Birds of Europe: Second Edition (Princeton Field Guides, 59)

Once you've gotten used to the quality of Sibley bird guides, I suspect it ruins most other bird guides for you. This guide is alright but the authors seem most interested in emphasizing similarities between species rather than emphasizing distinguishing traits. I get that the intention is to give readers a sense of caution to prevent overconfident birders from making misidentifications, but as a serious birder I am still interested in knowing which features will allow me to confidently make an identification. The text also includes much unnecessary description, such as species traits the authors personally find amusing, and many descriptors that are nearly useless for identification, like "cute" or "handsome". Field guides are already so limited in how much information they can provide, without unnecessary commentary. Overall, may still be the best option for this region. I just want Sibley to make a guide for the entire world!

When you're holding this little piece of excellent craftsmanship, detail and information it's not difficult to find out why it is considered one of the best field guides in the world.This is the American version of the book (exact same content, different publisher. The original one is from Collins publishers) in its new, revised second edition. If you're looking for a field guide to the birds of Europe (and beyond!), look no more. This field guide is just...plain...AWESOME.Note: This field guide covers much more than just Europe and Iceland. It also covers all of Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, West Bank (Palestinian authority) and Jordan, plus the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt), and all of Northern Africa that is 30º North (extreme northernmost Morocco, northern Algeria, all of Tunisia, extreme northernmost Libya, and extreme northernmost Egypt north of Cairo or Nile delta). In addition, it covers all of Russia west of the Ural mountains (a little farther, actually--up to the mainstream of the Ob river east of the Ural mtns.,about 65º E). It also covers north Atlantic islands near Europe/North Africa, such as the Azores, Madeiras, Canaries and Selvages.Now to the review:First of all, the basic organization and layout of the book is clear and easy to use--no flipping through field guide plates to text to maps. The illustrations are on one side and the text directly on the other. However, unlike most field guides that use this layout, the text is much more lengthy and informative. The maps are found directly below the text.As for the illustrations, they are like nothing I've ever seen before. They aren't extremely detailed, allowing the birds to look alive and realistic. In addition, practically every plumage is shown, including variations and subspecies. Arrows and text point out distinctive field marks, behavior and other important characteristics. But the most amazing thing is that 85% of the time they show you a drawing of the bird in the distance in its natural habitat, just the way you'd see it in the field.The text is very informative. Field marks are described in italics in order for one to find them easily. It also provides the bird's population/range status (abundant, common, uncommon, rare, vagrant, etc.). Note: The type is somewhat small, but unless you have eye problems this shouldn't be a problem (if you do have eye problems, you may want to purchase the large format edition published by Collins, or use a magnifying glass).Towards the end of the book there are several lists of rarities or vagrants that have made their way to the area, even if they have been recorded only once.What could be improved on:Overall, this field guide is absolutely awesome and a must for every birder--even if you don't live in Europe. However, I believe the introduction could be a little lengthier and the maps and type a little bit larger. The other thing is that it would be useful if political country lines were shown, but the problem isn't that big (although it should be considered when making a third edition).However, this DEFINITELY should NOT prevent you from getting this field guide.

A super guide, and the newest English edition based on a Swedish original which has been translated into 13 languages and which has sold nearly three-quarters of a million copies.Quality is the highest of any guide I've seen. Colors are true (If color is off, identification may be impossible.) The print, although small, is clear and easy to read (An exasperating number of sightings seem to occur at dusk or dawn.) and the paper is high-grade (If the book goes outside it's eventually going to get wet.)Svensson compresses a tremendous amount into the text, and along with taxonomy and terminology, the tight, 6-page introduction offers a wealth of practical advice. The distribution maps extend well beyond Europe to the east and also take in much of North Africa. They are small, however, and unfortunately the abundance symbols, often a useful tool, are limited to England and Ireland. There's a great section at the back on vagrants and accidentals.Mullarney's and Zetterstrom's illustrations are truly excellent and also in a class of their own. They often give multiple depictions on the ground and in-flight, both from above and below, along with examples of slight coloring variations. (Don't even think about buying a guide with photographs -- a good illustration is "truer" than a photo and far, far, far easier to use.)The downside is the quality of the book may limit its usefulness in the field. The amount of information and the profusion of illustrations make it nearly twice the size (and weight) of good older guides (now out of print) and it's maybe 10-times bigger than pocket guides.If you're going to put it on a bookshelf or pigeon-hole it in a Volvo or Land Rover along with a magnum set of binoculars, that won't matter. For a Cinquecento? A tight fit. If it needs to go in a purse, carry-on, suitcase, knapsack, backpack, saddlebags or bicycle panniers? I'd still buy it, but I'd also get a pocket guide and leave this one home or back at base-camp for later reference. Anyway, it's the kind of book it would be a shame to see beaten up.

This is an excellent book, but I find that it is identical with Collins Bird Guide, which I already have. The only difference is that my copy of the latter is at least 10 years old , well loved and well used and consequently now quite battered. So, if you already have Collins Bird Guide and it is not falling apart, no need to buy this one.

Love this. Book excellent, good illustrations and pictures. Would reccomend to any twitchers out t here.

Excellent book. Clear pictures very informative.

Very good

Gorgeous book. Great quality, smells nice, clear print. Lovely illustrations and cohesive text. Very easy to navigate. It's very well structured and has great information that helps identify the birds as clearly as the detailed illustrations. Would highly recommend!