Written in association with BirdWatch Ireland, Ireland's leading bird-conservation organisation, here Jim Wilson and Mark Carmody provide the definitive identification guide for birds in Ireland. You will discover everything you need to know to become a confident birdwatcher, whether you are looking at the most common species or in the presence of something more unusual.
Containing details of more than 260 species and over 1,600 photos, the key identification features of each bird are shown in detail not seen before in an identification guide to Ireland's birds, with concise descriptions and pointers that will help you identify birds in an easy, quick-reference format. This beautiful new pocket-sized edition includes up-to-date distribution maps for all common species and an updated list of birds of conservation concern in Ireland.
Jim Wilson is a wildlife writer, international tour leader and broadcaster with over 45 years of birdwatching experience.
Mark Carmody has a PhD in biochemistry and is also a member of BirdWatch Ireland. They have been involved in the conservation of birds in Ireland and contributed to major surveys and international projects. They are also co-authors of Shorebirds of Ireland and Freshwater Birds of Ireland.
Reviews of the first edition:
"Field guides should ideally fit into an anorak pocket; few field guides achieve this – but this one does. So well done Collins Press in producing this style of field guide! [...] The majority of each page contains a carefully selected medley of photographs to suitably aid identification, with just a small amount of text to further explain key identification features as well as seasonal distribution and habitats, therefore doing away with distribution maps that would have enlarged the book unnecessarily. Clearly this book is targeted at the beginner birdwatcher."
– Julian Greenwood, BTO book reviews
"The Birds of Ireland is a simple yet effective field guide that should appeal to a broad front of birders and non-birders alike. I really like the straightforward, no-frills layout, which ensures that using this guide is far from laborious – something that is especially important for beginners. What's more, it's a small, lightweight guide that won't strain the beholder – whether it is pocketed or placed in a rucksack. Hopefully this guide will find its way on to many a bookshelf this Christmas and, in turn, inspire a new generation in what is (and I'm sure always will be) one of my favourite destinations to be out birding."
– Josh Jones, 27-11-2013, ww.birdguides.com