Handbook of the Birds of the World (16-Volume Set + Special Volume)

About this book

Handbook of the Birds of the World (16-Volume Set + Special Volume) comprises all volumes of HBW, illustrating and describing in detail every species of bird in the world. For the first time an animal class has all the species illustrated and treated in detail in a single work. This has not been done before for any other group in the animal kingdom.

Material in each volume is grouped first by family, with an introductory article on each family; this is followed by individual species accounts (taxonomy, subspecies and distribution, descriptive notes, habitat, food and feeding, breeding, movements, status and conservation, bibliography). In addition, all volumes except the first and second contain an essay on a particular ornithological theme. More than 200 renowned specialists and 35 illustrators (including Toni Llobet, Hilary Burn and H. Douglas Pratt) from more than 40 countries have contributed to the project up to now, as well as 834 photographers from all over the world.

Complementing the series, Lynx has published a checklist in association with BirdLife: HBW And Birdlife International Illustrated Checklist Of The Birds Of The World. It includes all the HBW plates and essential information in two volumes. Each volume has the same size of a HBW Volume. Volume 1 covers the non-passerines, and volume 2 covers the passerines.

Contents

Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks

This volume was published in 1992. Unlike subsequent volumes, it does not have an introductory essay; instead, it has a 38 page overview by Eduardo de Juana of the biology of birds and a foreword welcoming the HBW project, by Christoph Imboden. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Struthionidae (Ostrich)
    Rheidae (Rheas)
    Casuariidae (Cassowaries)
    Dromaiidae (Emu)
    Apterygidae (Kiwis)
    Tinamidae (Tinamous)
    Spheniscidae (Penguins)
    Gaviidae (Loons)
    Podicipedidae (Grebes)
    Diomedeidae (Albatrosses)
    Procellariidae (Petrels And Shearwaters)
    Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels)
    Pelecanoididae (Diving-Petrels)
    Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds)
    Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
    Sulidae (Gannets And Boobies)
    Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)
    Anhingidae (Darters)
    Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
    Ardeidae (Herons)
    Scopidae (Hamerkop)
    Ciconiidae (Storks)
    Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill)
    Threskiornithidae (Ibises And Spoonbills)
    Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
    Anhimidae (Screamers)
    Anatidae (Ducks, Geese And Swans)

Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl

This volume was published in 1994. It has a foreword by Walter J. Bock on the organization of information in HBW. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
    Pandionidae (Osprey)
    Accipitridae (Hawks And Eagles)
    Sagittariidae (Secretarybird)
    Falconidae (Falcons And Caracaras)
    Megapodiidae (Megapodes)
    Cracidae (Chachalacas, Guans And Curassows)
    Meleagrididae (Turkeys)
    Tetraonidae (Grouse)
    Odontophoridae (New World Quails)
    Phasianidae (Pheasants And Partridges)
    Numididae (Guineafowl)

Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks

This volume was published in 1996. It has an introductory essay by Robert Bateman on "Art And Nature". Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Opisthocomidae (Hoatzin)
    Mesitornithidae (Mesites)
    Turnicidae (Buttonquails)
    Gruidae (Cranes)
    Aramidae (Limpkin)
    Psophiidae (Trumpeters)
    Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules And Coots)
    Heliornithidae (Finfoots)
    Rhynochetidae (Kagu)
    Eurypygidae (Sunbittern)
    Cariamidae (Seriemas)
    Otididae (Bustards)
    Jacanidae (Jacanas)
    Rostratulidae (Painted Snipes)
    Dromadidae (Crab Plover)
    Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
    Ibidorhynchidae (Ibisbill)
    Recurvirostridae (Avocets, Stilts)
    Burhinidae (Thick-Knees)
    Glareolidae (Pratincoles, Coursers)
    Charadriidae (Plovers)
    Scolopacidae(Sandpipers And Allies)
    Pedionomidae (Plains-Wanderer)
    Thinocoridae (Seedsnipes)
    Chionididae (Sheathbills)
    Stercorariidae (Skuas)
    Laridae (Gulls)
    Sternidae (Terns)
    Rhynchopidae (Skimmers)
    Alcidae (Auks)

Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos

This volume was published in 1997. It has an introductory essay on "Species Concepts and Species Limits in Ornithology" by Jürgen Haffer. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse)
    Columbidae (Pigeons And Doves)
    Cacatuidae (Cockatoos)
    Psittacidae (Parrots)
    Musophagidae (Turacos)
    Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds

This volume was published in 1999. It has an introductory essay on "Risk Indicators and Status Assessment in Birds" by Nigel J. Collar. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
    Strigidae (Typical Owls)
    Steatornithidae (Oilbird)
    Aegothelidae (Owlet-Nightjars)
    Podargidae (Frogmouths)
    Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
    Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)
    Apodidae (Swifts)
    Hemiprocnidae (Tree-Swifts)
    Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills

This volume was published in 2001. It has an introductory essay entitled "On Avian Bioacoustics" by Luis Baptista and Don Kroodsma. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Coliidae (Mousebirds)
    Trogonidae (Trogons)
    Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
    Todidae (Todies)
    Momotidae (Motmots)
    Meropidae (Bee-Eaters)
    Coraciidae (Rollers)
    Brachypteraciidae (Ground-Rollers)
    Leptosomidae (Cuckoo-Rollers)
    Upupidae (Hoopoes)
    Phoeniculidae (Wood-Hoopoes)
    Bucerotidae (Hornbills)

Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers

This volume was published in 2002. It has an introductory essay on "Extinct Birds" by Errol Fuller. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Galbulidae (Jacamars)
    Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
    Capitonidae (Barbets)
    Ramphastidae (Toucans)
    Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)
    Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Volume 8: Broadbills to Tapaculos

