Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds

This guide to the identification of all the birds so far recorded in Australia is designed for use in the field, to slip easily into a hip-pocket, backpack or glovebox. More than 750 species are described and illustrated with emphasis on easy comparison between similar species. The accompanying text details the different plumages of male and female birds, variations between adult and juvenile birds, and information on separate sub-species or races, together with their range, setting out the most helpful characteristics to watch out for. The guide also includes species distribution maps which enable the watcher to tell at a glance whether the particular bird is within its area, or is perhaps a rare visitor. In addition, the eggs of all the species that actually breed in Australia are illustrated with a concise description of the nest.

Peter Slater has been interested in birds since early childhood and has studied nearly every Australian species in the field. He has wriiten or illustrated more than twenty books on Natural History. The paintings for this volume took about six years to complete, with superb detail and definition, each bird being carefully checked for colour accuracy.