Ornithological Literature

2006·2 MB·English

by  Mary Gustafson

—
ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE 583
The text also briefly describes the species’ di- birdwatchers that need a good raptor identifi-
agnostic identification features. Here the au- cation guide for that part of the world. Fur-
thors have been very innovative: they have thermore, proceeds from the sales ofthis book
emphasized the most prominent features by are donated to the Georgian Centre for the
underlining them and pointing to them in the Conservation of Wildlife and to conservation
species’ illustration on the facing page; a short efforts within the region. On the whole, this
comparison with potentially confusing species is a worthwhile undertaking by local ornithol-
is also provided. Additional text provides an ogists whose worthy ende—avors within the re-
aid to a better understanding of the behaviors gion deserve recognition. REUVEN YOSEF,
and habitats occupied by the species. Other International Birding and Research Center,Eilat,
natural history information provided includes Israel; e-mail: [email protected]
the species’ foods, nest characteristics, clutch
size, egg size and laying period, and the num-
ber of days in the incubation and nestling pe-
riods; also mentioned is how many years it BIRDS OF MEXICO AND CENTRAL
takes an individual to reach sexual maturity. AMERICA. By Ber Van Perlo. Princeton Uni-
Lastly, the authors discuss the species’ con- versity Press, Princeton, New Jersey. 2006:
servation status and population trend in Geor- 336 pp.. 98 colo—r plates. ISBN: 0691120706.
gia. A color-coded map shows the species’ $29.95 (paper). The format of this newest
year-round distribution. guide in the Princeton Illustrated Checklist se-
The facing (illustration) page depicts the ries is best described as an abbreviated field
species. I found it very instructive that the au- guide format. The guide covers—Mexico and
thors chose to show each of the sexes in sep- all ofCentral Americato Panama avast area
arate columns and, where relevant, they illus- containing a huge number of species (1,574)
trated different morphs at different ages. Lines to illustrate in a single guide. The 98 color
point to the most diagnostic features to look plates have thumbnail illustrations ofthe birds
for during field observation. I especially en- and a brief text (on the facing, or a nearby,
joyed the sketches that show habitats in which page). Maps showing geographic distributions
the species should be found, or engage—d in follow the color plates. Other than an index,
some unique behavior, and the fact that in- table ofcontents, and briefintroductorypages,
terspersed between the species accounts that is the total extent ofthis guide. This book
there are two pages of field drawings of spe- should not be viewed as a replacement for
cies addressed in the previous pages. These books like Howell and Webb’s excellent, com-
drawings illustrate habitats, behaviors, prey, prehensive guide (Howell, S. N. G. and S.
inter- and intra-specific interactions, and nest Webb. 1995. A Guide to the Birds of Mexico
structures and locations. and Northern Central America. Oxford Uni-
I greatly appreciate this compact field versity Press, New York), which provides a
guide. It will be a good companion for raptor much more complete account foreach species,
watchers who will find that it is relevant not including in-depth coverage of identification,
only to Georgia but also to most ofthe neigh- distribution, taxonomy, vocalizations, and
boring countries (i.e., all of the Caucasus re- more. This is a compact and useful guide to
gion). The only flaws I found in the book were tote in the field, however it only complements
in the illustrations. A few ofthe drawings con- rather than replaces handbooks like Howell
tain errors, including some that do not cor- and Webb’s guide.
rectly depict the raptor’s exact “jizz” and pos- The plates are generally well done and il-
ture; examples of this problem may be found lustrate all species found in the area, including
on page 83 in the drawings of Honey Buz- hypothetical or rare species, whereas the
zards. I also found the plates too dark. I have Howell and Webb guide omits illustrations of
handled hundreds of raptors every year for many North American migratory passerines
more—than a decade and know these birds up and provides only black and white drawings
close the colors of most are not as dark as for some waterbirds. The plates in Princeton’s
they are in the illustrations. This criticism, Illustrated Checklist, however, do not depict
however, should not put off raptorphiles or all the plumages essential for identification;
-
