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Field Guide to the Birds of Australia
Since it was first published in 1984, Simpson & Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia has been one of the most - if not the most - respected bird guide in the country. It has sold over 500 000 copies. The guide contains 132 superb full-colour plates showing all Australian bird species; key points of identification using the latest classification system; distribution maps for all species; over 900 black and white line illustrations; breeding information; a vagrant bird bulletin; a core library list; and easy-to-use indexes. This eighth edition has been revised and updated, including some beautiful new plates.
396 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 16, 2024
After several years of use, my advice is that this Field Guide (in its 8th edition, as of 2024) is the best of the lot - for portable use. Smaller guides, of course, can be useful in the pocket or for certain regions. Larger, hardcover volumes may often a more beautiful reading experience. And I know some prefer guides with photographic evidence, and I understand that. But I think this one has them beat. For me, having a comprehensive volume with considerable information, yet still viable to have in the backpack or the car, is the best way to go.
In the 8th edition of Simpson & Day's fantastic tome, you get:
* A guide to how to use the book, including the many abbreviations and symbols that allow so much information on the main pages. (pp. 1-2)
* Descriptive detailed section about bird anatomy and notable information to look out for when observing birds, including signs of disease and so on. (pp. 3-7)
* An illustrated contents page divided by type of bird (albatross, grebe, frigatebird, gull, etc) - this is a great place to start if you're new at nature-watching, as it doesn't take long to get the basic shape and style of each type of bird, allowing you to quickly navigate the book in future to narrow down your options. (pp. 8-17)
* The bird guide, which of course takes up the bulk of the book. Each left-hand page features the details of a number of birds including size, colour, voice, habitat, information on differences in juveniles, females, and so on, and any important behavioural tips where there are multiple similar sub-species. Symbols indicate a bird's conservation status and migratory status. Maps with each species allow you to see common and rarer distribution, as well as a breakdown where there are different sub-species. Additionally, most birds feature a small line drawing of relevance, be it to further explain feather, skull shape, wing shape, courtship behaviour, tail movements, and so on. The right-hand page features the gorgeous illustrations, which chronicle every bird reliably found on Australia and her external territories. One of my favourite elements of the book is that the illustrations take the time to situate birds in their habitat, or interacting with items, which gives the impression of the birds as figures in their environment rather than merely a checklist to be solved. A handy guide also helps to distinguish between the many common black birds of the land. Overall the birds are arranged by type, so that as one becomes more experienced it is easy to jump to 'Starlings', 'Terns', 'Honeyeaters', or what have you. (pp. 18-281)
* An extensive 'Vagrant Bird Bulletin' provides the same amount of information (albeit with smaller illustrations) on birds which have rarely been found in Australia but have territory elsewhere, with details where those records are extremely scarce, and information on what to do if you find such a bird. (pp. 282-302)
* "Where the birds live": a sensible and useful guide to the main habitats of Australia. This is the kind of material that I didn't use when I was new to birding, but with experience has become all the more handy to have in this one volume, making it a true travel companion. (pp. 303-309)
* Breeding Information. This section also won't be for novices but it's highly impactful. A handy opening guide explains the life cycles of birds, and discusses nesting, eggs, and moulting. The pages that follow are keyed both ways to the bulk of the book and group birds by type to explore information about when and where they breed, egg and fledging information, and parental care. This can be especially useful when discerning if a bird you see has breeding or non-breeding plumage, and in identifying nests and chicks. (pp. 310-331)
* Island checklists. A little more niche of course, these checklists reflect birds that can be found on Australia's island territories along with notes about rarities and further reading. Most of us will never get the chance to spend time exploring Lord Howe Island but it's a useful repository of knowledge, at least as it stood in 2010 when this edition was printed. (pp. 332-341)
* Handy hints: A savvy guide for those discovering birding on various elements, from how best to bird, how to do safely and sustainably, what to do when finding a banded bird, and so on. (A note I have learned is to use the book wisely: don't assume that you know what you've seen and, if reporting, make sure you're only reporting what you can verify; most websites such as eBird will allow you to report the vaguer "honeyeater sp." if you don't know what type it was; don't cause scientific distress or mislead people!) (pp. 342-345)
* Glossary of terms, with a solid amount of detail (pp. 346-349)
* A library of works to read and connections to notable birdwatching organisations around the country (pp. 350-355)
* Indexes by both Latin and common name (pp. 356-369)
* A one-page quick index is included at both the first and last pages of the book to allow you to rapidly flip to about 200 different pages, ranging from specific birds (e.g. brolga) to types (e.g. penguin).
* And finally, not that I've ever had cause to use them, but the inside covers of both front and back are waterproof, and feature a 20cm ruler along with lifesize representations of the beaks of numerous common sea-faring birds to allow accurate identification of any deceased birds one might find on the beach.
I feel as if this review comes across as paid advertising, which it most certainly is not! But these handy 400 pages have provided me with a great deal of insight and stimulation over the last four years, and they'll be with me for a long time to come (pending a ninth edition, of course). Buy many, many books on Australian wildlife, of course. But if you have this, along with Field Guide to Mammals of Australia and Tracks, Scats and Other Traces: A Field Guide to Australian Mammals (along with, perhaps, a couple of mini-guides to insects and plants), you're set for most of your endeavours into the bush, park, or indeed cityscape around this beautiful continent.
