This book is a field guide based on a revision of Salim Ali and Dillon Ripley's Pictorial Guide to the Birds of the Indian Subcontinent, first published in 1983. The book deals with the birds of the Indian Subcontinent--India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, including the islands of Andaman and Nicobars, Lakshadweep, and Maldives and includes Afghanistan and the Chagos Archipelago. The main part of the book is taken up by bird topography and complemented by 112 plates containing illustrations of 1251 species to describe how their family/species perceived in the society. Additional notes of over 100 definite species are also provided to add special flavor to the reader. The Guide contains species descriptions to aid field identification, as there are quite a few bird species where a pictorial representation is not sufficient, especially to identify similar looking birds. The brief descriptions of the species have been added to enable quick identification, except for species where more detailing is required.

The detailed indices--of group and stand-alone names, common names, and scientific names of the birds of the Indian Subcontinent--would be of immense help to the serious scholars and researcher of birds of the Indian Subcontinent.

About the Author(s):
Ranjit Manakadan, Assistant Director of BNHS, he has been involved in projects on birds, elephants, Indian fox, blackbuck, fish and faunal diversity inventories.
J.C. Daniel, Director of BNHS from 1960-91 and is currently the Vice President of the Society. Author of a number of books and most well-known for The Book of Indian Reptiles and Amphibians (2001). Has also revised Salim Ali The Book of Indian Birds in 1996.
Nikhil Bhopale, Programmes Assistant, BNHS, he is an avid birdwatcher and widely travelled in sanctuaries of India.