Some years ago in the course of reviewing the latest Simpson & Day in CBN I offered 6 critical tests for evaluating a field guide to Australian birds (relevant
extract attached). Based on personal opinion of course and others might prefer their own tests. I have reason to think my suggestions came to the attention of the hard-working authors of the ABG at the time, so I shall be interested to see how it rates.
From: David McDonald (personal)
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Sent: Saturday, 29 April 2017 9:54 AM
To: CanberraBirds
Subject: [canberrabirds] The Aust Bird Guide ...
Hi, as most would know, this long-awaited field guide has now been published: Menkhorst, P, Rogers, DI, Clarke, R, Davies, JN, Marsack, P & Franklin, K 2017,
The Australian bird guide, CSIRO Publishing, Clayton South, Vic.,
http://www.publish.csiro.au/book/6520/ .
The RRP is $49.95 but it is available at the QBD bookshop in the Canberra Centre for $39.99.
A hefty field guide at 1.4 kg but, if you still use and love field guides that are in the form of physical books, rather than smart phone apps, I think that you will find this one really worthwhile.
I have subjected it to what I call the Graham Chapman Test, much discussed here on CanberraBirds over the years: what it says about differentiating between the male Satin and Leaden Flycatchers. It passed the Test with flying colours:
- Satin Flycatcher: 'Demarcation between the blackish throat and white belly curves strongly downward at the edges (ie (sic) concave), forming a sharp angle with edge of wing.' 'Colour boundary curved, meets wing at acute angle'.
- Leaden Flycatcher: '...shape of the demarcation line between dark breast and white belly are keys to distinguishing from the Satin Flycatcher' and 'colour boundary meets wings at right angle'.
This diverges a little from David Cook's 'leadens laughs, satins sad', and Chapman's 'the demarcation line is convex in one and concave in the other', but is close enough.
David
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David McDonald
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Wamboin NSW 2620
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