I feel that all field guides should try to stick as close as possible to
the latest accepted taxonomic list (definitely not alphabetic or by
habitat). I find it very frustrating to pick up a different field guide
than I am used to, and then struggle to find what I am looking for. If all
field guides were the same order then it would be much easier.
Having said that, there needs to be some exceptions. e.g. all white egrets
on the same plate. I probably agree with quail and button-quail close
together, although if they are on two separate plates, then a good cross
reference to the other page number would help.
I know that some field guides need new editions before the taxonomic list
has been updated, and so they have to use their best interpretation which
may prove later to be wrong.
What makes a field guide to me is not the order. It is having good
reference pages for raptors in flight so that you can quickly eliminate
most of them. It is making it quick to find out the key ID features of a
bird. I often spend more time reading the text, than finding the page in
the field guide in the first place. And of course the accuracy of the
illustrations does help!!! I could still be wondering about the first Grey
Honeyeater that I saw if I was referring to Simpson & Day, but Pizzey &
Knight looked like they had drawn the bird I was looking at. And the
accuracy of distribution maps is very important. I like the
differentiation that Michael Morcombe uses.
I would prefer them to be lighter, by leaving out a lot of the details in
the back half of most of the books.
I like the field guides that have checklists (and plates) for the island
territories.
Having said that, I regard Pizzey & Knight as probably the best field guide
for Australia as a whole, although Morcombe is the best for WA (and the
south west in particular), and Slater is the lightest to pack if I am
travelling, and I have had 5 editions of Simpson & Day over the years. I
think we have been very fortunate with field guides in Australia.
_________________________________________________________________
Frank O'Connor Birding WA http://birdingwa.iinet.net.au
Phone : (08) 9386 5694 Email :
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