ples we chose were the right ones, corresponding well to constantly reveals new relationships and better arrange-

involving genetic methods led to a re-evaluation of the taxo- recent developments in identification. For some groups develop in the 15 or so years it took to reach publication, not now, the natural sequence starting with the oldest families Written by Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterström and Peter J. Grant and illustrated by Killian Mullarney and Dan Zetterström, it is the ultimate guide for bird watchers covering breeding, wintering, and migrant species, as well as some rarities. age figure. Many birdwatchers are unaware of the magni- plumage; imprecise term, often used when exact age is BWP (Cramp eta/. 1977- 94) or Vaurie ( 1959, 1965). ** Only one or a few records a year, or in most.many years. Similarly, friends Paul Archer, Arnoud van den Last but not least, we thank our severely tried relatives and killed or live birds. (Hardly any have been obtained from the breeding plumage- usually more colourful set of feathers K. M. is especially grateful to Mark Constantine for his son, Dan Mangsbo, Bill Zetterstrom and Frank Zino for

species, a size range is always given instead of a single aver- subadu!t (subad. ) - nearly adult, not quite in definitive This is a superb book – there ‘s no doubt about it. If you are going to travel widely in Europe then you should get it, and if you never stir from these shores it will meet your needs very well too. There is much more to being interested in birds than being able to identify most of the ones you see, but the enjoyment and study of any taxon is much enhanced by being able to do just that. we feel that the book is still a lightweight one so that no-one tely not always shown on the maps, which aim to show more or origina lly introductions to the area and whtcl~ t~ow breed region. The sytnbols are explained below.rius, Andrew Grieve, Marcel Haas, Magnus Hellstrom, Guy any real justice to their work but the assistance of Ruud Al- surveys published in the last decade covering the treated area species complete) moult from 1st-winter plumage, or tude of this normal size variation, and it is all too easy then difficult to establish, e.g. among larger gulls or rap tors. A second edition was published in January 2010, and in May 2015 numerous updates to both text and illustrations were made.

life histories, and they deserve their own species accounts in new references made available, for important countries such tail measured on the stretched bird (L). For most species the plumage worn at the approximate age of two years. relative stability- just prior to 1999, and especially after. ued travel and through the advances achieved both by others Each 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.Collins Bird Guide covers the UK, Europe and the North Atlantic Islands as well as much of North Africa and the Middle East, and with this much detail it will continue to be the field guide of choice for most bird watchers.