Very good guide for the local birds. As with all guides some of the drawings could be better.

We had this family of birds in our front yard tree that were new and unique to us. I ordered this book for my husband, and within minutes we figured out what type of bird it was! A great book.

As a novice birder, identifying species is the most challenging facet. This book is set up to facilitate rapid identification of the birds you encounter. Thumbnail pictures in the front section allow for rapid scanning of various species' prominent features without paging endlessly through the book. The data on each bird in subsequent pages is succinct and interesting to the casual or begining birder. Esoteric information is pleasantly omitted. I use it more than my Sibley guide.

A Field Guide to the Birds of China is a must for any traveler who wants to identify birds in China. De Schauensee's earlier Birds of China is not really a field guide although it provides useful background reading. A Field Guide to the Birds of Japan includes a lot of the species occurring in eastern China, and the Beijing area is included in most of the range maps, so if you don't have the MacKinnon-Phillips new guide, this is second best.

All species of known regular occurrence somewhere in China are illustrated in excellent drawings by Karen Phillips, all but a few in full color. Colored range maps are on the page facing each of the 128 plates. The text for each species provides a detailed description, voice, distribution and status, habits (useful), and in some cases a note on taxonomy.

I used this book for more than two weeks in China during October 2001 and confidently identified every bird I got a decent look at. (Regrettably, eastern China is not exactly overrun with exotic birds, but you can find some interesting species even in the cities.)

The most noticeable problem with this book is its sheer bulk; at 256 pages of plates, 586 pages of text, and some front material, this monster tops out at well over 800 pages and won't fit in most fanny packs, not to mention pockets. So taking a utility knife with a new blade, I sliced the spine following the last plate and taped the last page to the spine, creating a book of front matter, 10 pages of introduction and all the plates and range maps--a tad over a third the thickness of the whole book. A few species are illustrated in black-and-white in the text, so I xeroxed those (with their black-and-white range maps) and pasted them below the range maps of appropriate plates. I left the text home.

The book is not without minor errors, of course. For example, the range maps on plate 35 mistakenly call the Red Phalarope the Red-necked Phalarope, with the same error in the scientific name (although, curiously, the Chinese name appears to be correct). Both species are illustrated. On plate 56 the illustration of the Red-throated Loon is mistakenly marked with the species number of the Common Loon (which is also illustrated and correctly numbered on the same plate). On plate 72 the female Japanese Paradise-flycatcher is so marked but the symbol for the male is missing. Most users can figure out such slips.

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This book is absolutely essential for any birder who plans to visit any of the regions covered in this guide. The plates are very good and the descriptions are detailed. This is probably the most up-to-date guide for the region. The taxonomy is based on Sibley and Monroe, and nearly all subspecies and their ranges are listed. There is even an edition in simplified Chinese available in China and Hong Kong. However, covering such a broad region has its drawbacks, and at least in Taiwan, I recommend that this book be used more as a reference than field guide. A bird's voice often varies across its range, and the status of a species in one location can be completely different in another. For example, the White-bellied Green Pigeon, described by the book as "very rare," is in fact common in Taiwan. The quality of the plates is sometimes inconsistent (e.g. the geese and swans on plate 7 look very small!). Also, errors I've noticed include where the range map does not correspond with the descriptions (e.g. Eurasian Jay, plate 67), the bird number on the plate does not correspond with that of the range map and descriptions (e.g. Varied Tit, plate 88), and some typos (e.g. Pygmy Wren Babbler subspecies, plate 105). Although Appendix 2 lists the species endemic to the region, it left out at least three species from Taiwan (Yellow Tit, Collared Bush Robin, and Taiwan Whistling Thrush). In general, this book is excellent and highly recommended, but I do hope a new edition will be published in the future that fixes the errors and include new discoveries made since publication (e.g. Chinese Crested Tern, Taiwan Bush Warbler).

This field guide is a well done book introducing the birds of China to its readers. It is fairly standard as far as field guides goes in content. The book contains 128 color plates depicting the birds of China with the corresponding range maps opposite the plates. Next, the descriptions of the 1329 species are given. Herein lies the major problem with the book, the descriptions are not adjacent to the plates; however, had the book been arranged in this manner, the number of pages would have at least doubled and the book is already a bit cumbersome for use as a field guide at its present size.

