Selecting a field guide

	A redpoll, one of the many small brown birds that often require the use of a field guide to help identify them

Field guides are designed to help readers identify the birds they see, and are an essential early purchase for anybody who wants to get to know the birds around them. They are designed for use in the field, and are usually of a size that enables them to fit in a coat pocket. Be aware, though, that some are larger and heavier than others.

Detailed identification information is provided, and so are brief details of habitat preferences, abundance, seasonal occurrence, behaviour and distribution. All the guides contain illustrations of the species covered, and where it’s relevant, many separately show male, female, juvenile and seasonal plumage variations.

Numerous examples are available, all at relatively modest cost. Second-hand versions can also be purchased in bookshops, and on-line through Ebay, Amazon and ABE Books, for example. It’s worth remembering, though, that the geographical distribution of some birds has changed rapidly in recent years, partially, at least, as a result of climate changes, and distribution maps consequently rapidly become outdated.

Which field guide, then, is the most appropriate to buy?

Well, for the relative novice, a book of British birds is probably more suitable than one that includes all the species found in Europe. The British book will be of smaller size and will contain details of virtually all the birds likely to be encountered by the home-based bird-watching beginner, but will not cause confusion by including a great many others. And of course, as interest and skills develop, or when a foreign trip beckons, a more extensive guide can also be purchased.    

Then for the more seasoned birdwatcher who can already recognise most of the British species, the best buy is likely to be a book that includes the birds of mainland Europe and, maybe, those of even further afield.

For identification purposes, the text and illustrations in all the modern books are of a relatively high standard, and the differences come down mainly to geographical area covered; the number of species included; the number, size and clarity of illustrations; the amount and quality of information provided; and the page layouts.

Personal preferences also play a part. Some people, for example, may prefer illustrations produced by a particular artist, whilst others might like photographic illustrations. Preferences for layout and presentation, too, are very much a subjective matter. There’s a strong case, then, for browsing in a book shop before purchase, or examining the guides used by friends and acquaintances.

But despite the impressively high standards, none of the guides are perfect. All plumage variations are rarely included, nor is every quirk of posture, flight or behaviour that at times can be such a help when identifying difficult species. It’s always helpful, then, to have access to more than one guide.

In Britain, as a pocket guide I personally use a tatty old copy of a now out-of-print book – The Shell Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland, first published in 1983. It covers virtually all I’m likely to see when birding locally, and I’ve used it quite happily for the past 20 odd years. I do, though, have access at home to a number of other field guides, including the excellent Collins Bird Guide.

In addition to field guides, many other books are, of course, available, books that deal with far more than identification. All, though, are too large and heavy to carry in the field. Similarly, an extensive range of CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs is also available.

Relatively recently published field guides dealing primarily with British birds include the following:

Birdwatcher's Pocket Field Guide, Mark Golley. Published by New Holland Publishers (ISBN 1843301199). Contains details of 280 regularly seen species as well as some less common migrants, 208 pages, paperback, 102 x 197 x 14mm. Date of publication: 2003.

Complete British Birds: Photoguide, Paul Sterry. Published by Collins (ISBN 000717229X). Includes all British birds, 288 pages, paperback, 21 x 13.6 x 2.2 cm. Date of publication:       2004.

Pocket Guide Birds of Britain and Ireland, John Gooders. Published by Kingfisher Publishing (ISBN 0753407442). Contains details of 250 species. 256 pages, paperback, 150 x 104 mm. Date of publication:      2002.

RSPB Guide to British Birds, Hilary Burn, Peter Holden, J.T.R. Sharrock. Published by Pan Books (ISBN 0333907515). Deals with 300 species. 258 pages, paperback, 18.3 x 13 x 2 cm. Date of publication: 2002.

RSPB Handbook of British Birds, Peter Holden and Tim Cleeves. Published by Helm / A and C Black (ISBN 0713657138). Shows 280 species. 304 pages, paperback. Date of publication: 2002.

Relatively recently published field guides dealing with Britain and European birds include the following:

Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East, Lars Jonsson. Published by Christopher Helm (ISBN 0713652381). Includes virtually all species present, 559 pages, paperback, 20 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm. Date of publication: 1999.

Collins Bird Guide, Lars Svensson, Killian Mullarney, Dan Zetterstrom. Published by HarperCollins (ISBN – hardback: 0002197286; paperback 0007113323). 722 species, 392 pages, 21 cm x 14 cm. Date of publication: 1999 (Paperback 2001).

Guide to Birds of Britain and Europe, Haken Delin & Lars Svensson. Published by Philips (ISBN             9780540089697). 530 species, 320 pages, paperback, 20 x 12 x 2 cm. Date of publication:     2007.

New Birdwatcher's Pocket Guide to Britain and Europe, Peter Hayman and Rob Hume. Published by Mitchell Beazley (ISBN 1857328043). 430 species, 272 pages, hardback, 19 x 9 cm. Date of publication: 2002.