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Although a misnomer, the Princeton Illustrated Checklists series (American republications
of the Collins Illustrated Checklist series) has proven itself to be a well-done, highly useful
series of field guides. Compact and portable, de la Pena's Birds of Southern South America and
Van Perlo's Africa guides have become recommended bestsellers.
The newest addition to this series is Birds of Mexico and Central America by Ber Van Perlo.
Three guides already cover this territory, so what makes this guide different? We have put together
some comparisons of the available guides to the region to see how they stack up:
This review covers:
A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America by Howell
A Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas by Edwards
A Field Guide to Mexican Birds by Peterson and Chalif
Birds of Mexico and Central America by Van Perlo
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HOWELL, Steve N.G. and Sophie WEBB. A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central
America. Oxford University Press, 1994. 71 color plates by Sophie WEBB. 851 pp. Paper. $49.95
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This book is widely considered to be the best guide to the region, despite its large size.
It covers 1,070 species, including 180 endemics, with full descriptions of North American migrants
in their Mexican context. This guide does not include pelagics, shorebirds, and many other species
that are common in North America, focusing instead on the endemic and indigenous birds. Many of
these are introduced and illustrated in black and white in the text section. The color plates by
Webb are excellent. The color plates are at the center of the book again, but here they are
opposite brief identification text. The remainder of the information (ID, description, habitat,
habits, similar species, status and distribution, abundance, and range) are found in the bulk of
the text. Each account includes a distribution map. Regional political and geographical maps are
included in the introduction, which includes geography, distribution,
climate and habitat, migration, a history of Ornithology in the region, conservation, and birding
in the region.
Covers: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras and western Nicaragua.
Dimensions: 9.25" x 6.25" x 1.75"
Weight: 3 LB, 4 oz./ 1480 kg
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EDWARDS, Ernest P. A Field Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Adjacent Areas: Belize,
Guatemala, and El Salvador. Third Edition. University of Texas Press, 1998. 51 color plates
by Edward Murrell BUTLER. 209 pp. Cloth - $35.00; Paper - $22.95
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No other field guide for Mexico describes as many North American species, including shorebirds
and pelagics, making it possible to use this book as a single-volume guide to Mexican birds.
Only about 850 species are illustrated. Butler's artwork is very good, but the format is old-fashioned:
the color plates are crowded at the center of the book, with only an English name and page number
given. Many users complain about the organization of the species on the plates. The text makes up
the bulk of the book surrounding the plates. No distribution maps. No details on alternate plumages.
Covers: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador.
Dimensions: 8.25" x 5.75" x .75"
Weight: 1 LB, 2 oz./ 505 kg
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PETERSON, Roger Tory & Edward L. CHALIF. A Field Guide to Mexican Birds: Mexico,
Guatemala, Belize (British Honduras), El Salvador. Houghton Mifflin, 1973. 48 color plates
by Peterson. 298 pp. Paper. $22.00
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Covers 1038 species, including 28 accidentals. Common North American species are lacking here
as well. Color plates are in the center of the book opposite
abbreviated text. Expanded text throughout the book includes one or more of the following: field
marks, similar species, voice, and range. No distribution maps or regional maps. The artwork - well,
it's Peterson, enough said.
Covers: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador.
Dimensions: 7.25" x 4.5" x .75"
Weight: 14 oz./ 395 kg
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Birds of Mexico and Central America. Ber Van Perlo. Princeton University Press, 2006.
Princeton Illustrated Checklists series. 98 color plates by the author. 336 pp. $29.95
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Describes and illustrates every species of bird from Mexico to Panama. Illustrates more than
1500 species, the most by far of any other guide. Shorebirds and Pelagics are illustrated in
color plates. All plumages for males, females, and juveniles are illustrated. The artwork is
only so-so, but certainly good enough to identify by. The plates
are opposite concise text, which includes Latin and Spanish names, length, field marks, range,
habitat, habits, occurrence, and voice, much of which is in abbreviations. Distribution maps are
assembled together in the back of the book. Regional maps in the brief introduction.
Covers: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.
Dimensions: 7.5" x 5" x .75"
Weight: 1 LB, 3 oz./ 550 kg
So the decision of which guide is best for you lies in what you find most important. If you want
the best artwork available, or the most comprehensive information, the Howell and Webb is for you.
If portability and comprehensive coverage in a single guide is what you're looking for, the Van Perlo
certainly makes a case for itself. While we at Buteo Books still find the Howell and Webb to be the
hands-down winner for best quality guide, sometimes you simply can't face lugging a three-pound
tome around in your backpack. Comprehensive, concise, and portable, the Van Perlo guide seems to be
the perfect carry-along guide for ALL of Central America.
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