584 THE WILSON JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY • Vol. 118, No. 4, December2006
for example, immature plumages of Great including the use of the common name Gray
Blue Heron (Ardea herodias). Cooper’s Hawk Plover for Black-bellied Plover {Pluvials
(Accipiter cooperii), Cedar Waxwing (Bom squatarola) and the split of Stephen’s (Mexi-
bycilla cedrorum), Loggerhead (Lanius ludo- can) Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus arizonae)
vicianus) and Northern (L. excubitor) shrikes, from Whip-poor-will {Caprimulgus vocifer-
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forfica- us).
tus), Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor), The text for each plate often extends to the
and Chestnut-sided Warbler {Dendroica pen- next page, adjacent to the following plate, the
sylvanica) are not included. The plates and text for which then also runs over to the next
text will not help with more difficult identifi- page, and so on until half the text on any one
cations; even adult Glossy {Plegadisfalcinel- page may pertain to the current plate and half
lus) and White-faced (P. chihi) ibis, or Rusty to the preceding plate. Eventually it evens out
{Euphagus carolinus) and Brewer’s (E. cyan- (or additional textual pages are included), but
ocephalus) blackbirds will be unidentifiable if this makes the guide more difficult to use (al-
only this guide is used. The immature White- beit slightly). The maps are understandably
tailed Hawk {Buteo albicaudatus) is labeled in small, as there are 27 maps per page, each
the text as not identifiable, and the illustration including the species’ name, plate number,
does not show one representative age, making and the species’ number on the plate to aid
correct identification impossible. cross-referencing between the maps and
Unlike many Latin American guides that plates. A neat innovation is that the maps
include North American migrants, the plates show the species’ detectabilities (common to
of these species are fairly well done. I could frequent, frequent to uncommon, uncommon
quibble with illustrations like that of the Pine
to rare; or a percent likelihood of detectabili-
Siskin Carduelis pinus), but in general the
( ty) and status (resident, transient, present in
illustrations are accurate. Indications of
northern winter or northern summer). This al-
changes in scale within a given plate were not lows the maps to convey more information
provided; for example, plate 77 depicts Green
than just presence/absence for a given loca-
Shrike-Vireo Vireolanius pulchellus and
gnatcatchers as( being the same size. On) an- tion, making them extremely useful. Locations
of rarities or isolated populations are identi-
other plate, the Red-winged Blackbird (Age-
fied with cross hairs or stars.
laius phoeniceus male and female are the
same size and are)illustrated as larger than the I have quibbled over some issues in this
Yellow-headed Blackbird {Xanthocephalus guide, but I am very pleased to have it avail-
xanthocephalus). Among the illustrations of able and I will give it the greatest complement
neotropical species, some could have been I can give to a field guide; I will use it. I will
better portrayed or benefitted from another carry this guide in the field and leave both A
view. For example, the unique tail pattern of Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern
the Olivaceous Piculet Picumnus olivaceus Central America and The Sibley Guide to
is not illustrated or descr(ibed, and the tuft on) Birds (Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide
the Tufted Flycatcher Mitrephanesphaeocer- to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, New York.) in the
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panying the illustrations is concise and pro- grants and who want illustrations of the mi-
vides codes for range, status (endemic, hy- grant and resident birds in one small volume.
pothetical, rare, etc.), and seasonality. There If this guide were to be translated into Span-
are several problems, however, including a re- ish, it would become the standard guide for
versed caption orplate number (Baltimore Ic- use in Mexico and Latin America; thus, pub-
[
terus galbula] and Orchard [/. spurious] ori- lication of a Spanish version should be a high
omloesn),naanmdesin(aep.pgr.,op“riGartoesbabebarke”viafotrioBnlsuoefGcrooms-- pinriotrhietyrteogiboenn.e-f—itMcAonRsYervaGtUioSnTAanFdSeOdNu,catRiioon
beak, Passerina caerulea). Most common Grande Joint Venture, Texas Parks and Wild-
names and taxonomy follow the American Or- life Department, Mission. Texas; e-mail:
nithologists’ Union, but there are exceptions. [email protected],tx.us