Collins Bird Guide

Great Book, but be cautious if you choose to supplement this book with the Princeton Field Guide-Birds of Europe Second Edition, as I did. These books are essentially identical, which I did not realize until comparing them later. Buy the cheaper one since they are the same book.

This was a replacement copy of my first instance of this book, which I have largely worn out from field trips. If a repeat purchase of the same book isn't a strong endorsement of its quality and utility, then I have nothing left to offer you. My only criticism would be that it does have a British-centric aspect to it, and it doesn't include all the various European names of the birds. I have more than a few tales from the field of showing someone the picture of a bird in this book and asking its name in German/Spanish/Italian/French...etc.

This guide is the best guide I’ve seen. I could not more highly recommend it. The only change I’d make in the next version, 1) Add a map indicating the countries in the introduction. I’d find that very useful and convenient. 2) the front and back inside cover photos are identical. Change one so it represents shorebirds. Other than that fantastic book with incredibly detailed and stunning drawings, detailed descriptions in text and in photo for easy identification and comparisons between similar species. Highly recommended!!

Maybe better for the young ones. But I find it hard with the small pictures

The book is great and I am very glad to see all of the updates I knew about and many I didn't know about being present. It is extremely clear and informative and is a great update from the last edition which I already owned. One thing that I was interested in was that Wild Turkey wasn't in the book as I saw one in Germany in 1968 and read that they were brought in for hunting purposes years before. Perhaps they are now extirpated. Something I will have to check on. The detail in the drawings was excellent and will allow be to do better with ID if I am lucky enough to get to Europe again. Thanks, Jerry Becker

Excellent book. User friendly with great illustrations and detailed presentation. Small enough to fit in a back pack for Birding.

Interested to find that this is the same as the Princeton guide with a different cover - although it is always recommended by European guides, I can find no difference.

A top notch field guide. We used it in Israel with another FG. This one, while it covered the region perfectly, was just too comprehensive for such a small geographic region and the other FG served better. But this is the bible for those in Europe.

The guide is complete but the range maps are difficult to follow (too small) and a section with bird silhouettes in the front would be useful. Also it is exactly the same as the Princeton Guide to European birds, which does not need to be imported from the UK.

Logical, with drawings, text and location map all together. It has the important indicators noted on the drawing, and similar species listed together. This is not a small book, but reasonable in size for a field guide.

Great Book, but be cautious if you choose to supplement this book with the Princeton Field Guide-Birds of Europe Second Edition, as I did. These books are essentially identical, which I did not realize until comparing them later. Buy the cheaper one since they are the same book.

This was a replacement copy of my first instance of this book, which I have largely worn out from field trips. If a repeat purchase of the same book isn't a strong endorsement of its quality and utility, then I have nothing left to offer you. My only criticism would be that it does have a British-centric aspect to it, and it doesn't include all the various European names of the birds. I have more than a few tales from the field of showing someone the picture of a bird in this book and asking its name in German/Spanish/Italian/French...etc.

This guide is the best guide I’ve seen. I could not more highly recommend it. The only change I’d make in the next version, 1) Add a map indicating the countries in the introduction. I’d find that very useful and convenient. 2) the front and back inside cover photos are identical. Change one so it represents shorebirds. Other than that fantastic book with incredibly detailed and stunning drawings, detailed descriptions in text and in photo for easy identification and comparisons between similar species. Highly recommended!!

Maybe better for the young ones. But I find it hard with the small pictures

The book is great and I am very glad to see all of the updates I knew about and many I didn't know about being present. It is extremely clear and informative and is a great update from the last edition which I already owned. One thing that I was interested in was that Wild Turkey wasn't in the book as I saw one in Germany in 1968 and read that they were brought in for hunting purposes years before. Perhaps they are now extirpated. Something I will have to check on. The detail in the drawings was excellent and will allow be to do better with ID if I am lucky enough to get to Europe again. Thanks, Jerry Becker

Excellent book. User friendly with great illustrations and detailed presentation. Small enough to fit in a back pack for Birding.

Interested to find that this is the same as the Princeton guide with a different cover - although it is always recommended by European guides, I can find no difference.

A top notch field guide. We used it in Israel with another FG. This one, while it covered the region perfectly, was just too comprehensive for such a small geographic region and the other FG served better. But this is the bible for those in Europe.

The guide is complete but the range maps are difficult to follow (too small) and a section with bird silhouettes in the front would be useful. Also it is exactly the same as the Princeton Guide to European birds, which does not need to be imported from the UK.

Logical, with drawings, text and location map all together. It has the important indicators noted on the drawing, and similar species listed together. This is not a small book, but reasonable in size for a field guide.

Bought this for an upcoming trip. The only complaint I have I expected based on other reviews; the range maps are too small. The illustrations are first rate and the accompanying text is very complete. All in a size that easy to take into the field.

5 Stars says it all!

This is a fantastic guide. Having never been to Europe before, this was a very easy to use helpful guide. I got the new Phone App as well.

Very good reference book.

I got this Field Guide for a Birding trek to the UK, & have found it to be extremely informational, well-illustrated, lively text, & very well researched! This is a classic & very enduring practically. Dr. JBW, USA

Awesome guide!

I was very happy to receive the book. It was exactly what I have expected it to be, detailed, clear and interesting. Looking forward to using it for a long time to go.

Nice book

A great book one of the finest bird guides I've ever seen.

I've owned this book before so knew what to expect , a great reference book for anyone interested in Birds , I could only get a second hand copy but was glad it arrived on time and in excellent condition !

Recommended to me, an American, by a British naturalist. It's great.

