China is one of the largest countries in the world, covering 7% of the earth`s land surface, & encompassing a hugely diverse range of habitats. As a result it boasts a rich & diverse avifauna, including some of the most spectacular & fascinating birds to be found anywhere in the world. John Mac Kinnon & Karen Phillipps` important new guide will be the first truly comprehensive, taxonomically modern, & fully illustrated field guide to the birds of China. Over 1300 bird species are illustrated in 128 original colour paintings, by Karen Phillipps & Dave Showler. The species accounts stress the key points for field recognition & give a full description of the plumage, voice, range, distribution, status, & behavioural characteristics for every bird, with additional descriptions provided for hundreds of subspecies. Colour distribution maps are provided for all illustrated species. The book also
Includes:: a useful introductory section that presents a background to the ecology of China, a brief history of Chinese ornithology, & plenty of practical hints on birdwatching in China. The guide`s portable format means it will fit easily into a backpack or pocket. John Mac Kinnon lived in China & Hong Kong for eight years, & has extensive experience of watching & writing about Chinese birds. He has been working in ecology & conservation in Asia for over 30 years, & his work in China included co-authoring the master plan to save the Giant Panda & its habitat. He has written & co-authored many books on the natural history of Asia, including a number of other bird guides. Karen Phillipps was born in Borneo, lived in Hong Kong for over 20 years, & has illustrated several other books on the birdlife of the region.