In the 8th edition of Simpson & Day's fantastic tome, you get:
* A guide to how to use the book, including the many abbreviations and symbols that allow so much information on the main pages. (pp. 1-2)
* Descriptive detailed section about bird anatomy and notable information to look out for when observing birds, including signs of disease and so on. (pp. 3-7)
* An illustrated contents page divided by type of bird (albatross, grebe, frigatebird, gull, etc) - this is a great place to start if you're new at nature-watching, as it doesn't take long to get the basic shape and style of each type of bird, allowing you to quickly navigate the book in future to narrow down your options. (pp. 8-17)
* The bird guide, which of course takes up the bulk of the book. Each left-hand page features the details of a number of birds including size, colour, voice, habitat, information on differences in juveniles, females, and so on, and any important behavioural tips where there are multiple similar sub-species. Symbols indicate a bird's conservation status and migratory status. Maps with each species allow you to see common and rarer distribution, as well as a breakdown where there are different sub-species. Additionally, most birds feature a small line drawing of relevance, be it to further explain feather, skull shape, wing shape, courtship behaviour, tail movements, and so on. The right-hand page features the gorgeous illustrations, which chronicle every bird reliably found on Australia and her external territories. One of my favourite elements of the book is that the illustrations take the time to situate birds in their habitat, or interacting with items, which gives the impression of the birds as figures in their environment rather than merely a checklist to be solved. A handy guide also helps to distinguish between the many common black birds of the land. Overall the birds are arranged by type, so that as one becomes more experienced it is easy to jump to 'Starlings', 'Terns', 'Honeyeaters', or what have you. (pp. 18-281)
* An extensive 'Vagrant Bird Bulletin' provides the same amount of information (albeit with smaller illustrations) on birds which have rarely been found in Australia but have territory elsewhere, with details where those records are extremely scarce, and information on what to do if you find such a bird. (pp. 282-302)
* "Where the birds live": a sensible and useful guide to the main habitats of Australia. This is the kind of material that I didn't use when I was new to birding, but with experience has become all the more handy to have in this one volume, making it a true travel companion. (pp. 303-309)
* Breeding Information. This section also won't be for novices but it's highly impactful. A handy opening guide explains the life cycles of birds, and discusses nesting, eggs, and moulting. The pages that follow are keyed both ways to the bulk of the book and group birds by type to explore information about when and where they breed, egg and fledging information, and parental care. This can be especially useful when discerning if a bird you see has breeding or non-breeding plumage, and in identifying nests and chicks. (pp. 310-331)
* Island checklists. A little more niche of course, these checklists reflect birds that can be found on Australia's island territories along with notes about rarities and further reading. Most of us will never get the chance to spend time exploring Lord Howe Island but it's a useful repository of knowledge, at least as it stood in 2010 when this edition was printed. (pp. 332-341)
* Handy hints: A savvy guide for those discovering birding on various elements, from how best to bird, how to do safely and sustainably, what to do when finding a banded bird, and so on. (A note I have learned is to use the book wisely: don't assume that you know what you've seen and, if reporting, make sure you're only reporting what you can verify; most websites such as eBird will allow you to report the vaguer "honeyeater sp." if you don't know what type it was; don't cause scientific distress or mislead people!) (pp. 342-345)
* Glossary of terms, with a solid amount of detail (pp. 346-349)
* A library of works to read and connections to notable birdwatching organisations around the country (pp. 350-355)
* Indexes by both Latin and common name (pp. 356-369)
* A one-page quick index is included at both the first and last pages of the book to allow you to rapidly flip to about 200 different pages, ranging from specific birds (e.g. brolga) to types (e.g. penguin).
* And finally, not that I've ever had cause to use them, but the inside covers of both front and back are waterproof, and feature a 20cm ruler along with lifesize representations of the beaks of numerous common sea-faring birds to allow accurate identification of any deceased birds one might find on the beach.
I feel as if this review comes across as paid advertising, which it most certainly is not! But these handy 400 pages have provided me with a great deal of insight and stimulation over the last four years, and they'll be with me for a long time to come (pending a ninth edition, of course). Buy many, many books on Australian wildlife, of course. But if you have this, along with Field Guide to Mammals of Australia and Tracks, Scats and Other Traces: A Field Guide to Australian Mammals (along with, perhaps, a couple of mini-guides to insects and plants), you're set for most of your endeavours into the bush, park, or indeed cityscape around this beautiful continent.
March 20, 2025
Only up to the pelicans so far but it’s getting very suspenseful
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2012
I prefer the photographic guides, but this is a good illustrated that I use for secondary id.
December 30, 2018
A book that I have had since I first landed in this country courtesy of a thoughtful friend, I've been learning from it over the years. And when my family visited together in November this year, We all went through it again, picking the birds as we travel around the country. How wonderful a way to read a book. Our grimmit for AU :)
October 10, 2011
This is a fantastic book, intuitive to use and really easy to find the bird you're looking for. So satisfying to find the name of something! Why is this? I do not know. Anyway - I really recommend this.
November 3, 2014
We have the 6th Edition completely revised and it's quite brilliant especially for Graham and myself identifying birds as we see both adult and juvenile markings and with the in flight wing markings and their habitat locations to pinpoint a match.
January 28, 2009
I practically wore this book out during my year and a half in NSW Australia. A great guide to general identification, along with relevant information of interest.
November 25, 2010
Very informative book on all the birds chirping away around the house.
August 23, 2014
My most referenced book on the shelf.
August 24, 2015
Australia here we come, beautiful pictures, beautiful 'stories'....................
September 1, 2015
WOW! Looking forward to seeing many "only in Australia" (endemic) birds.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews