A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies

by Herbert A. Raffaele, James Wiley, Orlando H. Garrido, Allan Keith, Janis I. Raffaele

Overview

This is the first comprehensive field guide to the birds of the West Indies to appear in more than fifty years. It covers all 564 bird species known to occur in the region (including migrants and infrequently occurring forms). Each species is represented by a full description that includes identification field marks, local names, status, habitat, voice, nesting, range, and comments about the bird. A map showing the bird's distribution accompanies each species account. Plumages of all species are depicted in eighty-six beautifully rendered color plates. Twelve of these plates feature individual endemics from each of twelve islands. Another seven plates feature the island endemics of the largest islands: Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico.


Because the region is known for its extraordinary variety of avifauna and because no other accurate modern account of its birdlife exists, this book is a landmark publication that will be widely hailed by serious birders and amateur birdwatchers alike. The authors pay particular attention to endangered and threatened birds. For each island or island group, local experts have been invited to provide a survey of efforts made to date to conserve birds and their habitats. For many years there has been a need for an up-to-date field guide that could satisfy local residents, vacationing tourists, and "armchair travelers." At last, that need has been met with this fully illustrated Guide to the Birds of the West Indies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691087368
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	05/31/1998
Pages:	512
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Herbert Raffaele is Chief of the Office of International Conservation of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. He is the author of A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

Table of Contents

Foreword
Don R. Eckelberry
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Goal
Geographic Coverage
Species Coverage
Taxonomy
Using the Guide
Species Accounts
Identification
Plates
Biogeography
Oceanic Islands: Barriers to Dispersal
Diversity versus Uniqueness
Uniqueness: Its Values
Past Avifaunas
Migration
Conservation
The Problem
Principal Causes of Endangerment and Extinction
Island Conservation Status
Endangered Species List
Descriptive Parts of a Bird
Plates
Species Accounts
Loons (Divers): Gaviidae
Grebes: Podicipedidae
Shearwaters and Petrels: Procellariidae
Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae
Tropicbirds: Phaethontidae
Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae
Pelicans: Pelecanidae
Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae
Darters: Anhingidae
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae
Bitterns and Herons: Ardeidae
Lbises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae
Storks: Ciconiidae
Flamingos: Phoenicopteridae
Swans, Geese and Ducks: Anatidae
American Vultures: Cathartidae
Ospreys: Pandionidae
Kites, Eagles, Hawks and Allies: Accipitridae
Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae
Curassows and Guans: Cracidae
Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys and Quail: Phasianidae
Rails, Gallinules and Coots: Rallidae
Limpkins: Aramidae
Cranes: Gruidae
Thick-knees: Burhinidae
Plovers and Lapwings: Charadriidae
Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostrinae
Jacanas: Jacanidae
Sandpipers, Phalaropes and Allies: Scolopacidae
Skuas, Gulls, Terns and Skimmers: Laridae
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae
Parakeets, Macaws and Parrots: Psittacidae
Cuckoos, Roadrunners and Anis: Cuculidae
Barn Owls: Tytonidae
Typical Owls: Strigidae
Goatsuckers (Nightjars): Caprimulgidae
Potoos: Nyctibiidae
Swifts: Apodidae
Hummingbirds: Trochilidae
Trogons: Trogonidae
Todies: Todidae
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae
Woodpeckers and Allies: Picidae
Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae
Cotingas: Cotingidae
Swallows: Hirundinidae
Jays, Magpies and Crows: Corvidae
Nuthatches: Sittidae
Wrens: Troglodytidae
Muscicapids: Muscicapidae
Mockingbirds, Thrashers and Allies (Mimic
Thrushes): Mimidae
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae
Waxwings: Bombycillidae
Palmchats: Dulidae
Starlings and Allies: Sturnidae
Vireos: Vireonidae
Emberizids: Emberizidae
Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies: Fringillidae
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae
Weavers: Ploceidae
Estrildid Finches: Estrildidae
Vagrants
Selected References: Island Avifaunas
Selected References: Bird Family and Regional Identification Guides
Locality Checklist
Index of English and Scientific Names
Index of Local Names

Editorial Reviews

"One of the best of the recent publications finally eclipsing the old field guide . . . that in its various forms held sway for more than fifty years. . . . The illustrations . . . are exceptionally beautiful."—-Stephen Mills, Times Literary Supplement

From the Publisher

"While paging through the new West Indian field guide . . . I lost track of several hours, completely captivated by the images before me. . . . [A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies] contains fully 86 color plates of surpassing accuracy and . . . striking beauty . . . [and t]he text . . . is accurate and highly readable."

Tropical Audubon Bulletin

One of the best of the recent publications finally eclipsing the old field guide . . . that in its various forms held sway for more than fifty years. . . . The illustrations . . . are exceptionally beautiful.

Times Literary Supplement - Stephen Mills

One of the best of the recent publications finally eclipsing the old field guide . . . that in its various forms held sway for more than fifty years. . . . The illustrations . . . are exceptionally beautiful.
— Stephen Mills

Times Literary Supplement

The best of these recent publications...the precarious biographies of these, some of the rarest birds in the world, make fascinating reading.
—Times Literary Supplement

Stephen Mills