Orlando H. Garrido

A comprehensive field guide to the birds of Cuba. The largest island in the Caribbean, Cuba contains a vast range of ecosystems, from scrub and grasslands to mountain ranges and coastal mangrove forests. These landscapes are home to an amazing diversity of avifauna, including 29 extant endemic species along with many other near-endemics and a large number of migratory birds, making Cuba a highly attractive destination for birders. Revised and updated throughout, this second edition includes high-quality colour plates illustrating more than 370 species recorded in the region, with informative text on facing pages for easy reference. Written by Cuba's two leading ornithologists, the concise species accounts describe key identification features, voice, habitat and behaviour, and are accompanied by accurate colour distribution maps. The definitive field guide to this magical birding destination, Birds of Cuba is an essential companion for any visiting birder or naturalist.

This fully updated second edition of Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba offers a comprehensive and user-friendly guide to the identification of the more than 370 recorded species and 29 extant endemic species in the country. It incorporates changes to the composition of the avifauna of Cuba while remaining an accessible introduction to Cuban birds—including the irresistible Cuban Tody, the dazzling Cuban Trogon, and the diminutive Bee Hummingbird—the smallest species of bird in the world. • All new design features 95 color plates and more than 700 images, depicting male, female and, when relevant, juvenile plumages. • Species accounts include range maps, detailed descriptions, distinguishing characteristics, a list of habitats where the bird is found, behaviors, and vocalizations. • Winter and breeding plumages are included for migratory species—extremely useful for identifying the large number of birds that migrate south from North America. A definitive guide from the country's best birders, Arturo Kirkconnell and Orlando H. Garrido, Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba presents a wealth of knowledge accumulated over a lifetime of work.

A compact yet comprehensive guide to the birds of the West Indies. The islands of the Caribbean feature among their number some of the great destinations in world birding, including a host of special endemics. The islands are the haunt of scarce seabirds, dazzling hummingbirds, macaws and amazons, and in the todies and spindalises there are even some endemic families, while a wide suite of birds – notably warblers – either winter or pass through en route to North American breeding grounds. This compact guide is the perfect accompaniment to any birdwatching break in the region. Stunningly illustrated throughout, the book features detailed accounts of more than 600 species across more than 100 plates, with facing text describing field marks, range, status, voice and habitat. Accurate distribution maps are included, along with a colour code for endemics and an incisive introduction that discusses avifaunal changes in the Caribbean in recent years. Now in its second edition, this book is the only guide you'll need to help you enjoy the rich birdlife of these tropical island nations.

An updated edition of the acclaimed field guide to the spectacular birds of the West IndiesBirds of the West Indies is the first field guide that covers and depicts all birds known to occur in the region, including infrequently occurring and introduced forms. Now fully updated and expanded, this stunningly illustrated book features detailed accounts of more than 600 species, describing identification field marks, range, status, voice, and habitat. There are more than 100 beautiful color plates that depict plumages of all species—including those believed to have recently become extinct—as well as distribution maps, a color code for endemic birds, and an incisive introduction that discusses avifaunal changes in the West Indies in the past fifteen years and the importance of conservation. Covers more than 60 new species, including vagrants, introductions, and taxonomic splitsUpdates the status of every speciesFeatures illustrations for all new species and improved artwork for warblers and flycatchersColor codes endemic species confined to one or just a few islandsIncludes many new and enhanced mapsProvides bird weights for each speciesCompact and easy to use in the field

This is the first comprehensive field guide to the birds of the West Indies to appear in more than fifty years. It covers all 564 bird species known to occur in the region (including migrants and infrequently occurring forms). Each species is represented by a full description that includes identification field marks, local names, status, habitat, voice, nesting, range, and comments about the bird. A map showing the bird's distribution accompanies each species account. Plumages of all species are depicted in eighty-six beautifully rendered color plates. Twelve of these plates feature individual endemics from each of twelve islands. Another seven plates feature the island endemics of the largest islands: Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. Because the region is known for its extraordinary variety of avifauna and because no other accurate modern account of its birdlife exists, this book is a landmark publication that will be widely hailed by serious birders and amateur birdwatchers alike. The authors pay particular attention to endangered and threatened birds. For each island or island group, local experts have been invited to provide a survey of efforts made to date to conserve birds and their habitats. For many years there has been a need for an up-to-date field guide that could satisfy local residents, vacationing tourists, and "armchair travelers." At last, that need has been met with this fully illustrated Guide to the Birds of the West Indies.