Forshaw, Joseph M. Parrots of the World: An Identification Guide. Princeton University Press, 2006. Illustrated by Frank KNIGHT. Over 350 species, with more than 120 color plates, b&w illustrations, maps. Ecology, behavior, complete natural history. 416 pp. $65.00

From the macaws of South America to the cockatoos of Australia, parrots are among the most recognizable, and endangered, birds on earth. But until now, no easy-to-use guide existed for the identification of all species and subspecies of these colorful creatures.

Enter Parrots of the World, the most comprehensive handbook for distinguishing some 350 species of parrots from across the globe. Lavishly illustrated, with more than 120 color plates and additional illustrations, the book covers parrots in homes, zoos, and in the wild, providing detailed descriptions of their key identifying features.

By allowing readers to easily narrow their search to specific geographic areas, the book will prove especially useful to those interested in parrots of a particular locale. Descriptive distribution maps show the geographic location of the different species, and an entire section is devoted to ecological and behavioral information relevant to identification. In addition, the guide differentiates Old World and New World species and points out significant sex or age differences in plumage coloration.

Parrots of the World will provide enormous help to those engaged in gathering important field data and monitoring international trade, two initiatives that are of critical importance to the conservation of parrots worldwide.

Clear, complete, and colorful, this is one guidebook that no museum, research institution, zoo, or bird enthusiast will want to be without.

Key Features:

• Easy-to-use, geographic guide
• Treats some 350 species
• Color distribution maps for all species
• Lavishly illustrated, with more than 120 color plates and additional illustrations
• Includes ecological and behavioral information

Joseph M. Forshaw is one of Australia's foremost ornithologists and is recognized internationally as a leading expert on parrots. He is the author of several books, including Parrots of the World, with William Cooper; Australian Parrots; The Birds of Paradise and Bower Birds; Kingfishers and Related Birds; and Turacos: A Natural History of the Musophagidae.

Frank Knight has been an illustrator for more than twenty-five years, producing illustrations for scientific papers, books, and lectures. His work appears in A Field Guide to the Birds of Australia; and in A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia.