Complete British Animals

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View books by Paul Sterry.

A very good balance - Rated
This is an excellent little reference book, thorough yet portable. Unlike the Collins Complete British Wildlife guide which provides only half a dozen lines and one image for each entry, the Collins Complete British Animals dedicates a couple of pages to each species - one containing identification details, habitats, habits, obervation details, and distribution maps, and the other containing multiple photographs. It might not have as much breadth as the Wildlife guide, but it has far, far more substance.

At the back of the book there are also sections to help with identifying skulls, antlers, droppings, rodent nests, and tracks, and also plans for making bat and dormouse boxes.

It probably goes without saying that it is an animal guide - if you want birds and fish, look elsewhere. That said, reptiles and even whales and dolphins are correctly included.

But I think I should point out, having read another review here, it does not have all the domesticated species. It does have a nod towards the goat, Soay Sheep and Chillingham Cattle, but thats it. But that's not a criticism, it's a wildlife book after all, and a useful one.

The Photographs Make the Book - Rated



The author has written many of the Collins Wildlife books including the Complete British Birds and this continues the high standard of the others. The book contains excellent photographs and ample room is given to each animal.

The book is a guide to all mammals, amphibians and reptiles that live in the British Isles. There is all the information you are ever likely to need including the tracks that they leave on the ground, their habitat, feeding habits etc. The book also includes all the species of domesticated animal as well.