Bought the book as a gift to a friend and his wife. They were pleased and grateful for the thought. They are avid bird watchers and welcomed the addition of the Collins Bird Guide. No matter what I read or hear, I still believe in books, hard copy books, as a means of information, pleasure and as a research source. I was pleased Amazon had the book available. Jim Dunne

Very good

I have owned numerous field guides covering various parts of the world and I have little hesitation in saying that on balance, this is definitely the best. This is a (2017) update to the 2nd edition, containing new splits such as Moltoni’s Warbler and other small revisions. It is of just the right size and weight so as to be most practical for use in the field. Even slightly larger books tend to get left behind for later reference only. The illustrations are impressive, the text concise and including the essential ID points (although I would prefer more notes on behaviour). It has a lot of in-flight illustrations which puts it ahead of other books; it has neat and easy range maps. It really sets a standard that other field guides have so far failed to match. There is a reason however that I only award it four stars rather than five: this printing (2019) is inferior to my earlier (2010) edition. The illustrations are not as sharp and the saturation seems to have been turned up a notch too far, which is a bit disappointing

Comprehensive

As a relatively recent (5 years) amateur birder, it is difficult for me to over-estimate this wonderful guide. Reviewing Collins is a bit like reviewing a phonebook (when phonebooks were still around). Phonebooks were not good or bad, they were just absolutely necessary. But unlike phonebooks, there are many other pocket and non-pocket bird guides. I found Collins the best, and was reinforced by very many serious birders. so let me just enumerate the reasons: 1) It is concise and very portable. My wife carries her "field" edition (we own three) in her binocs bag; 2) It is exhaustive and detailed. If you read the small print, you will get the basic info in the briefest form; 3) It is very well illustrated. Considering the limitations of space, the typical views of each species are represented in excellent drawings; 4) With the introduction of molecular genetics on the one hand, and the increased facility of observation and digital photography documentation on the other, many new species and sub-species continue emerging. Collins does its best to keep up and the second edition is more comprehensive than the previous one. The only aspect that I find missing is the description of hatchlings and fledgelings, but this would have doubled the volume's volume. Just a word of caution - no guide can equal years of experience. Collins or not, understanding gulls will still be a major problem, alas. In conclusion, birding without Collins is feasible, but not half as efficient and pleasurable

Please note that all reviews prior to February 2010 concern the first edition. However, much of what has been said for that first edition holds for the new one as well. And if you live in North America, it makes more sense (economically), to get the Princeton version: Birds of Europe: (Second Edition) (Princeton Field Guides). That edition is not only cheaper, it also has a more suitable name. Its contents is exactly the same, despite the different name. At any rate, the long awaited second edition of this excellent field guide is finally here. Improving on the world's best bird field guide is almost certainly a task that will disappoint a few. However, the authors and illustrators are to be commended for their achievement. Despite an addition of almost fifty pages, compared to the first edition, this is still a very field-worthy book. The text, range maps, and many illustrations have been throughly revised and updated. Particularly noteworthy are the many new owl illustrations, and the page of "Atlantic" pigeons. Many "new" species have been added due to splits from previous subspecies. Thus, many island races from the Canary Islands are now full species. Some taxonomic groups got a particular revision, such as the wheatears and the "Herring Gull complex". The treatment of the latter has been expanded from less than a double page to three full spreads. With Caspian Gull being fully illustrated in various plumages, for example. The taxonomic sequence got some changes in the first parts of the book, with geese and ducks now at the front. The same confusing fashion as in field guides of North America and many other areas of the world. There is actually no need for a field guide to follow the latest taxonomic insights. Rather, there needs to be a sequence that allows for quickly finding a group of birds. And that would be best served if the basic sequence were kept constant. Unfortunately, non-native species got a rather worse coverage than in the first edition. Some were relegated to the back of the book such as the locally well established Wood Duck and Mandarin Duck. And even for the European native Ruddy Shelduck, the range presumably due to human releases is not shown on the map. Personally, I consider such omissions a lack of recognizing reality. The same problems, unfortunately, are found in such leading works as the Handbook of the Birds of the World, and likewise for the mammal equivalent. A welcome change in the range maps is the use of more detailed regional maps for very localised species. Despite the time span of about ten years since the first edition, and the repeated postponement in the publication of this edition for about two years, it seems that there must have been a certain rush at the end. Thus, there are relatively many typos or other minor oversights. No big thing, but somewhat of a bother nevertheless. Hopefully, a large part will be corrected in subsequent printings. Despite the various points I have criticized here, the book fully merits its five stars. It is just SO good! However, if you already own the first edition, and you use it mainly for local birding, you might want to just keep that edition.

This is essentially the 3rd edition and contains recent splits such as Moltoni's Warbler and Balearic Warbler amongst others. The extremely high quality of the content contained in this guide is indisputable but I have only given it four stars for the following reason: Some of the plates looked a bit dark and having compared it to my "first" 2nd edition they most definitely are, in particular the warblers. It almost looks like someone has over-processed them in photoshop and this is especially true of the phylloscopus warblers. Hopefully it was just a bad print run and it really shouldn't stop you buying what is without doubt the best field guide for Britain and Europe.

I suppose I should have paid more attention to the title. This book is crammed (literally) with birds most of us will never see. If you are looking for a book that will guide you to the birds you will see in a British garden or walking in the British countryside, this book is not for you. The birds you will be interested in are obscured by the greater number of other birds. It is misleading to say Britain and Europe, it should just say Europe. Yes there is a code to say if a bird is a British visitor, but there is no preference for British birds. There is little indication of where in Britain you will see species. The print is very small and the pictures are also small and very close together, the maps are miniscule. As a reference book it is OK, as a book to help the occasional bird watcher it is of little use.

There's no need for me to sing the praises of this well-acclaimed book. Packed with full information, diagnostic features, and good pictures that show similar birds on the same page for differentiation. Sometimes a little overwhelming in the amount of information, but if you ignore the arcane options (bird only found in the eastern Mediterranean and you're in Wales) it is great. The distribution maps are pretty poor, though - small, with no detail.

I bought this book as a gift for my mum's birthday. The content of the book is great, with tonnes of information on all the different species you might find whilst birdwatching. Unfortunately to pack all that information in what is a relatively small book requires a small font, this is not so good for anyone who has poor eyesight. A large print version would be good.

Wow this book really is everything everyone says about it. To say its thorough is a bit of an understatement. Its not for the casual back garden birder but definitely a must for anyone serious. It lists not only all the birds you might expect in the UK but also everything you might get in europe plus all of the accidentals and all of the one off's ever recorded. The illustrations are top notch and show many variants of plumage. Basically every serious birder should have a copy.

