A land of incredible natural resources, the South American continent is rich in plant and animal species. Among birds alone, over 3,100 species are either resident or migrant. Birds are some of South America's treasures and also one of its most endangered resources. Hence the need for a descriptive record of South American birds that will serve both professional and amateur bird students and encourage conservation of these magnificent species.

Although South American birds elicit much popular and scientific interest, they have never been completely or satisfactorily described and cataloged in a single, published source. The Birds of South America, projected to be a four-volume work, thus fills a critical void. Starting from a museum approach, the authors have examined specimens of each subspecies, comparing them visually and trying to discern the patterns in their plumage variation, both intra- and inter-specifically. They take a new look at bird systematics, reassessing relationships in light of new information. Perhaps most important, they combine this review and analysis with extensive field observations to give an accurate, incisive portrait of the birds in nature.

At a time when rapid development is devastating millions of acres of tropical habitat in South America, this record of an endangered resource becomes crucial. If the birds and other plants and animals of South America are to be saved, they must first be known and appreciated. The Birds of South America is a major step in that direction.

Volume II includes the Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers, Antbirds, Gnatcatchers, and Tapaculos; Tyrant Flycatchers; and Manakins and Cotingas.

The remaining volumes of The Birds of South America will be:

Volume III: The Nonpasserines (Landbirds)
Volume IV: The Nonpasserines (Waterbirds)

No release date has been set for the remaining volumes.

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 6 reviews)

In search of a field guide

While Volume I and II are very detailed works with very good artwork, these are just too heavy to lug around in the field to use as field guides. Of course you can do as I did, and have the color plates removed and bound separately, making the whole effort a costly endeavor.
November 22, 2007

Best Bird Book Ever?

This book ranks as one of the greatest achievements in ornithology ever. It puts in perspective some of the most perplexing and difficult groups of birds with sublime artistry, comprehensive text along with distributional data and beautiful maps. It is a pleasure to have it as a reference even if like the average mortal I may never get a chance to see but a small fraction of the birds covered. Use it as a reference to both plan and make notes before your trip. The vastness of the continent and the diversity of the birdlife of South America is now opened up for all to see; this is the book to launch a thousand expeditions into the bird continent and to make new discoveries.
July 10, 2002

Who could want for more?

This book is definitely one of the best books about birds I've ever seen. Personal experience, combined with the experience of others, plus a tremendous knowledge of the species, make this book even surpassing the first volume.
Mr. Tudor must have spent at least two lifetimes as well in collections as in the field to present us with these drawings which show both the necessary details and the natural position of the bird. To perform this, you should not only be an excellent painter, but have thorough knowledge of the birds as well.
It's such a pity that apparently they're not succeeding in finishing the series, given the fact that it is eight years since this volume has appeared and the site of the editor states "No release date has been set for the remaining volumes". guess they're too busy observing the birds ;-)
June 16, 2002

The definitive work on South American birds

This book, and its companion volume are the first part of a promised 4 volume work on South American avifauna. These books are wonderfully detailed, beautifully illustrated, and worth every penny of the purchase price. I am a bird book fanatic and have enjoyed these books as much as any of the other books in my collection. One of the other reviewers mentioned these as field guides. In my opinion, they are definitely not field guides- way to massive. I imagine myself lugging these two babies through a lost corner of some rainforest in Brazil. They are heavy when dry but once they became soaked, they would probably kill you. These are wonderful books but not field guides. They are reference works written and illustrated by some of the most respected experts in the business.
October 17, 2000

Can't wait for the remainder of the series.

Title says it all. These are the best books on South American birds available. Hopefully the remainder of the series will come out soon.
August 22, 2000

SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Birds of South America: Non-Passerines: Rheas to Woodpeckers (Princeton Illustrated Checklists)
by Francisco Erize, Maurice Rumboll

The Birds of South America: Volume 1: The Oscine Passerines (Ridgely, Robert S//Birds of South America)
by Robert S. Ridgely
by Tudor Guy

Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica.
by Martin R. de la Pena, Maurice Rumboll
by Gustavo Carrizo, Aldo A. Chiappe, Jorge R. Mata

Birds of Peru (Princeton Field Guides)
by Thomas S. Schulenberg, Douglas F. Stotz, Daniel F. Lane, John P. O'Neill, Theodore P., III Parker
by Antonio Brack Egg

Birds of Northern South America: An Identification Guide, Volume 2: Plates and Maps
by Robin Restall, Clemencia Rodner, Miguel Lentino