Birds of East Africa is the first comprehensive field guide to this spectacular birding region--and one of the best to any region in the world. Covering all resident, migrant, and vagrant birds of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi, this small and compact guide describes and illustrates a remarkable 1,388 species in convenient facing-page layout. Featuring 287 new color plates with 3,400 images painstakingly rendered by three experienced artists, the guide illustrates all the plumages and major races likely to be encountered. Set opposite the plates are range maps and concise accounts describing identification, status, range, habits, and voice for each species. Introductory sections provide notes on how to use the species accounts, the nomenclature adopted, conservation issues, where to send records, and maps of protected and other important bird areas.

Between them, Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe have more than 40 years' experience leading bird tours and conducting conservation work in East Africa. The region shelters a remarkable diversity of birds, including many seriously threatened species with small and vulnerable ranges. The region's birds form a constantly colorful, noisy, and highly extroverted part of the landscape. The book is sure to become an indispensable guide for anyone interested in studying or conserving birds in East Africa, as well as the many visitors who simply want to enjoy the sheer beauty of its birds.

• First comprehensive field guide to the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi
• Covers 1,388 species, with 3,400 color images on 287 plates
• Concise species accounts facing the plates describe appearance, status, range, habits, and voice
• A color distribution map is given for each species
• Information on habitats, protected areas, and conservation issues
• The essential guide to the birds of this spectacular region
• An overview of East African birds
• East African environment
• Seasonality
• Plumage
• Species accounts
• Common alternative names
• Conservation and threatened species
• The local scene
• Glossary, references, and an index

Key Features:

• Small and compact
• Comprehensive species
• All distinctive plumages and races illustrated
• Color plates
• Illustrations
• All species ranges mapped
• Key protected and important bird areas mapped

This is the American edition of book first published in the Helm Field Guides series. Though it has a different cover, the content is the same.

Reviews:

For birders with an interest in the region and those planning a trip, look no further. With the publication of this guide we have distilled into one book all the good elements of what has gone before but better. . . . The plates are the book's tour de force and are simply outstanding. . . . This is by far the best and most exciting guide available for anywhere in Africa.--Ken Arber, Surfbirds.com

The illustrations in this guide are of a very high standard and show the detail needed for field identification whilst remaining of an artistic quality that makes the book an attractive object as well as a useful one. . . . The brief descriptions are excellent and the language fresh and punchy. . . . A very fine field-guide indeed and sets a new standard for regional African guides.--Fatbirder.com

As soon as you open the book, you'll realise that the standard of artwork is exceptional. The text is also of an unusually high standard. . . . If you are planning a trip to Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda or Burundi this is now unquestionably the most valuable book you can buy. And if you aren't yet planning a trip there this is the perfect book to get you dreaming.--Birdguides.com

If East Africa is in your dreams, this should fill the bill.--Charles E. Keller, Indiana Audubon Quarterly

Table of Contents:

List of Plates ix
Preface xv
Landscapes xv
Sites xviii
Seasonality xix
Taxonomy and names xix
Speicies accounts xx
Maps xxiii
Recent Records xxiv
Conservation xxvi
Additional reading xxvii
Acknowledgements xxvii
The species accounts with colour plates 1
Indexes 575
Important Bird Areas in East Africa 603.

Fairly significant changes from the first edition. 39 plates that were previously painted by Norman Arlott have been re-done by John Gale and Brian Small, and several other plates have also been altered.