The British, European and African Birds, New Encyclopedia of: An illustrated guide and identifier to over 550 birds, profiling habitat, behaviour, nesting and food

There's no need for Britain to be mentioned in the title. This is a book about many birds commonly found in Europe and many birds commonly found in Africa. Every subject covered in the book is covered on two (facing) pages. There are plenty of photographs and illustrations in the first 63 pages, but the bird directory (p. 64 ff) has illustrations only. The first 63 pages covers the subject of birds in general, and includes: The Origins of Birds (if you can believe it), The Skeleton and Parts of a Bird, Feathers, Flight, Locomotion, Avian Senses, Plant-eaters, Predators and Scavengers, Display and Pairing, Nesting and Egg-laying, Hatching and Rearing Chicks, Survival, Migration, Behaviour, Birdwatching, and Fieldcraft. The Directory begins on page 64 and covers six categories, The Sea; Seashore and Estuary; Lakes, ponds, and rivers; Woodland; Open Country; and City and Garden. Each with a variety of birds covered, e.g. The Sea is subdivided into: Ocean Wanderers (page 68), Storm Petrels (P.70), Southern Ocean Petrels (p.72), Island Seabirds (p.74), Skuas and Frigate Birds (p.76), Agile and Adaptable Feeders (p.78). Every two page covers four birds, not always evenly split between Europe and Africa, e.g. Parrots of the Forest (p.146), not surprisingly has no European examples – 1. [African] Grey Parrot, 2. Vasa Parrot, 3. Cape Parrot, and 4. Madagascan Lovebird. Each of the four species is illustrated, and the illustration is surrounded by text. The text includes general information about the species, specific identification points, an information box with a simple distribution map and specific information about the birds: distribution, size, food, etc.; with an additional box describing, in short, four more birds under that heading. The encyclopædia of British, European, and African Birds is appreciably a larger book than your normal field guide, though thinner, and though it's not very heavy I wouldn't say that it's a practical book to have with you in the field.

I bought this for my 80 year old father because he's bored out his box being trapped at home because of lockdown. He said it's very informative and a lot better than his other bird watching book.

Item turned up in perfect condition and is exactly what my grandson wants. Would recommend.

Great book and great illustrations

Brilliant book, ive become really interested in wildlife and nature since becoming qualified in photography