This is the first modern-style photographic field guide to the birds of Chile, an increasingly popular destination with birders and naturalists. Compact and easy to carry, pack, and use, Birds of Chile is ideal for curious naturalists and experienced birders alike, providing everything anyone needs to identify the birds they see. Clear photographs and brief, facing-page species accounts highlight what to look for and how to quickly identify species. The photos include both close-ups and birds-in-habitat images to further aid real-life identification. An introduction and maps provide an overview of Chile's geographic regions and their distinctive birdlife. Birds of Chile is also a great resource for birding in nearby countries, especially Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru.
Steve N. G. Howell is an international bird tour leader with WINGS and a research associate at the California Academy of Sciences and Point Blue Conservation Science. He is the author of many books, including Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America (Princeton) and Molt in North American Birds (Peterson Reference Guides).
Fabrice Schmitt is an international bird tour leader with WINGS and a lecturer on Ponant Antarctic cruises. He lived in Chile from 2005 to 2015, founded the online birding magazine La Chiricoca, and helped develop the eBird online birding tool for Chile and the rest of South America.
"Based on the above, I think it is very clear that any serious birder should seriously consider taking both Birds of Chile: A Photo Guide and the older field guide if they are intending to bird in Chile [Birds of Chile]. Additionally, the photo guide will also prove valuable when visiting the adjacent countries of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru. Whilst the field guide is probably the more essential of the two, the photo guide should be sufficient to identify almost everything one sees well, and could certainly be used on its own. As stated by the publisher, this is a cutting-edge photographic field guide, and an invaluable addition to any birder’s library."
– Frank Lambert (29-09-2018), read the full review at The Birder's Library
"This is a thoughtfully constructed photographic guide. The photographs look superb and capture the species very well in their natural habitat. The writing is clear and focused, and the essay on habitat and bird distribution succinctly captures the topic, delving into enough detail to keep the reader engaged. Key features are highlighted and other useful tips are included that aid in identification."
– Peter Burke, bird-guide illustrator and tour leader with Field Guides Inc.
"Succinct but amazingly informative, this guide reflects the authors' decades of experience with the birds of Chile. The guide is incredibly well illustrated, clearly written, and a pleasure to explore. It will be a very useful tool in the field given its imagery, information, and small size."
– Alvaro Jaramillo, author of Birds of Chile