Field Guide to the Birds of Australia - 8th Edition

Nicolas Day, Penguin Random House Australia. OVER HALF A MILLION COPIES SOLD The most comprehensive one-volume book of identification that shows all Australian bird species, perfect for birders of all levels of expertise. Since its first release in 1984, Simpson & Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia has established itself as a premier reference for bird enthusiasts in Australia. This guide stands out for its comprehensive coverage and authoritative content, making it a top choice among Australian birders and birdwatchers. Enhance Your Birdwatching Skills The guide offers detailed and thorough instructions on "How to Observe a Bird," providing practical hints for birdwatchers to improve their birding skills. It's an essential tool for both novice and experienced bird enthusiasts, designed to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of birdwatching. A Visual Exploration of Australian Birds With 132 superb full-colour plates, the guide presents all Australian bird species in vivid detail. These are complemented by over 900 black and white line illustrations, enriching the visual experience and aiding in accurate species identification. Advanced Identification and Insights The guide includes key points of identification using the latest classification system, enhancing your birdwatching experience with scientific precision. It also features specialised sections on seabird identification by bill, particularly useful for identifying species like albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters. Comprehensive Birding Information Beyond identification, the guide offers habitat descriptions and distribution maps for all species. It includes checklists for Australian Island Territories and provides in-depth information on breeding and breeding cycles. A "Key to Families" section allows for easy comparison and location of bird families. Resource-Rich for Bird Enthusiasts This guide is not only about identifying birds but also about connecting with the wider birdwatching community. It includes rare and vagrant bird bulletins, a core library list, easy-to-use indexes, a glossary of avian terms, and a list of birdwatching and naturalist organisations. At a Glance > Expert bird observation techniques > Comprehensive species illustrations and identification tools > Detailed habitat and distribution information > Resources for connecting with the birdwatching community This eighth edition has been revised and updated, including some beautiful new plates. 'The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia is a masterpiece of a guide and a comprehensive resource for birding in Australia.' BirdfreakNicolas Day (Author) Nicolas Day was born in Surrey, England, and came to Australia at the age of ten. His interest in natural history and drawing has seen him conducting art classes around Australia, and his artwork has featured in Field Guide to the Birds of the ACT (with McComas Taylor, 1993) and Birds of the Solomons, Vanuatu and New Caledonia (with Chris Doughty and Andrew Plant, 2000). He was the natural history artist for the 1997 Raine Island expedition and has been on field trips to the Outer Hebrides and Macquarie Island in the subantarctic. He is currently an illustrator for the multi-volume work Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Nicolas regularly contributes illustrations for publication, and works to commission. Ken Simpson (Author) Ken Simpson was educated at University High School, Victoria, and has had a life-long interest in natural history. His career as a Research Technician in several institutions later led to a position as Lecturer in Primary Science at Deakin University. He is the author of Birds in Bass Strait (1972) and co-author of Birdwatching in Australia and New Zealand (with Zoe Wilson, 1998). Ken is a Past President and Honorary Life Member of the Bird Observers Club of Australia, the recipient of the Honorary degree, Master of Science, from Monash University (1974) and the Australian Natural Hi.…