A Photographic Field Guide to the Birds of the Australian High Country

The Australian High Country is located in the south-east of the continent, and extends from the Wollemi National Park and the Blue Mountains to the west of Sydney, through the Kosciuszko and Alpine National Parks and south-west into Victoria, almost to the edge of Melbourne. It includes Canberra and the ACT.

This book is a fully comprehensive field guide to the 322 bird species of the High Country, including all common, rare and vagrant species. With photographs from the author and the region’s other top-quality nature photographers, each species is illustrated with many variants. The guide is focussed on field use to help beginners and experts identify species.

For each species the common and scientific names are listed as well as local variations. The main identifying features of each species are described and key facts cover size, habits, habitat, breeding, distribution, voice and status in the region. Distribution maps provide an at-a-glance view of where the birds can be found. The book also includes information on climate and topography, types of habitat, orders and families, residents, migrants, vagrants and highly scarce migrants, topography and the key birdwatching sites. The checklist provides complete information.

Neil Hermes has been an avid birder since childhood. He has had over 40 years’ association with the Canberra Ornithologist Group having variously served as President, Editor and Field Trips Organiser. He has written over 20 books including Birds of Norfolk Island and Australia's Endangered Species. For nearly ten years he was Deputy Director of Australia's National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon) and has an Honours Degree in Science (Zoology) from the Australian National University.