A couple of other bits of useful information in this book include a map detailing vegetation type and an introduction to the region. Also, a list of protected and endangered species is included. For researchers, a nice bibliography is also included. Whether you just want to look at birds from a country you never plan on going to, or if you intend to go birding in China, this book is for you.

This is a good book with good information. The book was received in excellent condition (new) and in a very timely manner.

I have raised pigeons for over 45 years and have read most everything avaiable about them, This book is a very good one and has lots of pictures that give the reader a clear picture of what he is describing in the text. There are not many good books on the racing side of the sport so this one should be welcomed. I would highly recommend it to anyone that has an interest in learning more about raising or racing pigeons.

An amazing book! Excellent. Brilliant. Inspired. This book is brimming with wit and humor and is a wonderful example of the genius that sprouts out of the European people on occasion. A book like this is as rare as they come... Glover and Beaumont are surely paving the way for a new breed of comedy. Keep an eye out... this book is sure to win a Pulitzer. I can only hope to hear more from these outrageous new authors in the future. Truly!

This book is a trip through Roma from a pigeon's point of view. The pigeon flies around, through, over and past many of Rome's historical landmarks, and a brief section in back describes their history and significance.

I checked this out of the library to read with my 5 year old after I went to Rome last year, and bought a copy for myself, just to enjoy the pictures and the memories they bring! The Chiesa de San Ignazio (Church of St. Ignatius) is an especial favorite, as my choir performed there to a "standing room only" crowd! Quite a feat for an amateur choir on their first overseas tour!

The pen and ink sketches, the snippets of history, and the wonderful way they evoke the charisma of Rome make this a great addition to any child's or adult's library.

Share David MacAuley's obviously personal portrait of Rome. It's a portrait in the most obvious sense: lovingly detailed drawings of Rome's greatest architecture captured from MacAuley's witty and often weird perspective. But, through the drawings and the wonderful conceit, you see that this little book is also a personal exploration of a city that touches the heart.

This is the finest illustrated gift book for the Romaphiles that you love!! Get it now and make a gift to the one you love. It will be appreciated for years to come.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this anthology, but I found myself enthralled from beginning to end. Nnedi Okorafor's "Crossroads", Seth Lindberg's "Atropos", and James Dorr's "Madness" were special delights.

A great mix of chilling, horrifying, and otherwise entertaining stories.

This is a great compilation of magic, madness, culture and creativity. All of the stories were pretty satisfying, some of them terrifying! There are some writers here that are going to go places. Watch for the authors of the two longest pieces, Nnedi Okorafor (her story is called Crossroads) and James S. Dorr (he wrote a story called Madness).

Each day at work I have to read the new picturebooks that have been proccessed. I dislike few of them. I enjoy most of them. I love very few of them...especially on first perusal. "Angelo" is one of the very few.

It's the story of the unlikely friendship between a master plasterer (Angelo) and a pigeon he dubs Sylvia. He finds her wounded on the ledge of a building he is restoring & takes her in despite his negative opinions of birds. (The pigeon hospital bed he rigs up for her is wonderful). She flies off after convalescing...only to return when he needs companionship to see him to the end of his last great job. In thanks, he creates a tribute to her...a tribute only he could create & one only a pigeon could appreciate.

The story is heartwarming, but the pictures are silly, cinematic, and inspired. This is a treat to read (for young and old) and it is my pick (so far) for Caldecott 2002...

This restoration was to be Angelo's crowning glory, his masterpiece, and as he begins his work on the old church, brushing away years of debris left by birds, and searching the nooks and crannies for cracks that would need repair, he comes across a sick and injured pigeon. Angelo was not a fan of pigeons, after all they made a mess of his buildings, but he couldn't bear to leave this helpless, "barely breathing" creature to die, So he scoops her up in his hat and takes her home. There he names her Sylvia, nurses her back to health, and they become devoted to each other. As time goes by, Angelo grows older and tires easily, and he worries that he won't be able to finish his "crowning achievement". Sylvia works by his side every day, cooing her encouragement, fanning him with her wings in the hot weather, and entertaining him when he rests. And on a warm November day "Angelo finally applied the last coat of stucco to the cherubs in the high pediment." But he still has one more task to finish before his work is complete..... David Macaulay has authored a captivating and poignant picture book about an unusual and enduring friendship. His gentle text is beautifully enhanced by his evocative and expressive illustrations, full of charm, humor, and marvelous architectural detail. Together word and art tell a heartwarming and endearing story of a life fulfilled by dedication to work and special companionship. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Angelo is told with great insight and wisdom, and makes a terrific read aloud story the entire family can share.

