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A Photographic Guide to the Birds of Southeast Asia Including the Philippines & Borneo
This is the very first comprehensive photographic guide to the birds of mainland Southeast Asia, the Philippines, and Borneo, including the birds of Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Indochina, South China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
Covering 668 species, the volume contains a distribution map for each species in addition to more than 700 brilliant color photographs, many appearing here for the first time. The photographs are complemented by a concise text providing all the information needed to accurately identify species in one of the world's richest avifauna regions.
Given the notorious difficulty of photographing rainforest birds, this book represents a major achievement. It is an ideal volume for travelers to the region as well as for all bird lovers.
Morten Strange is a professional bird photographer and writer. He lived in Singapore from 1980 to 1993 and has traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia. He was formerly the International Officer for the Danish Ornithological Society. His photojournalism has appeared in more than 60 books and more than 100 magazine articles.
Covering 668 species, the volume contains a distribution map for each species in addition to more than 700 brilliant color photographs, many appearing here for the first time. The photographs are complemented by a concise text providing all the information needed to accurately identify species in one of the world's richest avifauna regions.
Given the notorious difficulty of photographing rainforest birds, this book represents a major achievement. It is an ideal volume for travelers to the region as well as for all bird lovers.
Morten Strange is a professional bird photographer and writer. He lived in Singapore from 1980 to 1993 and has traveled extensively throughout Southeast Asia. He was formerly the International Officer for the Danish Ornithological Society. His photojournalism has appeared in more than 60 books and more than 100 magazine articles.
- GenresNature
Paperback
First published April 1, 1993
9 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Morten Strange
17 books14 followersI am a Singapore-based financial analyst and writer. I retired from nature book selling, illustrating, editing and publishing in 2013 to study economics. I am keen to find out how finance, economics and environmental deterioration is linked. Since I retired myself from industry in 1986 when I was 33, I have come to the conclusion that population growth, over-consumption and debt are the main drivers behind the ecological collapse we are facing, and I advise everyone not to be poor, but rather to position themselves financially for an uncertain future. In my 2016 book: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3... I show you how you can do just that. And I follow up on that theme with a 2018 book from the same publisher: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/981.... Then in 2023 I summarized my strategy regarding financial as well as environmental sustainability here: https://www.amazon.sg/Future-Work-Are....
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 30, 2016
Very comprehensive thick book covering numerous species in SE Asia. I was able to find almost all the birds we see here in Singapore in this book. Additionally:
1) Each bird listing shows how commonly encountered it is, and whether it is endangered. And if endangered, to what extent. There is a scale for each of these.
2) Photos are good, with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 where the subject was way too blurry to be seen. All birds are photographed as they are seen in the wild, except for a few, which were captive photos. But the captive photos are specified.
3) Says where each bird is likely to be found: i.e. its common or preferred biomes.
4) Other traits sometimes mentioned in each bird description:
- usual or distinctive habits
- preferred food/feeding terrain
- distinctive traits/characteristics
- difference between male & female
I would have liked the author to talk more about each bird's feeding preferences and lifestyle habits. But still, this is a handy book that will be of much use to anyone who wishes to identify or learn more about a bird he's seen.
1) Each bird listing shows how commonly encountered it is, and whether it is endangered. And if endangered, to what extent. There is a scale for each of these.
2) Photos are good, with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 where the subject was way too blurry to be seen. All birds are photographed as they are seen in the wild, except for a few, which were captive photos. But the captive photos are specified.
3) Says where each bird is likely to be found: i.e. its common or preferred biomes.
4) Other traits sometimes mentioned in each bird description:
- usual or distinctive habits
- preferred food/feeding terrain
- distinctive traits/characteristics
- difference between male & female
I would have liked the author to talk more about each bird's feeding preferences and lifestyle habits. But still, this is a handy book that will be of much use to anyone who wishes to identify or learn more about a bird he's seen.
January 11, 2018
Good all round field for South East Asia travel. It is more than enough to get you going, but depending on your skill level you may find this book is not quite enough. Many species are not in the guide, and pictures range in accuracy and representation. (I personally prefer drawn illustrations in guides for consistency and ability to emphasis important features).
Layout is pretty good, easy to follow, flip around to find your bird, each bird has range map and brief description along with photo.
Great book to have for a backpacker and beginner, but if you are serious about birding you may want to pick up a few guides specialized for different regions within SE Asia that carry more species.
Layout is pretty good, easy to follow, flip around to find your bird, each bird has range map and brief description along with photo.
Great book to have for a backpacker and beginner, but if you are serious about birding you may want to pick up a few guides specialized for different regions within SE Asia that carry more species.
June 22, 2007
I'm giving it only 2 stars because its obvious that most of the birds featured here are the mainland SE Asia birds. The addition of the Philippine species feels like an after-thought, perhaps to maximize the range of the buying market. But don't get me wrong, any bird guide about the Philippines is welcome! I wonder sometimes why they even bother to create field guides for such a small market as the Philippines.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews