Best Ireland Birds Book

KJ

Would anybody be able to recommend the best/most comprehensive book of Ireland's birds? Something with detailed descriptions and pictures to help identify them.

OpenYourEyes

KJ wrote: »

Would anybody be able to recommend the best/most comprehensive book of Ireland's birds? Something with detailed descriptions and pictures to help identify them.

The Collins Bird Guide is widely considered to be the best field guide for birds in Ireland and the UK - very detailed, and has all species that you could see here, including vagrants from other places that occasionally turn up here.

Woodville56

OpenYourEyes wrote: »

The Collins Bird Guide is widely considered to be the best field guide for birds in Ireland and the UK - very detailed, and has all species that you could see here, including vagrants from other places that occasionally turn up here.

I would agree with OpenYourEyes on that ! The Collins Guide was my first guidebook and well worth the few €.
I might also mention a recently published 'Birds of Ireland , A Field Guide' by Jim Wilson, published by Collins Press. I came across another classic Bird Guide text a few years ago " Birds of Europe" by Lars Jonsson, got it secondhand on the web for €15 .

Half-cocked

Woodville56 wrote: »

I might also mention a recently published 'Birds of Ireland , A Field Guide' by Jim Wilson, published by Collins Press.

+1

http://shop.birdwatchireland.ie/birdwatchireland/product_info.php?cPath=35_33&products_id=940

Some pages can be viewed here, it has good photos inc different seasonal plumage.

OpenYourEyes

Some would argue that it's better to have a field guide with illustrations rather than pictures - because of the angles, lighting etc sometimes pictures can hide or misrepresent some useful ID features - obviously a good illustrator wouldn't have that problem. That being said, the 'Birds of Ireland' book does look pretty good. I'm still backing the Collins guide though! Worth looking on amazon to get the best price!

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Collins or the Hamlyn guide for sure. I would avoid books that use photos for the reasons already given and because illustrations take a general view that allows for plumage variations.

Judgement Day

Lest we forget. It was certainly my first bird book and indispensable.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Judgement Day wrote: »

Lest we forget. It was certainly my first bird book and indispensable.

Mine too. Still on the shelf and still referred to occasionally.

KJ

Thanks for the replies. I have gone with the Collins Guide for now. My father in law is getting it for me for my birthday so I might pick up the Birds of Ireland book myself.

Zoo4m8

Judgement Day wrote: »

Lest we forget. It was certainly my first bird book and indispensable.

Absolutely , still have mine and it's coming in the box with me

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

Just checked my Observer book and I have it since 1962!

For an all round guide to birds plus animals, trees, flowers, insects, fish etc the Collins Complete Irish Wildlife is hard to pass and a great start for anybody wanting to gain a knowledge of all aspects of Nature in Ireland.

KJ

I went for the Collins Guide. its brilliant so thanks for the recommendations. Today it helped me to identify a Reed Bunting. I think I will definitely get the Complete Irish Wildlife book too.

Desmo

Collins guide is THE European field guide so you can use it on yer holliers. Killian Mullarney is also a great bloke if you ever bump into him down around Tacumshin. I also have and like the Eric Dempsey/Michael O'Cleary field guide to Irish birds which only has species that have been recorded from Ireland and has Irish distribution maps etc.

magicbastarder

are there any good apps for phones?

Woodville56

I've got the Birds of Britain and Ireland app by BirdGuides - from Appstore
It has illustrations/drawings, some photos, bird call sound/songs , a distribution maps, notes on Field Characteristics, Habitat, & Europe wide distribution status. Worth a look. !
I also had the RSPB eGuide to British Birds app on my last phone - it has drawings/ilustrations, a basic Identification Guide, notes on Habits, Habitat, Breeding & Migration also Call & Song samples. You can also keep a list of your sightings on it, logged by species, date and location.
I'm sure there are other eGuides - the more knowledgeable in this forum will be able to advise perhaps.