Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World

By far the most authoritative and comprehensive work ever published on the birds of Africa. The editors and artists have worked closely with the nine authors of this volume - all internationally acknowledged experts on their bird families - to produce encyclopaedic accounts of each species. Volume IV covers the first 312 of the 1200 or so passerine species which offur in continental Africa and its outlying islands. As in the first three volumes, each breeding species receives full coverage with sections on range and status, description, voice, general habits, food and breeding biology. Non-breeding visitors to the continent are treated more briefly with a text concentrating on the birds' status and biology while in Africa. Range maps are shown for each bird and superspecies maps are given where appropriate. Once again Martin Woodcock has done full justice to the brilliant plumages of African birds. The large plates show the birds to their best advantage or adopt a more formal, field guide style to emphasise the identification points of the more difficult groups. Ian Willis' line drawings elaborate on displays and other patterns of behaviour described in the text. The beauty and scholarship of this now standard reference on African birds must ensure its place on every ornithologist's book shelf.Hancock, James A. is the author of 'Storks, Ibises and Spoonbills of the World', published 1992 under ISBN 9780123227300 and ISBN 0123227305.