This major new field guide covers Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands, including the Seychelles, Coromos and Mascarenes (Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues). The Malagasy region contains one of the most extraordinary concentrations of biodiversity in the world. Its recognition as a zoogeographic region in its own right has recently been confirmed and, all taxa combined, the region was found to hold the second most distinct assemblage of vertebrates in the world after the Australian region, despite being the smallest of them all. This Helm Field Guide covers the whole of the Malagasy region, which comprises the unique island of Madagascar and the various islands and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean including the Seychelles, Comoros and Mascarenes (Mauritius, Réunion and Rodrigues). Every resident and migrant species is covered in full detail with a colour distibution map for each. Vagrants are also treated in detail, but without maps. All species are illustrated on a beautiful series of 124 colour plates, with artwork from John Gale and Brian Small. Conveniently, the plates have been arranged so that all the key species of the various archipelagos are placed together in sections. This is a major work of reference on the birds of the region and will remain the standard text for many years to come.
Autorentext
Roger Safford is Senior Programme Manager at BirdLife International, where he coordinates the Preventing Extinctions Programme. He is co-author of Birds of Africa VIII: The Malagasy Region and Birds of Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands.
Zusammenfassung
The ultimate field guide to birds of Madagascar, the Seychelles, Comoros and Mascarene Islands.The Malagasy region contains one of the most extraordinary concentrations of biodiversity in the world, and a diverse avifauna rich with exciting endemic taxa; birds such as vangas, mesites and asities live nowhere else. This guide covers the whole of the Malagasy region, which comprises both Madagascar and the various islands and archipelagos of the Indian Ocean including the Seychelles, Comoros and Mascarenes Mauritius, R union and Rodrigues all of which host their own endemics and large seabird colonies.Every species in the region is covered in full detail, with a colour distibution map for resident and migrant birds. All species are illustrated on a spectacular series of 124 colour plates by leading bird artists John Gale and Brian Small, with concise species text opposite the plates. The species are arranged to keep the key species of the various archipelagos together in sections.This major work of is a stunning combination of scholarship and beauty. Authoritative yet pocket-friendly, it's an essential addition to the backpack of any visiting naturalist or birdwatcher, anywhere in the region.
Inhalt
Acknowledgements
About this book
The Malagasy Region and Its Birds
Geography, Climate and Habitats
Biogeography: Colonisation, Differentiation and Survival
Endemic Families and Genera
List of Bird Organisations
Plate Section
Part 1: Larger birds (non-passerines): Malagasy Region
Part 2: Landbirds ('near-passerines' and passerines)
Part 3: Vagrants: Malagasy region
Appendix 1: Checklist of birds of the Malagasy region
Appendix 2: A new classification of bird orders and families native to the Malagasy region
References
Index