This guide to the identification and classification of all the birds so far recorded in Australia is designed for use in the field, to slip easily into a hip-pocket, backpack, or glovebox. The illustrations have been planned to enable easy comparison between similar species. The text emphasises the best way to differentiate each species, with a key sentance setting out the most helpful characteristics to watch for. In the "Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds", more than 750 species are described and illustrated in 157 superbly painted plates. The concise and informative text details the different plumages of male and female birds, variations between adult and juvenile birds, information on seperate sub-species or races, together with their range. The book also includes species distribution maps, which enable the watcher to tell at a glance whether the particular bird is within its area, or is perhaps a rare visitor. In addition, the eggs of all species that actually breed in Australia are illustrated. A concise description of the nest is given as well. "The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds" is a must for naturalists and enthusiasts alike visiting Australia.

About the Author

Peter Slater has been interested in birds since early childhood and has studied nearly every Australian species in the field. He has writen or illustrated more than twenty books on Natural History. The paintings for this volume took about six years to complete, with superb detail and definition, each bird being carefully checked for colour accuracy.