I read this book some 25 years ago. Several times in fact. I am delighted to find that it is back in print! The trials and triumphs described are great lessons for experienced as well as novice falconers. A good object lesson for analyzing the personal preparations for handling such a large and powerful raptor.

Sam Barnes deserves our utmost respect for the huge efforts he made to bring a Berkut Golden Eagle from behind the iron curtain to the county side of wales. Once he received her his "battles" had just begun. He had to tame a raptor that could easily kill him with her talons as she had killed wolves in the wild. Mr. Barnes discribes the sad treatment Atalanta recieved by her cruel captors, the tender affection she showed for an "adopted" owlet and the savagery which always lurked just below the surface of this beautiful creature. If you love animals, raptors or a good story about a person who wanted to make a difference using will, love and patience do not miss this book. At the end you will want it to go on and on.

This is a really fun book to read. Its full of short essays on a variety of topics that we often wonder about. Its broken into a couple of chapters and a few of the topics in each: Birdwatching (with topis like definition of a birder, magic moments with the birds, tools of the trade), birds in the backyard (weird nesting sites, housing crunch for birds, pesticides and birds, a striking problem), basic bird biology (can birds smell, how birds beat the winter chill, why do birds change their feathers, do birds really mate for life), Birds we've come to love and hate (bluejays, why hummingbirds hum, redpolls, canada goose)

That's just a little of what is in here. Its just such a neat book, and an easy read. You can read an essay then put the book down and go do things then come back and pick up another essay. I really enjoy it and plan to give it as gifts next christmas

This book is an insightful look into the world of birds. Each chapter or section is short and easy to read. Very enjoyable and fun to read, while at the same time, very factual. If you have ever wondered why a bird did a certain thing, or which is the best bird feeder to buy, this book is just the ticket!

Excellent book with comprehensive coverage and high quality plates. Book production quality is also high. My edition is small enough in hardback to be a true "Field Guide" although I understand that a new larger edition has been recently published, if plate quality is maintained this edition will be an excellent reference. If you have questions about this text go to amazon.co.uk and read some of the reviews there. This book recieved the British Trust for Ornithology seal of approval so anything an amateur like me might add is probably superfluous. Excellent reference, nice plates and informative and accurate text

This book help me a lot during several bird trips on my first visit to Europe in 1999. I have travelled in several countries. Sometimes with very keen birders, other times alone. It would be impossible for me to be in the field in conditions to identify so many birds, without this valuable book. Excellent pictures. It's my new standard on international field guides.

What a SHOCK to open both of Sibley's Eastern and Western Field Guides and find Alberta transposed with British Columbia on the endpaper map at the back of each book. I opened a book at the back to read the bio and look at Sibley's photo and glanced at the map and I stared and stared, not believing my eyes. I checked all the provinces and states to make sure that was the only error. Other than that, these books are great, with super illustrations and I appreciate the range maps on the pages with the birds.

The Sibley Guide to Birds, as most mention, is a great guide but too heavy to tote into the field...this field guide solves that problem.

Yes, the illustrations are smaller, but just as useable. Yes, some of the illustrations in the original guide have been deleted, but the guide you take with is better than the one at home. (You should have the original at home anyway!)

I find that the addition of Status, Habitat and Behavior in the text more than makes up for fewer illustrations.

Well made and sturdy...buy it!

I started birdwatching a year and a half ago and the Sibley Guide to Birds was the first guide I purchased. Although I had been told it was for "expert" birders, I just thought the illustrations were much clearer than any other guide. It was a joy to look at, at home on my couch. But I never wanted to take it with me in the field because it's too darn heavy.

So the Sibley FIELD Guide is the exactly the guide I've been wishing for. The illustrations are just as clear, even though they've been scaled down, and the format is a managable size and weight. The original guide had many variations, by region, sex, age, etc., and I think they had to drop a few of these, but at my level of birdwatching I don't miss them. The guide DOES still show male and female, first year, etc. I took this guide with me to Prospect Park, Brooklyn, last weekend, and I saw and ID'ed 45 species. Not bad for an amateur!

Expert birders will already be familiar with Sibley and can make up their own minds, so I would like to say to beginning birdwatchers, give this guide a shot. I really think the illustrations are the best and most helpful.