Collins seem to have abandoned clarity in the interests of complete-ism - sure, all the birds that have even cast a shadow on UK territory are there, but the flight silhouettes (especially of the raptors) and species markers on the illustrations are by no means as clear as those in the Petrson/Mounfort/Hollm enlarged edition (1971) that I re-bought cheap and second-hand because my original one got soaked in the pocket of a "waterproof" jacket. I only use this one for idling through birds I'll probably never see and wondering what the heck brought them here.

I was advised by a professional ornithologist to buy this book. The illustrations of birds are beautifully drawn and executed. The information is excellent and comprehensive. My only adverse comment is that the text is quite dense and a lot has been packed into every page. I would have preferred to have more space for text and maps, which are very generalized. However this would have meant a substantial increase in price. Overall I am very satisfied with this purchase.

An excellent home and field guide. I must say i have not been a fan of sketched or illustrated guides, i think it leaves to much open to the illustrator to exagerate features such as colour or finish (matt/silk) etc. I also think it makes an amateur struggle to remember a bird from a drawing as it isnt as relatable as actually seeing a photo of the bird. however that said, i understand that it would be very very hard to get every bird, every sex, every season plumage at every age and have the correct angled. So for those reasons i think this guide book is very good, the illustraions are excellent and very true to life. It is readable even when you are not in a hide or at your local reserve.

This volume is easily the finest book on the market for the general reader. Both the author and the illustrators have unassailable reputations in the field. The text is lucid and informative and the illustrations are superb. I always take the paperback version in my pocket when visting RSPB hides and reserves. It is rare that one finds a book that is simply indispensable, but in my view, this 2nd edition of the celebrated, Collins Bird Guide surely is! Anyone interested in birds should think about purchasing a copy.

Good Bird guide, i think as others have said pictures quite small and colours a bit washed out. Having said its a great book to help you identify British birds also small enough to carry with you.G B.

The best bird guide on the market: complete & thorough (though perhaps not the best for total beginners). Accurate illustrations of all ages & plumages of birds. Highly recommended

This second edition of early 2010 is an essential purchase for the serious birder or any reader who is interested in identifying the birds seen in the garden or on an excursion to the country or coast. A worthwhile enterprise would be the additional offering of accompanying media with examples of the calls and songs. The English edition by Harper Collins is a good translation of the original Swedish work. The usefulness of this book relies heavily on the clarity of the superbly detailed illustrations. There are multiple pictures of species which seasonally change plumage and/or as they mature from juvenile to adult. In the case of gulls, which mature over 4 years, the coverage of 1st, 2nd & 3rd year plumage is particularly helpful. Birds like eagles, hawks and falcons are shown in flight from above and below. Subtle wing pattern distinctions are clearly pointed out. In other species, beak and leg differences are indicated, where they are important for identification. There are useful hints for birders, like "Watching sea birds". The Introduction is essential reading as a primer for the beginner. It contains many common sense tips that experienced birders would do well to read as a refresher. The Mandarin Duck, now resident and breeding in large numbers in the UK, is included only in the section "Introduced breeding species, etc. ...". This deprives the reader of some distinguishing illustrations, like the non-breeding phase. It would have been more helpful to include it in the main body, as are the Canada Goose and the Pheasant family. However, this is a minor criticism of a fine publication that justifies fully what might appear to be a high cover price. It deserves to exceed the massive 700,000 copies of the first edition.

Treated myself for Christmas. Wow !! This has to be the best field guide I have ever owned, well apart from your first which in my case was The Observer Book of Birds (I had when I was 8 years old). This is the second edition and the pictures and descriptions are simply breathtaking. It has full details of the new sub-species (taxonomy) and also a section at the back on North American Passerines, Vagrants & Introduced & Escaped species. If you want a brilliant field guide that covers 713 species in the main section that covers all birds which breed or occur in Europe & North Africa north of 30 degrees North and Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, this is for you. Also included are the Canary Islands, Madeira and the Sinai Peninsula. A chunky but can fit in your bag paperback guide, that is a must for travelling, even more so now so many sub-species have been identified. The text is easy to decipher and you will just treasure this book if your a decent birder or a seasoned pro. Maybe not the best for beginners, so be warned.

This is a very comprehensive book of the birds found in Britain and Europe, and helped me confirm someone else's opinion on a bird seen in the garden recently. A redwing for anyone who might be interested. This is better than the RSPB book, and I would highly recommend it.

We have several bird guides - and have ditched them all for this one. This is the best there is. There are other guides in the series - also highly recommended. Wear well too - it's used weekly and still maintaining its quality after several years.

As a keen birdwatcher I wanted to get my other half a new guide. I went for this because of it's comprehensive pictures and information. My other half loved it however he said it's too nice to take out in the field on bird watching trips so he'd rather keep it indoors to read up on later. Also he said it is so full of pictures and information it is almost too informative for the size of the book it is. For him there are too many pictures per page and too much tiny writing. One of the things that often frustrates me with guides is not having enough information and finding I'd have to look in a whole range of books and online to find out the information I require. I thought it would be a bonus to have it all in once paperback that you could take out with you. I guess it's getting that balance between a reasonable sized book you could take on bird watching expeditions and providing enough information in an easy to read format. I still intend getting myself a copy.

This book could not be described as a handbook, its size obviously precluding this description. But what a brilliant reference book, the artwork is prodigious in quantity and quality and the data is up to date at the point that it was written.I originally purchased this volume(first edition) when it first came out for a friend who purchased a house with a considerable amount of land and was fascinated by the wild birds that were visiting his bird table. After trying to describe the birds he saw he threw his hands in the air and said why don't you get me a decent bird book and then I can tell what we have visiting our bird table. So I did and he loved it so much that he showed his business partner the book who also wanted one need I say more?

