The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World.
Sixth Edition
By James F. Clements
Preface by John W. Fitzpatrick; Jared Diamond (Foreword); Anthony W. White (Foreword)
Published by Cornell University Press in collaboration with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, 2007.
843 pp. 8 ½" x 11"
Hardcover in dust jacket - $59.95

The Official World Checklist of the American Birding Association

After a very long wait (almost exactly a year since the first announced publication date), the sixth edition of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World is finally in stock. Last minute updates to common names delayed publication significantly, but the result is that this edition has the most up-to-date taxonomic information available, current as of January 1, 2007.

A hefty handbook, at 843 pages, a format of 8 ½" x 11" x 2", and weighing in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces, this book has it all, including subspecies. It includes a section on extinct species, appendices on the distribution of bird species and endemic bird species of the world, references, bibliography, and indices of English and Scientific names.

Birds have long held a unique dual role as a model group for scientists and as the focus of birders' passionate quests. Despite centuries of observation, each year brings the discovery and description of several entirely new avian species and hundreds of other taxonomic "splits" or "lumps" based on DNA data. In this arena of continual and increasing taxonomic change, The Clements Checklist presents the most up-to-date and most widely endorsed compendium of the more than 9800 species of birds recognized by the scientific and birding communities. This completely revised sixth edition is current as of January 1, 2007, and incorporates hundreds of updates since the last edition. In taxonomic sequence, it provides the scientific and English name of each species and a description of the worldwide range of each species and subspecies.

The most established resource on the taxonomy and biogeography of birds for the world birding community, The Clements Checklist is the official world checklist of the American Birding Association (ABA) and is used as the authoritative reference in the birding competitions and listing activities of this preeminent North American organization for serious birders.

Features of The Clements Checklist include:

• comprehensive indexes with all taxa listed by English and scientific names;
• tables and maps showing the world distribution of total bird species and endemics by geographic area, which will be of special interest to conservationists; and
• space to record the location and date of individual sightings, providing the user with a personalized ornithological journal.

REVIEWS

"Two of the great names of bird study: Clements and Cornell. The world of birders will benefit from the fruits of this new collaboration - this book is great news for all of us."
-Peter Kaestner, the third-ranked bird birder in the world.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

The late James F. Clements (1927-2005), a partner in the successful printing firm of George Rice & Sons, was a naturalist, entrepreneur, and adventurer.

Jared Diamond is Professor of Geography and Physiology at UCLA.

Anthony W. White is Chair of the American Birding Association Recording Standards and Ethics Committee.

John W. Fitzpatrick is Director of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.