Pica Press titles are now part of the Christopher Helm range.

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The

NORTH AMERICAN

Bird Guide

Written and illustrated by

David Sibley

The North American Bird Guide contains more than 6,600 detailed individual illustrations,and describes 810 species and 350 regional variations.Its easy-to-use design pinpoints key field marks and greatley assists safe identification in the field.The illustrations are arranged so that comparison can be made between easily confused species.At the same time,the unique character of each species is skilfully captured.David Sibley is widely recognised as one of America's leading authorities on bird identification and distribution;He is also one of the region's most gifted painters of birds.He has been working on this field guide for the last 12 years,visiting every US state and nine Canadian provinces in the process.He has personally studied all but a handful of the 810 species in the field.

• Captioned illustrations highlight previously unpublished field marks

• Almost every species is shown in flight

• Measurements include length,wingspan and weight for every species

• Subspecies and geographic variations are covered thoroughly

• Full voice descriptions are included for every species

• Maps for Summer/Winter range,Migration routes and vagrant occurance

Price £25.00 POST FREE UK ! order number : pica P001

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PIGEONS AND DOVES

A Guide to the Pigeons and Doves of the World

David Gibbs,Eustace Barnes and John Cox

Pigeons and Doves are widespread throughout the world.Some species feed mainly on fruit while others feed on seeds.Most are arboreal and the tropical species in particular are often brightly coloured.The family includes gregarious migratory species as well as shy,ground-dwelling forms such as the exotic crowned pigeons of New Guinea.This suptuous new book illustrated with 76 colour plates by John Cox and Eustace Barnes is the first to be dedicated to the field identification of Pigeons and Doves.It incorporates much recent information on the family.Available December 2000.Hardback 240 x 170 mm.624 pp.76 colour plates and maps.

Price £38.00 POST FREE UK ! order number : pica P002

A Guide to the Sunbirds,Flowerpeckers,Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World

Robert A Cheke and Clive F.Mann

illustrated by Richard Allen

The dazzling insect-and nectar-eating sunbirds of the Old World are amongst the most glamorous of all bird families.However ,whilst males generally exhibit gorgeous iridescent plumage,the females are often drab and difficult to identify.The greatest diversity of sunbirds is to be found in Africa with most of the remainder occurring in Asia.This is the first identification guide to the sunbirds and their ( mainly Asian ) allies.The 48 colour plates accurately portray all major plumage variations and many species are depicted on typical food plants.

Hardback; 240 x 170 mm; c .38pp; 48 colour plates; maps .Price £37.00 POST FREE UK ! Order number : Pica P003

NEW TITLE FOR 2001

Claudia Wilds & Joe DiCasanzo

The terns are amongst the most graceful of all water-birds, inhabiting coasts,open sea,marshes,lakes and rivers.Most species are gregarious and colonial,and many are highly migratory,undertaking some of the longest migrations of all birds.Their appeal is enhanced by some notoriously difficult identification problems and this book is the first to address these for the entire family.The authoritative text by Claudia Wilds,who spent many years meticulously studying these difficult birds,has completed by another Tern specialist,Joe DiCostanzo,and is complemented by 32 superb plates by the talented young German artist,Christopher Schmidt.

Hardback ; 240 x 170 mm.c300pp. 32 colour plates;maps. ( Not yet published ). Order Number P004

Wrens,Dippers and Thrashers

A Guide to the Wrens,Dippers and Thrashers of the World

David Brewer,illustrated by Barry Kent Mackay

This is the first comprehensive guide to these three closely related families.The book will cover 75 Wrens,34 Thrashers and 5 Dippers,almost all of which are New World species.The Wrens ( Trogodytidae ) in particular display great diversity,occupying almost every kind of habitat in the Americas.The family probably originates in Central America where the greatest number of species is to be found.The Thrashers ( Mimidae ) include Mockingbirds,Catbirds and Tremblers.The Dippers ( Cinclidae ) are river specialities although,unusually,they exhibit no obvious features for an aquatic existence.

Hardback;240 x 170 mm.c 256pp; 32 colour plates,Maps..Price £35.00 POST FREE UK ! Order Number P005

A Guide to the Birds of Peru

James F Clements and Noam Shany

Illustrated by Dana Gardner and Eustace Barnes

Peru has the richest diversity of birds of any country in the world,yet,surprisingly,it is one of the last South American countries to have its own comprehensve field guide.about 1740 species occur here,114 of which are endemic.More than 1200 species are illustrated in colour,including all the endemics and most of the resident species.The text gives brief identification and status information for every species,together with a gazetteer of localities and a bird-finding guide.

Softback;229 x 153 mm.560 pp.128 colour plates. .* Publication date delayed Price £30.00 Order Number P006 Publication Delayed

A History of Ornithology Michael Walters

A History of Ornithology is aimed at the reader who is knowledgeable about birds,but may know little about the history,and,with the exception of a handful of names such as Aristotle.linnaeus and Darwin,may not of heard of many of the people whose lives and work are discussed.This present volume concentrates on those figures who have been most influential in the development of ornithology.It will set the agenda for the study of the history of ornithology for the next generation.

Hardback; 240 x 170 mm.c 256pp; colour and b/w plates. ( Now due June 2002) Price £30.00 Order Number P007

Albatrosses

W.E.N Tickell

mapAlbatrosses are long-lived seabirds which have long impressed those who travel the oceans.They are famed for their supreme adaptations to the marine environment,breeding on remote islands and spending most of their lives at sea flying immense distances.Most species inhabit the Southern Ocean.This is the first comparative account of the albatross family.It is based on personal experience and a comprehensive review of literature.The book explores albatross natural history from a geographic point of view,arranging the birds in four groups for convenience.The author describes the various forms in each group,their distribution and breeding biology,as well as comparative treatments of moult,flight,behaviour and ecology.The book concludes with a review of conservation and human attitudes toward albatrosses.The authoritive text is accompanied by numerous maps,tables,diagrams and colour photographs.

Hardback; 246 x 186 mm; 52 colour photographs.August 2000. Price £40.00 POST FREE UK ! Order Number P008

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