Product Description

This book provides a complete identification guide to the birds of this important region, including descriptions and colour illustrations of all 820 species found there, many of which do not occur anywhere else. Information is provided on where to look for endemic and insular forms and on major birding localities. Introductory chapters discuss habitats, climate, land-use, and conservation. This volume is intended for reference and for pleasure, for amateur and professional ornithologists, for birdwatchers and for tourists to Indonesia and region.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #101381 in Books
• Published on: 1993-07-29
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 692 pages

Customer Reviews

A well illustrated guide guide to the birds of the region.
I have been drooling over the birds in this book since I bought it. The illustrations are very good and the text is informative. There are tips on birding in rainforest and how to avoid leeches...

The only thing lacking is distribution maps but this is probably because noone is sure of the distribution of the birds in the region. The plates are very good, Karen Phillips has illustrated several regional bird guides (eg Birds of Hong Kong and South China). Basically this book would be essential to anyone heading this direction. There are illustrations of many of the races found on various islands as well as all the endemics. I can't wait to try it out in the field and see how good it really is!

A very useful book...
I reviewed this book two years ago- before I had been to Borneo. I was overly optimistic. It is a very useful book - I have travelled extensively in Borneo over the past two years and have always had it with me- I need a new copy as mine is now falling apart. There are however some misleading illustrations, text and some species confusion. One example is Scarlet and Temmincks Sunbird, several times I have met birders on Mt Kinabalu who are unaware of the mistake and don't realise there are different species. This is a good book to carry around but other reference books such as Craig Robson's SE Asian Birds (many species share the range), the new Smythies Bird's of Borneo help sort out confusion. In their defense they have done a good job given the difficulty in viewing some of the species. I assume some of the illustrations were derived from skins which must be difficult. Be aware of some of it's shortcomings but if you are travelling to Borneo buy this book!

Essential Birding Book
If you are birding - this is the book you need (albeit I understand another book is to be published shortly which will contain updates on Borneo alone). The division of the book into image plates and detailed description works well. It is a thick book but is still capable of bring carried around in a large jacket pocket. It does what it sets out to do - be a field guide.