A Field Guide to Australian Birds

A Field Guide to Australian Birds, published in two volumes by Rigby of Adelaide, stands as a landmark reference work for bird identification in Australia and its territories. Volume One (1970) covers non-passerine birds, while Volume Two (1974) focuses on passerines, marking the first comprehensive national bird guide since 1931. Peter Slater served as the principal author and illustrator, creating all 64 plates in Volume One with textual contributions from seven collaborators including John Calaby and Joseph Forshaw. Volume Two represents Slater's solo work, featuring detailed species descriptions and range maps for each bird documented. The guide covers birds across mainland Australia, Tasmania, and political dependencies including Norfolk Island, Lord Howe Island, and the Cocos-Keeling Islands. Each entry contains identification markers, habitat information, and geographical distribution data supported by individual range maps. This work represents a significant advancement in Australian ornithological documentation, establishing a new standard for field guides through its comprehensive scope and systematic approach to species classification.

Readers describe this field guide as practical and compact enough for taking into the field. The illustrations help with bird identification, though some note they aren't as detailed as photographs would be. Liked: - Clear layout with illustrations opposite species descriptions - Coverage of distribution and habitat - Portable size - Subspecies information - Index includes common names Disliked: - Some illustrations lack detail needed for precise identification - Text can be brief compared to other guides - Limited behavioral information - Some range maps need updating - Binding quality issues reported in newer editions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.24/5 (21 ratings) Amazon AU: 4.5/5 (32 ratings) "Perfect size for the field but I often need to consult other guides to confirm IDs," notes one Amazon reviewer. Another states: "The illustrations serve their purpose but photos would be more helpful for beginners."

The Complete Field Guide to Australian Mammals by Michael Morcombe Documents Australian mammals with detailed species profiles, distribution maps, and identification guides using a comparable format to Slater's bird guide.

Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand by Barrie Heather, Hugh Robertson Presents comprehensive information on New Zealand's native and introduced bird species with distribution maps and identification tips for field observation.

The Australian Bird Guide by Peter Menkhorst Provides updated taxonomic information and detailed illustrations of Australian birds with emphasis on distinguishing features and behavior patterns.

Birds of Southeast Asia by Craig Robson Covers bird species from neighboring regions that share similarities with Australian species, including migration patterns and habitat preferences.

Field Guide to Australian Reptiles by Stephen Swanson Contains species accounts of Australian reptiles with identification keys and habitat descriptions using a systematic approach similar to Slater's bird guide.

🦅 When published in the 1970s, this guide filled a 40-year gap in comprehensive Australian bird guides, with no major national publications since 1931. 🎨 Peter Slater not only authored the guide but personally illustrated all plates and drawings, showcasing his rare combination of scientific knowledge and artistic skill. 🏝️ The guide broke new ground by including birds from distant Australian territories like Norfolk Island and Cocos-Keeling Islands, areas often overlooked in previous works. 📚 The two-volume format was innovative for its time, with Volume One focusing on non-passerines (like eagles and waterfowl) and Volume Two covering passerines (perching birds). 🗺️ Each species entry features detailed range maps, helping readers understand bird distributions across Australia's vast and diverse landscapes.