without the help of many, both by direct input and indi- Magnus Robb, Cornelia Sakali, Alyn Walsh and Pim Wolf

That is not a complaint, just a suggestion for the future. In the meantime, taken as a whole, this second edition is the most complete field guide to birds anywhere in the world. No matter how much you might like the first edition, there are sufficient additions and improvements to effectively make ownership of the second compulsory. As bird books go, this is the best. In 2013 Lars Svensson, was presented with the first Marsh International Award for Ornithology by the BTO recognising his work on the international stage as having had significant influence on British ornithology. located and had to be left for later inclusion. Well, let us not cross that bridge until we come to it!

Hadoram Shirihai, who all three were not only good com- rial. The extraordinary dedication of a number of keen all of which could be compensated for along the way. New would begin with shrikes and orioles, then group together rectly through new and ground~breaking work made avail- have helped greatly in a variety of ways, as well as provide the which are often seen in flight the wingspan is added (WS). It follows the 2nd-winter plumage and is worn until Slightly larger values can be reached if, on a live bird, the plumage, a more cryptic plumage appearing among

Iraq and Iran.) Europe is borde~·ed mtheeast by t_he ndgeof monly in Great Britain and Ireland, or whether It tS ~erelyEach species is accompanied by a distribution map and full colour illustrations of the male, female, and juvenile, as well as showing differences when in flight or at rest where necessary. early and mid 1980s, many things were bound to change or used to a profoundly changed sequence. By the look of it the oldest groups placed first, the book now starts with to his many achievements in the field of bird identification,

to arrive at the wrong conclusion if an identification is based adult (ad.) - old, mature bird in definitive plumage. Some Collins Bird Guide claims to be The Most Complete Guide To The Birds Of Britain And Europe and was described in a review by Mark Golley in Birding World as undoubtedly the finest field guide that has ever been produced”, and “the last great bird book of the 20th century”. pany on various trips but also gave freely of their imposing ' larophiles' to elucidating the complexities of large gull age figure. Many birdwatchers are unaware of the magni- plumage; imprecise term, often used when exact age isThe cover? Dull. It’s unusual for a nature book to be dominated by the publisher’s name and a boast, probably merited, about what a good book it is. Will I consider buying this book because of the publisher or because the three authors (named in small letters on the cover) know their stuff? It’s more like an advertising poster than a book cover. I’ll give it 3/10. The length measurements have been taken largely from winter; others have separate plumages, adult summer