Complete Photographic Field Guide Birds of Southern Africa: The Complete Photographic Guide Kindle Edition

Basics: softcover, 2,500+ good color photos of all 958 species in southern Africa, brief paragraph on identification, voice, status, and diet; simple linear calendar of months to show presence and breeding, seasonal range map for each birdThis is a very attractive book covering all 958 birds (plus 17 island and Antarctic species) known to occur in southern Africa. As with most guides to this region, southern is defined as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Lesotho. This book is a combination of two of the author's (Sinclair) prior books. Much like the " Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa  ", all species in the region are included. And, like the large format book " Southern African Birds: A Photographic Guide ", it contains high quality photos.This new book has two improvements. One, nearly every species is shown with multiple photos (versus just one) to illustrate differences between genders and seasons. Just a few birds are shown with only nicely drawn illustrations (e.g., Mottled Swift, Green Tinkerbird). Nearly every photograph is new. I found only a few birds with photos copied from the earlier books. The second feature is an improved range map. This map uses 6 colors to denote common/uncommon status within three categories of resident, summer, and winter.Nearly every photo is excellent. The color reproduction is to be commended as well. Some photos are slightly small (none less than 1 inch) but this does not distract from their quality. Most of the photographs are of decent size. In order to fit 9-16 photos on every page, the book was printed on larger pages. It's also nice to see the hawks shown both perched and in flight.The size of this book (10 x 6.5 inches) and its weight will make it somewhat bulky in the field. You'll need a small satchel or oversized pocket in which to carry it. I think a better use of the book will be back at camp or home where the day's bird sightings are re-examined after using a standard illustrated guide in the field. However, that is my standard opinion for any photographic field guide.The text for each bird consists of a brief paragraph with an average of 7-9 lines. Half of the content focuses on identification with the remainder on voice, status/biology, and diet. The identification material is concise and useful, but lacks sufficient depth for the more difficult groups such and wheatears, pipits, larks, warblers, or greenbuls. An illustrated field guide is recommended to compliment this book for illustrating race and age variations; and, for providing more identification material.This book is definitely worth having for its top quality photographs, the multiple poses, and for its completeness of all species in the region. There is not better photo guide. As for an identification/field guide, I recommend other books by either Sinclair or by Chittenden or by Newman. -- (written by Soleglad at Avian Review / Avian Books, July 2009)I've listed several related books below...1)  Southern African Birds: A Photographic Guide  by Sinclair/Davidson2)  Complete Book of Southern African Birds by Ginn/McIlleron3)  Ian Sinclair's Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa  by Sinclair4)  Roberts Bird Guide: A Comprehensive Field Guide Southern Africa  by Chittenden5)  Illustrated Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa  by Sinclair/Hockey/Tarboton6) Sasol Birds of Southern Africa by Sinclair7)  Newman's Birds of Southern Africa  by Newman8)  Birds of Africa South of the Sahara  by Sinclair/Ryan

Amazed at how quick this came!! Never thought I would get it so fast!! Don’t know how you do it but thank you so very much!! It will make my safari and birding trip to South Africa so much more rewarding, having had a chance for a bit of “pre-“ education as to what i will see in the Montane, the veld, the deserts, the grasslands, the jungle and more! Now I can’t wait for my trip to start!! Thanks!!

I purchased this title after a recent safari in Botswana, and noticed it was used by some of the guides. I used it to identify the birds I had photographed. I was easily able to identify which bird was which (with only a few I wasn't sure about - but this was due to my photographs, not the information in this book).I spent some time doing research on which might be the best resource for information on the bird life of southern Africa and this title kept popping up. Ian Sinclair has a reputation for producing excellent product and I completely agree. I highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to identify the birds on their Southern African Safari.

I ordered this book and also the Princeton Birds of South Africa. I returned this book as I prefer the drawings of the birds (often in several views--i.e. flight, sexual dimorph). I find the photographs with the backgrounds to be distracting and the bird is only in the side view, sitting on a branch.

Lovely book, can't wait to put it to good use. I am going to South Africa in 2014 and will see how many of these wonderful birds I can put a check mark next to.Thank you

I love this book. It is photographic which can make it harder to see details, but so far I'm finding it easy to use while watch South Africa on live webcam at Djuma Game Reserve [...]

Love the color and the way it's sectioned off and all the info you get on the birds. I have used the book several times already!

Book is very detailed with beautiful pictures. It is definitely not a field guide due to its weight, but serves as a great reference book.

Brilliant book used for two trips to Namibia and now had to return borrowed book so bought my own for trip next year could not do without it really clear pics and descriptions. a must have

Good, well planned book which provided great help on recent visit to South Africa.

Arrived on time as promised; book very good as I expected.

was very easy to use and was used constantly whilst in south africa. ended up buying another one for the family who live there.

Very concise information on each species with more than just the adult picture per species. Juvenile pictures are also shown