The Complete Guide to the Birds of Europe

The combination of superb and thoughtfully arranged illustrations, definitive text, and up-to-date illustration maps, all in a single volume, has already established the pocket-sized version of this guide, also published by Princeton University Press, as the most essential reference to European bird identification. This sumptuous large-format edition with entirely redesigned text is intended to complement the field guide and permit greater appreciation of the extraordinarily beautiful artwork.


The Complete Guide to the Birds of Europe provides the information needed to identify all European bird species in their normal seasonal and age-related plumage variations. Over 3,500 of the most accurate and attractive illustrations ever painted are accompanied by innovative pointers and captions drawing immediate attention to the key field marks. Particular attention has been paid to the design and arrangement of every page in order to facilitate easy comparison of confusing plumages. Vignettes illustrate typical habitat and characteristic behavior. On each page opposite the illustrations, brilliantly conceived texts detail habitat preferences, status in Europe, important identification features and, of course, voice. No other guide provides as authoritative and comprehensive descriptions of the songs and calls of the continent's birds as The Complete Guide to the Birds of Europe.