Product Description

A lively, large format, lavishly illustrated family reference guide to the birds of Europe 'Dunnocks have a pretty spicy sex life...they exhibit monogamy, polygyny, polyandry and polygynandry, and any individual may embark on any one of these possibilities in any season, sometimes actually changing its arrangement in between broods. Few other birds enter such a realm of choice. How this list of options arises requires some explanation...' Bird books are not always considered a compulsive read, yet Dominic Couzens has achieved precisely this. Birds communicates the secret lives and astonishing beauty of all the species in Britain and Europe. Featuring over 450 species of bird that can be found regularly within Europe, this complete photographic guide provides a comprehensive and authoritative text along with some of the best bird photography in the world. The characteristic appearance and behaviour of every species is clearly identified, and there is at-a-glance information on food, song, habitat, migration, breeding and behaviour / Each species is illustrated with a sumptuous colour photograph and artworks to show different plumages / Maps accompany each species to show distribution and breeding ranges Memorable descriptions and often astonishing facts make even our commonest birds worthy of new attention. Organised taxonomically, entries vary in length from longer articles about the more iconic species, to shorter descriptions for similar species within a family. Beautifully illustrated with over 500 colour photos and 1000 illustrations, Birds makes an ideal gift for bird-lovers and complete beginners alike.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #502669 in Books
• Published on: 2005-10-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 336 pages

From the Inside Flap
This beautifully illustrated reference guide to all the birds of Britain and Eruope takes you beyond the information you might find in a field guide. Dominic Couzen's sparkling text conveys the secret lives, bizarre habits and fascinating behaviour of over 420 European species. Organised taxonimcally, entries vary in length from longer features on the more iconic species, to shorter articles for similar species within a family. His memorable descriptions and often astonishing facts make even our commonest birds worthy of new attention and bring to life the extraordinary diversity of closely related species.

Birds is also a visual feast, showing the astonishing beauty of all the species in Britain and Europe through the best bird photography in the world. There are also distibution maps, identification information and artwork to give you a truly encyclopedic level of information. With 500 stunning colour photos and over 1000 illustrations, Birds makes an ideal gift for bird lovers and complete beginners alike.

From the Back Cover
Birds is the ultimate reference book to the secret lives, bizarre habits and fascinating behaviour of all the species in Britain and Europe. This lavishly illustrated guide provides a comprehensive and authoritative text along with some of the best bird photography in the world.

About the Author
Dominic Couzens has written many books on birds and birdwatching, including two books published by Collins: Birds by Behaviour and Birds of Britain and Ireland. He is a regular leader of specialised tours both home and abroad, and is a regular contributor to Birdwatch magazine.

Customer Reviews

Lovely
I have had this book since summer 2006, and I just can't stop picking it up and looking at it. Firstly, it's a big book - not the sort you could carry round with you out on your travels. Secondly and more importantly though, it's not the sort of book that you would carry round with you anyway - that is to say, it isn't an identification guide, rather a delightful insight into the behaviour of the birds of Britain and Europe. Every species you could possibly want to know about is detailed, with lovely information on how they go about their daily lives. The text is accompanied by some beautiful photographs, and although some are small, as this isn't an identification guide, it doesn't really matter. Whenever I see a bird that tends not to show itself too much round here, or even if I'm just watching the regulars in my garden, I tend to head straight to this book to find out more about how they live, what they get up to and I am never disappointed. So if you are already familiar with even just a few of the birds of Britain and Europe and now want to delve a little deeper into their fascinating and often complex lives, this is the book for you.

Coffee Table Birding
Amazing book, full of interesting facts and glorious photographs. Definitely not a field guide but great for browsing with a hot mug of tea following several hours sitting in a chilly hide. My copy sits on the coffee table and is dipped into almost every evening! It's also a really good price, however I got mine for half price in Waterstones a year ago, super bargain!!