This volume was published in 2003. It has an introductory essay on "The History Of Bird Classification" by Murray Bruce. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Eurylaimidae (Broadbills)
    Philepittidae (Asities)
    Pittidae (Pittas)
    Furnariidae (Ovenbirds)
    Dendrocolaptidae (Woodcreepers)
    Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
    Formicariidae (Ground-Antbirds)
    Conopophagidae (Gnateaters)
    Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)

Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails

This volume was published in 2004. It has an introductory essay on "Ornithological Nomenclature" by Richard Banks. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Cotingidae (Cotingas)
    Pipridae (Manakins)
    Tyrannidae (Tyrant-Flycatchers)
    Acanthisittidae (New Zealand Wrens)
    Atrichornithidae (Scrub-Birds)
    Menuridae (Lyrebirds)
    Alaudidae (Larks)
    Hirundinidae (Swallows And Martins)
    Motacillidae (Pipits And Wagtails)

Volume 10: Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes

This volume was published in 2005. It has an introductory essay on "The Ecology And Impact Of Non-Indigenous Birds" by Daniel Sol, Tim Blackburn, Phillip Cassey, Richard Duncan and Jordi Clavell. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Campephagidae (Cuckoo-shrikes)
    Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
    Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
    Irenidae (Fairy-Bluebirds)
    Aegithinidae (Ioras)
    Ptilogonatidae (Silky-Flycatchers)
    Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
    Hypocoliidae (Hypocolius)
    Dulidae (Palmchat)
    Cinclidae (Dippers)
    Troglodytidae (Wrens)
    Mimidae (Mockingbirds And Thrashers)
    Prunellidae (Accentors)
    Turdidae (Thrushes) and a part of the subfamily Saxicolinae (Chats) which is now part of family Muscicapidae (HBW 11)

Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers

Published in September 2006. It has an introductory essay on "The ecological significance of bird populations" by Cagan Sekercioglu with a Preface by Paul R. Ehrlich. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
    Platysteiridae (Batises & Wattle-eyes)
    Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
    Monarchidae (Monarch-flycatchers)
    Regulidae (Kinglets & Firecrests)
    Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
    Cisticolidae (Cisticolas & allies)
    Sylviidae (Old World Warblers)

Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees

Published in October 2007. With a foreword on Fossil Birds by Kevin J. Caley. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Picathartidae (Picathartes)
    Timaliidae (Babblers)
    Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills)
    Pomatostomidae (Australasian Babblers)
    Orthonychidae (Logrunners)
    Eupetidae (Jewel-babblers and allies)
    Pachycephalidae (Whistlers)
    Petroicidae (Australasian Robins)
    Maluridae (Fairy-wrens)
    Dasyornithidae (Bristlebirds)
    Acanthizidae (Australasian warblers and Thornbills)
    Epthianuridae (Australian Chats)
    Neosittidae (Sittellas)
    Climacteridae (Australasian Treecreepers)
    Paridae (Tits and Chickadees)

Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes

Published in October 2008. With an introductory essay on Bird Migration by Ian Newton. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Remizidae (Penduline-tits)
    Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
    Sittidae (Nuthatches)
    Tichodromadidae (Wallcreeper)
    Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
    Rhabdornithidae (Rabdornis)
    Nectariniidae (Sunbirds)
    Melanocharitidae (Berrypeckers and Longbills)
    Paramythiidae (Painted Berrypeckers)
    Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
    Pardalotidae (Pardalotes)
    Zosteropidae (White-eyes)
    Promeropidae (Sugarbirds)
    Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
    Oriolidae (Orioles)
    Laniidae (Shrikes)

Volume 14: Bush-shrikes to Old World Sparrows

Published in October 2009. With the foreword Birding Past, Present and Future – a Global View by Stephen Moss. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Malaconotidae (Bush-shrikes)
    Prionopidae (Helmet-shrikes)
    Vangidae (Vangas)
    Dicruridae (Drongos)
    Callaeatidae (Wattlebirds)
    Notiomystidae (Stitchbird)
    Grallinidae (Magpie-larks)
    Corcoracidae (White-winged Chough and Apostlebird)
    Artamidae (Woodswallows)
    Pityriaseidae (Bornean Bristlehead)
    Cracticidae (Butcherbirds)
    Paradisaeidae (Birds-of-paradise)
    Ptilonorhynchidae (Bowerbirds)
    Corvidae (Crows)
    Buphagidae (Oxpeckers)
    Sturnidae (Starlings)
    Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)

Volume 15: Weavers to New World Warblers

Published in October 2010. With the foreword Conservation of the world's birds by Stuart Butchart, Nigel Collar, Alison Stattersfield & Leon Bennun. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Ploceidae (Weavers)
    Estrildidae (Waxbills)
    Viduidae (Indigobirds)
    Vireonidae (Vireos)
    Fringillidae (Finches)
    Drepanididae (i.e. subfamily Drepanidinae in recent taxonomies) (Hawaiian Honeycreepers)
    Parulidae (New World Warblers)

Volume 16: Cardinals to New World Blackbirds

Published in December 2011. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

    Thraupidae (Tanagers)
    Cardinalidae (Cardinals)
    Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
    Icteridae (New World Blackbirds)

Special Volume: New Species and Global Index

Will be published in May 2013.

    Foreword by BirdLife International
    Avian classification in Flux by Jon Fjeldså
    The Discovery of New Bird Species by Jon Fjeldså
    Original Scientific Descriptions
    HBW Photo Gallery
    Global Index
 

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