Books for your Reference Library

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Handbook of the Birds of the World
Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks
Edited by Josep Del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal

Previously rated Top Birding Book of the Year. For the serious collector, ornithologist, or birding enthusiast, The Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) is the first work ever to illustrate and deal in detail with all the species of birds in the world. This handsome tome inaugurates one of the most ambitious publication ventures in the history of ornithology... I judge this major work to be the single most useful reference on birds of the world. It has taken until the end of the 20th C., but at last enough information and data have been amassed to enable the production of one work that treats all the species of birds of the world... In comparison with other birds-of-the-world books, this volume rests in a league of its own by virtue of its sheer magnitude and depth of coverage alone. The Quarterly Review of Biology, USA: The first volume of this ambitious project was received with universally enthusiastic reviews: rarely, it was said, does a book come up to and exceed expectations as this one did. Birds (RSPB), UK: The publication of the first volume three years ago already demonstrated that this Handbook is one of the most essential ornithological publications, and not only of this decade.

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Handbook of the Birds of the World
Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl
edited by Josep Del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott , Jordi Sargatal

Previously rated Top Birding Book of the Year. For the serious collector, ornithologist, or birding enthusiast, The Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) is the first work ever to illustrate and deal in detail with all the species of birds in the world. Reviewers have said: Without actually seeing and handling it, and leafing through its 638 (310 x 240 mm) pages, it would have been impossible to believe that Volume 2 could be better than its predecessor. For how do you improve on perfection? Avicultural Magazine, UK: Volume 2 of the 'ultimate handbook' fully lives up to the extremely high standard set by Volume 1. Birding World, UK: This second volume is an equally well-conceived, fascinating and highly readable reference which also looks to be worth its weight in gold.

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Handbook of the Birds of the World
Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks
edited by Josep Del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott , Jordi Sargatal

Previously rated Top Birding Book of the Year. For the serious collector, ornithologist, or birding enthusiast, The Handbook of the Birds of the World (HBW) is the first work ever to illustrate and deal in detail with all the species of birds in the world. TECHNICAL DETAILS OF VOLUME 3 310 x 240 mm 752 pages 60 color plates of birds 389 color photographs 577 distribution maps more than 8000 bibliographical references Published July 1996

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Handbook of the Birds of the World
Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos
by Hamilton A. Tyler, Donald R. Phillips (Illustrator)

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Handbook of the Birds of the World
Volume 5: Barn Owls to Hummingbirds
by Hamilton A. Tyler, Donald R. Phillips (Illustrator)

This book was previously rated Top Birding Book of the Year and reasonably so. Volume 5 covers Owls to Hummingbirds. The photographs, text and plates are excellent. This was an invaluable reference to the writing of this site. Some of the most current information about all the owls of the world, their classifications and an excellent coverage of the natural history and biology of each bird. This is one of the books that should be a part of all serious birders collection or just a wonderful book for all nature lovers. This is the most current volume of the first five in the set.
Sheri Williamson "...I would seriously consider investing money (and bookshelf space) in the entire set. For hummingbirds at least, this is the first modern treatment of all the world's known species, with illustrations and range maps as well as text, plus a detailed overview of current knowledge on biology, behavior, ecology, taxonomy, evolution, etc. Each species is illustrated field guide-style, with good representation of sexes and geographic variation."

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Handbook of the Birds of the World
Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills
by Josep Del Hoyo (Editor), Andrew Elliott (Editor), Lordi Sargatal (Editor)

Volume 6 covers three orders: the Coliiformes (mousebirds), Trogoniformes (trogons) and the ten families of the Coraciiformes - in all, about 270 species, comprising some of the most strikingly colourful and interesting birds.
The format remains the same as in previous volumes, with the bulk of a volume consisting of the taxonomic treatments, which are divided into two parts. One are the extensive accounts of the families, augmented by a rich selection of photographs, many illustrating different behavioural aspects. There are 385 well-reproduced colour photographs in this volume.