I bought this book in conjunction with the Collins Complete Guide to Brithish Birds by Paul Sterry to replace a handbook and guide lost in transit whilst moving house. To be honest my original guides were getting on in years and I needed to update anyway but I am blown away by both of these books! The Paul Sterry Complete Guide To British Birds is exactly what I wanted for the field and the Collins Bird Guide is great for a more in depth study or identification. I am a reasonably competent birder who is working toward ticking off a list of species from a pocket book I bought in 1989 and these books will assist me greatly now that I have reached a point of having to actively find the less common species. The Photographic Guide provides excellent plates of adult/juvenile birds both perched and in flight but the best bit for me is that each species has a section entitled observation tips telling you where and when to visit to have your best shot at finding it. The Lars Svensson book is a lot more detailed and covers species from accross Europe so provides another great source of information. Buy them both, download a birdsong App for the smartphone and I don't think you'll need anything else whilst birding in the UK. BUY THEM BOTH AND YOU'VE GOT EVERYTHING YOU NEED.

The pictures are very small and it’s extremely difficult to find a bird similar to what you are looking at . Ok if you are a birder no doubt but for an inexperienced novice like me pretty useless

Lovely little book, but not for learning how to attract different birds to your garden, or things like whether they are ground or table feeders. It's quite a small book so very small print, but that is why it's a pocket book.

I've ordered this book a few days ago and it's already in my place. Amazing delivery by Amazon as usual. The book itself is outstanding. The crazy amount of information in such a compact package is great, leaving you with countless hours (days!) of new things to learn. The information is useful and concise, and the bird illustrations are top notch. The book size is also perfect in case you want to carry it around in the country or any other place. Easily fits my Barbour jacket pockets! The only complaint about the book is on the finishing of the cover. It's already peeling and I just received it, but that's OK since I plan to use it a lot, so it would turn out like this anyway... 5 stars for me!

It's the book everyone uses, and with good reason. Excellent resource for bird identification, extremely thorough in bothg illustrations and description. No cheap, but with this one you get what you pay for.

Its a very, very comprehensive field guide, lots of species packed in. Feel the pictures are quite small, hard to see the details, and lots of text in a small font. Maps are tiny, can just about tell if the bird is found in the uk or not! But for out in the field its a good guide, with some details to be checked when have returned home (or online) later.

The only bird guide you need to buy, very detailed and huge amount of birds and info covered. Writing a bit small, would have liked a slightly bigger format but that would have made the book bigger i suppose.

Very comprehensive book, it shows juvenile, male and female variations and clear and interesting information. There were two things which I found disappointing; firstly the illustrations are small. Species identification is often visual and I found the illustrations difficult to see clearly/comfortably. The distribution maps are minute and only give a rough idea of where species are to be found. Secondly, large numbers of birds are found only in Europe, so if you are looking for a good book on British birds you have to trawl through all the European species as well. On reflection I would have preferred a book on British species only with larger illustrations. This would allow it to be lighter to carry around and would not contain a lot of information on species which would not occur in the UK.

Having used the 1st edition of the Collins bird book for the last 10 years out in the field, I know that this is the best bird ID book out there in my opinion. I have only recently noticed that the taxonomy has changed and that the distribution maps were no longer accurate so started thinking about investing in the second edition. Even so I didn't feel the need to update my field guide but went for the large format second edition to use as a reference for when I returned after a days birding. I am not disappointed - this large format allows me to see more detail than possible in the smaller field guide and is a great supplement to the many Internet and software based ID guides out there. Highly recommended.

It's a very good birders book, perfect the beginner, gives lots of information and the pictures are really good, I would recommend this book for a beginner or intermediate.

This is a wonderful book with beautiful illustrations and great information. We will keep it on our coffee table so we can grab it to look up the birds that come to our bird feeders outside the windows. I am sure it will go on trips with us too so we will know the what the new birds we see are.

Others have said it, but this really is the best. I started birding in 1979 and quickly became a twitcher. Us lot like ID guides, the more the better, and I have 24 of them (the oldest being The Popular Handbook of British Birds, published in 1952) plus several bookshelves of other bird books and journals. The Collins Guide is the most exhaustive and authoritative. I've had to retire from active birding for health reasons, but if I could keep only one bird book, this would be it. Its value lies in its accuracy and wealth of information, but it's also a thing of beauty in its own right. Can't recommend it too highly.

I have had the First Edition ever since it came out and it has gradually deteriorated because of being humped around in various pockets & rucksacks so I decided to get a new one for my study and keep the old one for field work. This has become a classic. If you want t book that tells you what a bird IS ... THIS IS THE ONE TO BUY ! ... Not only are there exceptionally good images of the birds we know but also variations showing young adults, breeding plumage and even 2 pages of ducks that interbreed ... Truly an amazing work and the authors and illustrators deserve the ornithological equivalent of the Nobel Prize !

I love this book. It has plenty of detail. I never travel outside the UK so it's interesting to look at the other birds in Europe. Hopefully it will come in handy next time I go to Scotland as it has a lot more birds in than my smaller RSPB bird book. The images are clear and there's plenty of descriptions of the birds which are also useful.

This review relates to the second edition, which I've been using now for about a month. I already have three copies of the first edition. This edition follows the winning format of the first. Distribution maps are updated. Personally, I find these are rather small, the whole of Europe and North Africa being shown about the size of a postage stamp. New species are shown as a result of splitting a previous species. Users of the first edition will find an old friend in this guide which was largely regarded as the best field guide for Europe. The notes on identification are invaluable when trying to distinguish similar species. Several different plumages are shown covering different seasons. All commonly seen species are covered and there are also notes on rare vagrants and occasional visitors. Even though this edition was long awaited and its publication delayed several times, it appears not to have been properly proof-read. Firstly, the index is not in alphabetical order. For example, the sections on 'herons' and 'harriers' are both split up and out of order. Secondly, the plates appear incomplete. The illustrations have many useful identification notes with short lines pointing to the part of the illustration referred to. On many of the illustrations the short lines are present but there are no notes associated with them. This leaves you wondering exactly what the authors wanted to draw to your attention!! These minor niggles apart, this is an excellent guide, probably intended for serious users. However, at its very reasonable price, there is no reason to buy a simpler guide even if you're a beginner or if you have only a passing interest in birds. You won't be disappointed with this first class guide.

