RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe

View other editions of RSPB Complete Birds of Britain and Europe.
View books by Rob Hume.

Brilliant for Identification - Rated

We come to expect quality books when they carry the RSPB name and logo and they do not let us down, my only slight quibble is that this particular book says on the front "UK's Best Selling field Guide." To my way of thinking it is a little large for a pocket guide. Carrying a camera field glasses is enough without a weighty book that you will struggle to get into a pocket.

Whether you are an armchair addict, or a twitcher of the first order, this guide and 70-minute CD are essential reference. The book and video introduce you to 800 species that are regularly and not so regularly found in Britain and Europe. The book contains beautiful photographs, including ones of the different plumages, both male, female and juvenile. There is information on habitat and virtually everything you need to know to obtain a true picture of each individual species.

A fantastic bird guide - Rated
This is a fantastic field guide for birdwatchers to have on their bookshelf. The photos are superb, and I personally find them much easier to use for bird identification, than the classic birdwatching field guides that have artists representations. It is a shame that this book is too big and heavy to use outdoors as a field guide (not that I would want to as it might get ruined). However the RSPB have thought of that and have a slimmed down pocket guide available as well.

First class RSPB and DK. Watch out Collins guides, there is a new kid on the block.

the best (non pocket )reference book there is - Rated
An excellent guide to all European birds from Iceland to Israel plus all the vagrants that have visited. The best part of this book is that it has all photos. Some guide books have drawings or coloured illustrations which sometimes are far removed from the bird you want to identify. Having said that this is a hefty book and therefore is not much use in the field, the paperback is smaller and lighter but I prefer this even so. It has a lot of bird info at the front and is the best complete guide I have come across.

Excellent reference book, visually fantastic - Rated
A solid, brick-like book, not one for carrying around in the field, but great for extra information and to pin down a specific identification. Easy to use and very clear - this has already become a firm favourite. Covering ecology as well as identification this book should be able to inform experts and beginners alike, without being boring or intimidating to either.

In keeping with the other RSPB guides, Complete Birds of Britain and Europe devotes a page to almost all British and European species, containing descriptive text, photographs and a line representation of the bird in flight. Male, female and juvenile are often depicted, with seasonal plumage and in flight pictures as well. An extensive checklist of much rarer species appears at the back.

The detail and authority of description exceeds that of other bird books, including the Collins guides. Rob Hume's efficiency in writing pocket books is evident here as he has used the same approach. The large pages are exploited to the limit and crammed full of information, but without feeling cluttered or inaccessible. However, where the RSPB books tower above their rivals is in the method of illustration. Large, clear photos are definitely my preference and the quality of photography is super, hence the top rating for the book - I haven't seen anything better.