Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds (HWPB)
This is the most complete photographically illustrated handbook of a region's birds ever produced. It covers a somewhat extended Western Palaearctic (including e.g. all of Iran, the entire Arabian Peninsula, all of Libya and Algeria as well as the Western Sahara), dealing with roughly 900 species in four planned volumes of approximately 650 pages each in large format. Each volume contains roughly 2200 photographs illustrating each costume (gender, age, spring, autumn and races). The text focuses on identification, sounds, age and sex determination and provides a summary of the rutting strategy. In addition, each breed accepted by the authors is treated in separate paragraphs with information on characters, distribution and wintering area, as well as a shorter or longer account of how the breed in question differs from other breeds. For each breed, separate biometrics have been developed after extensive work in museums. Finally, where applicable, comments are also provided on taxonomy, on recent findings and changes or on possible future ones. Each species presentation begins with a brief introduction to the species, how it is normally encountered or what is typical of it in terms of biotope or behaviour. For all breeding or regularly occurring species there is a newly produced map, where applicable with the boundaries between the races indicated.
The first volume of the manual also contains a short illustrated tutorial on how to use moulting contrasts and feather wear for age determination. It is intended that similar thematic chapters should be included in each volume.
Taxonomy: Although recent years' research relatively unanimously points to traditional taxonomy not accurately reflecting true kinship, and that a quite dramatically different order should be applied, HWPB has decided for practical reasons to follow the order applied in e.g. The bird guide and the British standard work BWP. It is likely that several minor new change proposals will see the light of day in the future, the taxonomy is still in a phase of change. It then seems more reasonable to apply an order that allows the majority of readers to quickly find the species they are looking for. HWPB briefly addresses the differences between the so-called traditional taxonomy and newer ones. Short family presentations are also provided at the beginning. The release will begin with the two-volume hardbacks, scheduled for summer 2018. The non-hardbacks will follow later.
Product information
Author: Hadoram Shirihai & Lars Svensson
ISBN: 9780713645712
Language: English
Weight: 5694 grams
Released: 2018-07-26
Publisher: Helm
Contributors: Guy Kirwan and Nigel Redman (editing), Magnus Ullman (maps), David Bigas, Javier Blasco-Zumeta, Nik Borrow, Simon Christiansen, José Luis Copete, Aron Edman, Marcel Gil, Alexander Hellquist, Magnus Hellström and René Pop ( image research).
Photographers: Over 500 different photographers appear in the two volumes, many with only single or few photographs, some with many. Among those with the most photographs can be mentioned Abdul Rahman Al-Siran, Rafael Armada, Aurélien Audevard, Amir Ben Dov, Carlos Gonzáles Bocos, Hanne & Jens Eriksen, Hugh Harrop, Lior Kislev, David Monticelli, Jyrki Normaja, Daniele Occhiato, René Pop, Mathias Schäf, Hadoram Shirihai, Norman Deans van Swelm, Markus Varesvuo and Edwin Winkel.