A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of New Zealand is an introductory photographic identification guide to 250 bird species, including the most commonly seen, unique and endemic species. High-quality photographs from one of New Zealand's youngest nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers climate, vegetation, biogeography and the key sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of New Zealand encompassing, for each species, its English, Maori and scientific names, local status, and threat level, updated in 2022. The fully revised second edition has 13 new species and over 200 new photos.
Oscar Thomas spent his high school years volunteering for conservation organizations, advocating and raising awareness of New Zealand's unique wildlife, and travelling the country in search of as many different birds as he could observe and photograph. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he is now studying Ecology and Zoology at the University of Otago.
"[...] For those visiting New Zealand the book is a professionally written, easy to use pocket-sized guide, addressing the majority of species likely to be seen. For those travelling light, or with limited time, the book offers a good alternative to the larger field guides or a phone-based application."
– Jonathan T. Coleman, Ibis