Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America (eBook)

Wagtails are noted for their bold plumage patterns and extensive racial variation. Pipits are a large and difficult group which invariably causes vexation to birders on both sides of the Atlantic. This guide covers the 26 species of northern hemisphere pipits and wagtails in detail. It treats identification in the field and in the hand, and includes colour plates, detailed distribution maps and sonograms of songs and calls. This guide covers the 26 species of northern hemisphere pipits and wagtails in detail. It treats identification in the field and in the hand, and includes colour plates, detailed distribution maps and sonograms of songs and calls.Christopher Helm

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Pipits and Wagtails is the first comprehensive guide to all the species and subspecies that occur in Europe, Asia, North Africa and North America. The detailed species accounts cover all aspects of identification (size, structure, plumage, bare parts, geographical variation, behaviour, distribution, and habitat.) In particular, great care has been taken to illustrate and describe accurately the differences between all valid subspecies as well as differences relating to sex and age. There are 30 full colour plates and a number of plate parts that depict all the species and distinct subspecies in different plumages, and to help further with identification, there are almost 250 colour photographs, numerous line drawings, sonograms of the species' and subspecies' unique songs and calls, and colour distribution maps for each species (with the range of subspecies marked). Systematics are also discussed in great detail. Introductory chapters deal with identification, moult, ageing and sexing in general, species concepts, nomenclature, and phylogenetic analyses. The unparalleled extent to which the authors - the world's two leading authorities in the field - have gone to cover all aspects of identification and systematics, including doing a complete taxonomic review, ensures that this is the ultimate reference guide for anyone interested in this group of birds.