification features, such as plumage variations, size, calls and songs, range, distribution, and status, for every species. The plates illustrate the various plumage variations for each bird, and show the birds perched and also in flight, where relevant to their identification. An introduction to the guide describes briefly some of the best sites for watching Sri Lanka's abundant avifauna, and provides useful contact addresses for the prospective traveller. This will be an essential purchase for all birdwatchers travelling to the region; the beautiful plates and clearly-written text will also make it a must-have for anyone who loves birds, and Sri Lankan birds in particular.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #160959 in Books
• Published on: 1999-04-29
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 340 pages

About the Author
John Harrison has a lifelong interest in wildlife, and birds in particular. In 1973 he was appointed as a radio producer in the BBC Natural History Unit; during the 18 years he was there, he worked with most of the top naturalists and ornithologists in Britain. He now works on a voluntary basis as Press Officer with the Wildlife Trust in Bristol. As a birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast, he has made many visits to Sri Lanka over a number of years, and has a
first-hand knowledge of the Sri Lankan avifauna. John Harrison Box Bush Cottage Weston in Gordano Bristol BS20 8PZ Tel. 0127 584 3024 Tim Worfolk is a full-time wildlife artist with several publications to his credit. Amongst others, he has worked on the Handbook of the Birds of the World, Pica Press Shrikes of the World, Birds of South-East Asia published by New Holland, and Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, by Black.

Customer Reviews

A really professional handbook
For the current traveller this is probably the best identification guide you can take with you. The distribution maps are a bit generalised but they give a general idea, and changes in distribution and status since the time of such writers like Henry have been updated.

The illustrations throughout are thorough and the book does its best to help you distinguish between similar looking birds. More on vocalisations would have been helpful.

An invaluable and well illustrated reference overall.