Title: A lightweight field reference.
Review: This is more of an illustrated checklist. Being the size that it is, and that it aims to be a field guide, it is a shame to have given it a hardcover. The overall arrangement is a bit unwieldy: the range maps for example are in a separate section to the species accounts, which are very brief and make too much use of symbols and abbreviations.The plates are quite overcrowded. The illustrations lack charm, depth or texture in my opinion.Although it is superceded by other field guides, it still serves as a handy checklist (if you are already familiar with identifying most of the birds) and need a quick field reference.
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