I liked the 2nd edition updates ease of use of the book. When I’m in the field I use a smaller guide this backs it up. Great pictures good value for money.

What is there not to like? This is the definitive book for European birds. I needed a paperback version to take on a birdwatching holiday to Spain. Too big for me to carry around but ideal for vehicle or hotel room to check up on details.

This is an excellent bird identification guide. I have other guides which have their merits, but for a truly amazing, comprehensive and detailed list of all the birds of Britain and Europe, this wins hands down. The illustrations are first class, and very accurate, with details of different plumage (summer/winter/adult/sub-adult/juvenile), and information on sub-species. General behaviour, physical description, and calls and songs are all detailed superbly.This is my second copy as my first one was accidentally damaged. Would thoroughly recommend this book both to beginners and those more experienced bird watchers.

I had already purchased the smaller format (7.6" x 5.3") and had found the pictures and text a little small although the book was pocket sized. This large version (12.5" x 8.8") is exactly as it is described. It is the small version enlarged. Therefore not only are the illustrations enlarged so is the text. This makes the book excellent for anyone whose eyesight is less than perfect. The content of the book is superb and in my opinion cannot be faulted. I would thoroughly recommend this book particularly if it can be obtained at a reduced price. Remember it is a reference book not a pocket guide.

A comprehensive guide to the birds of Britain and Europe featuring most species with identifying features. There are books with more information on a shorter list of species, but this is probably the best for the money and size. It's sadly a bit too heavy for me to want to carry around all day but it's a useful reference book to keep at home or even in the car.

This guide remains the best there is. It is concise so is still a field guide yet contains all that is needed to distinguish the majority of European birds. I say majority as there is a constant separation of species into sub species that it would be hard to have them all illustrated and described. For those that travel to remote places in Europe and speak with locals, vernacular names of birds would have been welcome. They were in the Peterson guide of long ago so that well worn volume still travels with me for that purpose. The Collins Field Guide is thoroughly recommended.

It is about 10 years since the first edition of this book in English, so the question has to be asked is the new edition any better? Perhaps not better, but certainly more of the same is the answer. For some while this has been my European bird ID book of choice, and that situation seems unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. The paintings are amongst the best in any field guide I have ever seen, and the descriptions very helpful. Having said that, I would not rely on the distribution maps, but then these can never be accurate at such a small scale anyway. For identification, however, it remains the best in the market.

I bought this as an update to the previous edition, the distribution maps of which were dated. It is even more comprehensive, including the addition of 'new' species. Like others, I highly recommend this book. Be aware though that it is a touch longer and therefore heavier so it may not be ideal for amateurs who want a light pocket guide when out and about. Those worried about weight may favour the paperback, although in my view hardback is more durable which is more important for those that use this a lot in the field.

I was advised to choose this guide by a very experienced spotter and this proved to be excellent advice. I was worried that the book used drawings rather than photographs but the drawings are of excellent quality and are very realistic. It's very useful to have several different birds on one page for easy comparison. My only criticism would be that the distribution maps are too small to be of detailed use for UK. Otherwise, all round good purchase and would recommend it for novices and experienced bird-watchers alike.

This is by far the best field guide to use in any European country together with most of the rest of the Western Palearctic. The plates are of a very high quality and there is a detailed description of almost every species found in the Western Palearctic together with range maps. This is the book I use for all my tours from the Canary Islands to Iceland and Egypt to the Ural Mountains and is recommended to all of our clients.

You really don't need another guide book if you own this one,it has a comprehensive list of British and European birds,they are easy to identify using the numerous drawings of each bird,showing juvenile,female,male and seasonal variations.You will have to carry the book in a rucksack or have large pockets to take it with you,I use the RSPB pocket guide in the field if I am travelling light and double check with the Collins when I get home.The guide is excellent value for money from Amazon,don't hesitate buy it today.A little tip for those is it,or isn't it moments, use the images search on google and look at the numerous photographs to help identify the bird.

A friend told me Amazon were selling this for half price so I didn't hesitate to order it straight away. The 1st edition has been the acknowledged leader in its field since it was first published. It is now a little larger as there are new plates and new 'splits' in this edition. It reflects the new DNA findings so some of the family orders have changed e.g. the wildfowl (geese & ducks etc.) are now listed before the divers etc - a bit confusing but it's all new knowledge! The Redpoll text now includes the name 'Lesser Redpoll' to describe the normal British race so that's a bit clearer. Also the Herring gull plate now shows more variations - useful if, like me, you struggle with gull id!

Very nice book, im still flicking through it, always discovering something new, good illustrations and descriptions

What can I say? It is THE field guide for birds in Britain and Europe!! It covers all of the species that you will see in Britain and Europe, as well as many vagrants and rarities that could come across. It gives you a bit of info on how to watch birds and where to see them and has amazingly detailed drawings, descriptions and distribution maps. This is the second edition, which is pretty much the same as the first, but the bird groups are organised slightly differently. A must have for any bird watcher or naturalist!

Excellent publication. A must have for serious birder. Brilliant drawings and texts at a very reasonable price.

Until someone does a "Sibley" with species comparisons, this is to my mind the best field guide to UK birds.

The definitive guide to European birds. Absolutely essential to have to hand. Wish a purchase of this included access to the app also, but bought that separately and together they haven't steered me wrong.

Was recommended this book by a top birder, it’s awesome! Perfect for me (an amateur) and for all birders.

Overall happy with the product. The pictures and print is quite small, but other than that all good. Recommend if you want to cover Europe in addition to the UK.

Requested from a family member as a must have for her university course on ecology

This is the best bird recognition book that I have seen, having used numerous publications in the past, I feel this provides the most comprehesive coverage, particularly good at helping to identify the different sexes and to distigush adult and juvinile birds. The book is a good compromise between bulk and information. The text is quite small though.Excellent illustrations, which are often better than photographs as an aid to correct identification. Overall a good book and the price from amazon is a bargain.

I am by no means the most experienced birder but this book will certainly help my wife and I with I.D.ing birds. I have a few bird ID books and this is far and away the best one yet,each bird is pictured in differing stages of their plumage,from the front and the back as well asfrom the side,where they are found, a full written description,and their different songs and calls. I fail to see how this book could possibly be improved upon. I am delighted with this book...money well spent in my opinion.

Love this book. Really helpful! Only time gets confusing now I’m back in the UK and like erhmmm that bird? But the maps are all there to double check. Writing and pics small but what can expect from all birds! Great to take on holiday as fits in bag

Comprehensive guide to British and European Birds including rare migrants

I very rarely leave reviews but just received this and it is brilliant, gives you a lot of information about each bird in an easy to access format. So good I have purchased the hardback version as well ... I have loads of different bird guides and this one puts all of them to shame literally - so if you are in any doubt get it

I recommend this larger format Collins Bird Guide. The text and pictures are excellent. We are keen birders and we have actually bought two copies of this book. It is much easier to read the larger format book, particularly when middle-age vision problems start to occur. We also have the paperback edition of the Collins Bird Guide for carrying around when bird watching. A couple of years ago, we bought a second-hand copy of the first edition. The first edition large format book was done as a limited print run. If wondering what to buy youself for Christmas - I suggest this large Format Collins bird Book. It is definitely worth 5 stars. Enjoy!

Bought two (one for my son and one for my daughter.) They are both extremely happy with this book. Very informative - my daughter said.

An excellent guidebook and reliable reference book , easy to use and a handy size so that it can be taken on car trips quite easily . A quality product recommended by experienced bird watchers , but also a useful and valuable resource for beginners. A comprehensive volume . It will fit in a large pocket , but it is sturdy and therefore quite heavy .

Possibly the best field guide in existence, at the moment. Excellent illustration clearly defined, plus excellent visual and audio descriptions of each bird

I wanted my own copy of this, as the original one is usually hogged by my husband. And it’s updated too!

Well, its a Collins bird guide compiled and illustrated by some of the most respected people in the field but even I can pick out the odd anomaly or omission ,Goshawk for example,would have been worth mentioning the much fainter barring in the secondaries thus giving an overall whiter appearance to the bird than Sparrowhawk, in the most typical view ,i.e displaying or soaring ,a book of this size is never going to adequatley cover all the different gull plumages,that said generally a worthy book to take out in the field or to refer to.

Please, this is NOT a field guide. It's over a foot high and nine inches across and weighs a ton. Don't know of anyone who carries that sort of book around with them. What is it then? The best reference guide on the market, is what. Large enough print, huge illustrations, and loads of info. Worth the cover price of 50 quid, at the current discounted price it's a must.

The new plates in this revised edition are superb, and bring the guide up to date with new species that have been recently split or upgraded to full species status, it covers all the species recorded or likely to be recorded in Europe, including rare vagrants from Asia and North America, its also in a handy size for placing in the car or rucksack, and be used in the field, I highly recommend it and every birder, or birdwatcher should have a copy.

If my wife and son were being held hostage, and I had to find any criticism of this book before they were released, it could only be that it is a tad too big. The illustrations are sublime, the text wonderful... I could go on, but I don't want to; I want to get out with my binos and this book and use them. I should add that you should buy two; one paperback for carrying round, and one hardback for use at home.

Great guide. For bird lovers, look no further.

This book is exemplary in all its formats. The best bird guide I have seen. The clarity and range of drawings for each bird is very informative. The large format edition is for serious ornithologists, offering larger drawings of each bird,male female and juvenile. The smaller edition perfect for birding afield or abroad. The status key and distribution maps are very useful on the trail where the 'Bird Atlas' is impractical to carry. The information is the same in both editions.

Amazing book. Wish I had bought it sooner. I also bought the App (6.99 from App Store) and now I’m ready for anything! Having the Bird calls to hand, via the app, really makes for a great experience on site.

Great book. cheaper than other outlets.

This is a really great classic. I've had a copy for years and decided to order one as a present for a friend. The best! Would definitely recommend.

A Useful Bird Book full of illustrations & detailed information on a wide range of Birds.Pleased

As an owner of various Bird guides down the years I can very comfortably say that this is as good as they come. The illustrations are drawn up to as good a standard as I have seen anywhere - offering various examples of plumage's and natural posture of each species to outstanding quality. The descriptions and maps are first rate also. Simply, the pinnacle Bird guide.

Content superb- if only it was large enough to view.

great covid time killing activity

As many have said before, this little A5, 448 page book really is a must. The plates are clear and show the varieties within each species, and the accompanying text informative with a clear map of the species range in most cases. I have the first edition which is now looking battered and couldn't resist the second edition. A worthy update of a classic that is, in my opinion, essential to any birder. Go on - treat yourself.

Bought as a gift and they love it.

I bought this book even though there was no option to "look inside", I went on my instincts of it being a Collins publication (never been disappointed with Collins) and also because of the positive reviews from other readers. All I can say is that this book is superbly illustrated albeit quite small it is packed with just the right amount of info needed to spot birds. Very pleased with this purchase and highly recommended.

Good clear illustrations and lots of information to ease identification.

A comprehensive guide which I have found really helpful. It's a handy size so good for home, the car or the rucksack.

Bought for my husband and he loves it. Detailed guide to the birds of Britain and Europe. The drawings are good as they show different stages of plumage that some birds go through in their life instead of the usual adult picture. It is especially good for gulls as they go through several different plumages in their life.

What I like about this book is that it is up to date, so whereas in the past some species were not split, we now have a book that differentiates Herring Gulls and Yellow legged Gull. Also likewise with geese species. Excellent!

The County Recorder told me of this book, now released in paperback; and what a perfect guide to some of our rarer feathered visitors and information of our own indigenous specie. This Book goes the extra mile in graphic detail. Buy it - it will not disapoint.

Birthday present for my friend who is a keen bird twitcher. He is very pleased with this book, says it's one of the best he's come across for detail and information.

Best ever. Simple as that. There is nothing else that compares for European birds, and there has been a very long succession of superb guides to the subject ever since RTP hit the scene in the late 50s. There really is very little more to say that hasn't been clearly said before.

Excellent book

This is the 2nd version of the book, we already have the first edition and thought that as it had been updated we would purchase a copy. My husband does wildlife tours and uses this as his "bible" it is beautifully illustrated and the text is more than appropriate for the descriptions. I would recommend this book to any bird watcher, either experienced or beginner.

excellent book, very informative and very easy to use

I have owned many bird guides in my time but I have to say that this is one of the best I have seen. As with all these types of books the maps are very small but the descriptions of the birds is excellent; the drawings I find really good as well. An extremely good guide that I would recommend to anyone looking for a book of this type.

Excellent Bird Guide. A bit large for a field guide unless carried in a backpack. Use smaller field guide and check on return home.

Very good for information

Concise, informative and importantly fits in my bag. Superb level of detail, I expect to make great use of this.

Brought as a gift, for a fussy bird watcher and they really liked it. It’s very comprehensive.

Just like it says on the cover, "the most complete guide to the birds of Britain and Europe". The illustrations are clear and show various stages of plumage relating to season, sex and age. The maps give an idea of where the bird lives and migration routes. An absolute must for the birdwatcher at any level. I wouldn't be without it. Doug

£15!!! I already have the paperback edition which has a RRP of £17.99 but it is getting slightly dog-eared from being chucked in various bags and glove compartments of cars. So at this price, a large scale reference version to keep on the bookshelf just had to be purchased. There really isn't a better general bird guide in my opinion; excellent plates, descriptions and maps. Be aware that there is a printing flaw on page 371, where a Starling has a rather red face. But lets face it, we all know what a Starling looks like! Both copies that I've seen have the same flaw, and it's the only reason I've given 4 rather than 5 stars.

Really nice book. Well made and new as described. Would recommend both the book and the seller. Thank you

Purchased as an addition to put in the car this second (updated) edition is, in my mind, an improvement on the original which in itself was very good. Maps updated (but not neccessarily up to date - what can be?) it has already been well used. If you want a pretty comprehensive guide to use in the field then use this one.

I am impressed with this book. Lots of detail and a great work of reference. I use a smaller book to take out with me and this one for more detail

I already own a copy of this excellent guide. I bought this as a gift for someone trying to get into birdwatching.

Brilliant offline guide, on equal with the RSPB guide, both worth having

Very informative book, however not the easiest to refer to without some sound knowledge

Plain and simple, if you: like birdwatching, hate or love birds, know everything about birds or nothing at all, are in Europe or plan to be, like to go hiking/nature walking/boat trips/long walks on the beach, haven't acquired this book yet, have spare 12,99£, or all of the previous combined, then you MUST buy this book. (Seriously though, its pretty awesome, and you won't regret it.)

Whilst the "pocket" version will always be the leading fieldguide, the large format book makes an excellent home reference book. The extra size really makes understanding the minute differences a lot easier. Also, and this will sound daft, it feels like a totally different book. It feels like a proper reference book, not an enlarged field guide.

Excellent colour illustrations, a full description that points out the differences between similar species and very comprehensive species coverage. As others have said the distribution maps are a little small (about 30mm sq) but overall the book is very good value and an indispensable reference. Thoroughly recommended.

This book is quite in depth and shows enough detail per species to really help identify as well as learn a bit about the bird. However, as an average person I have no extensive knowledge of species and sorting of the birds so finding the bird after seeing one is pretty much an exercise of flipping through the entire book. Additional point is that the size of the book is quite small - I believe it's meant for traveling more than at home research.

This book is reccomended to anyone who wants to do some birdwatching. My father bought me a copy many years ago but I gave it away to my nephew. Decided to buy a new copy when a was having trouble identifying a few birds. Well recommended for anyone who wants to learn more about British birds.

This is one of the best bird ID books that I have found so far. Worth looking at.

The bird guide, was bought after reading book reviews and reviews from other people.I agree with the reviews the book is five star! Its also a handy size for taking out with you.To put in the glove compartment in the car or out with you on a walk.

Very good guide to birds of the UK and Europe.

Beautifully illustrated, authoritative field guide. Even better than first edition, with many niggles removed. Paperback is not very water resistant. Anyone expecting to get drenched, might consider waterproof tablet with the app for this book, which has attraction of sound recordings and can be expanded to include videos.

Brilliant book for serious birders. It shows species in a variety of plumages. A bit to OTT for a beginner (RSPB Handbook of British Birds better for beginners) but very good for the serious spotter. Also this book contains some European species. Go for it.

I received this much quicker than indicated on the order, which was great. Unfortunately, it's still in a box from my house move, so I've not had an opportunity to use it. When it arrived though, I had a good look at it, and thought it would be really useful in my new home. There is a lot more bird life here, so it will be nice to know exactly what it all is.

Very informative and detailed book. The print and pictures are a little on the small side and ideally I would prefer this to be an A4 size due to the amount of information per page. So top marks for the book, less one star for the book size.

I bought this excellent bird guide after reading an article by Helen Macdonald (author of the prize-winning "H is for Hawk") on the books that shaped her. Although extremely comprehensive and detailed it might still find a place in a rucksack when out walking. It is incredibly detailed and includes all of the information - both text and images - that one needs when bird-watching. I would recommend this for anyone interested in bird-watching.

What can I say that hasn't been said... An excellent book for every bird enthusiast.

Worth updating the book as the new edition is a lot better. My only issue is some of the species maps are out of date after new research and for other species like the egrets

This book was recommended and is the best book we now have on birds.It shows the young and the seasonal changes that in the main other books fail to do. I have already passed the good news on to friends and acquaintances about this product.

A 'must buy' book for the anally retentive amongst us. Page after page of meticulously regimented and beautifully executed illustrations. An organisational 'tour de force'. As it happens I'm quite interested in avian identification but - to be perfectly honest - you don't necessarily need to be to enjoy this book !

Excellent

This book has amazing paintings of all European birds plus vagrants and variations. It was bought for a keen birder who loves it as much as I do my own copy. It is an essential part of my interest and enjoyment of my hobby of photographing and identifying birds

This Collins Guide must be considered the best source for identifying British and European birds. This edition (2nd revised and enlarged in 2009) is an improvement over the 1st edition in that the plates for the American accidentals were painted by the team. If I were to complain it would be because of it's weight

Excellent bird guide, just bought this as a replacement copy as I lost mine on holiday. Would not be without this wherever I go,you never know when you are going to see a bird that you need to identify. Book arrived in good time and in excellent condition.

Bought this item as a gift for someone over christmas. Only heard good things about it

I own five field guides which I would not have, had I seen this first. The fact it does not have Field Guide in the title may account for this.A bit heavy for the pocket but then so are some of the others though this is justified here by the content which is streets ahead. By far the best.

Gave this as a Xmas present to husband, who wanted a replacement for his 20 year+ bird identification book. The excellent pictures of birds at different times of year and ages, met his needs exactly.

The definitive field guide. This is my second copy

I'd been looking for this guide for years!!!

I have a number of guides each with its own merits. The Collins guide is the most comprehensive and useful if you are travelling in Europe. Its not too heavy to take into the field although I usually carry slimmer volumes and use this for later reference.

I found this an excellent book for birdwatching as it shows many examples of young birds, before they get their adult plumage, when they are difficult to identify. I did not find the descriptions of birds' calls, songs or warnings particularly helpful. It has taken me a little time to get used to the birds being shown in families rather than their habitat. The Preface and Introduction should be read before using the book as they fully explain the "leading principles" employed and guidance to identifying birds.

Comprehensive and easy to use

Good portable companion guide, easy references and clear illustrations

Excellent for identifying birds,just what I wanted

I live in the UK. Bought this for my son-in-law in South-West France. Very good indeed. First time we used it we spotted new birds in his garden in the Haut Garonne. This is the only id guide you need for European birds

A beautifully presented book, which is a twitchers dream for reference material. Would recommend to any budding ornithologist. The best book on birds, that I own!

Collins first edition became the "Bird Watchers Bible" and this second edition with it's updates and additions will soon have the same reputation. It is a convenient size for rucksack but has enormous amounts of relevant information. Superb bird guide book for experienced or newcomers to "Birding".

The book will encourage the youth I am giving it to for his Christmas present to join the RSPB. The photos are beautiful with super description for each

This book was recommended by a bird expert and I have found it really useful. I particularly like the fact that it provides information on what the females of the species look like, something which is not included in the other books I have.

Still a bit of a novice birder but it's a good supplement to my RSPB field guide. Bought it before my first trip abroad after getting the birding bug and it proved quite useful. Since Amazon keep asking me if I want to sell it back, I'm assuming it must be pretty sought after.

good guide - type a little small but I guess needs to be to make it compact.

Excellent - full of interesting and useful information - so easy to recognise birds from the descriptions

So much more than previous editions - very good value.

As a keen birder this is the only choice. I bought this copy for a friend, but I own two, one in my rucksack for the field, and a large hardback copy for home reference. Best bird guide book out there for the British and European field without a doubt.

Fantastic book. Very easy to use. Will need a cover to protect it if using it in the field.

Although this second edition of probably the best bird guide for Europe has lots of small improvements in illustration, the quality of the paperback production is not very good. After a month mine already has a section parting from the binding. I would recommend the hard back or stick to your first edition.

The best there is at a real good price

Very comprehensive, clear and information on all aspects of bird recognition. Highly recommended.

Wife ....well pleased

Superb book. Detailed identification diagrams and text. A must have reference.

A great book and highly recommend.

The amount of information condensed into a compact volume is breathtaking. I would choose this over any other field guide for the birds of Britain and Europe.

I have always wanted a book that would give me lots of information on all Irish and British birds. This is THE book! Very well written, loads of information, and the illustations are beautiful. Worth every penny. :-)

Excellent

In my opinion, the best bird book on the market.

Excellent book, covers just about everything I need to know!

We have copies of the previous edition and this is better still. Highly recommended for content and clarity.

I took this on holiday to Romania with a bunch of dedicated birders (of which I am not one) - all of whom were also carrying this book around. It was really helpful to me to get a grip on the numerous birds I was experiencing. Not exactly pcoket sized but worth the space in the suitcase.

Beautiful drawings, well written text, excellent presentation. The bible for bird watchers.

Nothing more can be said about this. I just love it!!! I have the normal edition, the large edition (which by the way is super-amazing, because the ilustrations are bigger and we can see better the quality of the artwork done :) !!! ), and the edition of my homeplace and I don't get fed up of this book. A must have to all bird lovers!!!

Purchased as a present

The best field guide ever produced for any branch of natural history. Get it even if you hate birds!

Brilliant

This is a wonderfully presented and comprehensive book.

What to say more about this already so known book!

An excellent book. Good text and descriptions and beautiful illustrations. Very highly recommended.

Another gift for my husband, we have both wanted a bird reference book and think it'll be a nice thing to have once we have children. On first impressions, the books looks very detailed and informative; we like how it illustrates the differences between sex, age and breed of each species.

It has everything necessary for a good bird guide - great illustrations, clear, easy text, well written and easy to use. I have birded around the world in many countries and have always bought the relevant guide. This one rates very highly and I am very satisfied with it.

We purchased yet one more copy of this excellent guide. Get one for your friends. Go for it!

lovely book, good clear pictures and maps. descriptions of the birds in all the seasons, adults and youngsters . very good value.

Nice Book

Bought for daughter who loved it. Good range and pictures

Great book

This is a very fantastic book. So colourful, very informative, nice maps. Lots of birds and lots of guidance. HOWEVER... does not separate mealy and lesser redpolls which is a pain.

Excellent book and excellent service

THE only bird ID book required for Britain & Ireland.

Excellent

I bought this for my daughter and her family who have just moved to the country but it is a bit technical and more for the serious bird watchers rather than just people on country walks who want to identify something quickly.

Good service and very efficient

Great value and excellent service. Very satisfied

update on the previous book New maps and info

Great book 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Leading the way currently..

Book arrived in great condition, as described, very useful product