Tim Parmenter

Basics: 1991, hardcover, 143 pages, 23 color plates of 62 species, range maps for most

This book is a cross between a field guide and a reference book on the warblers (and kinglets) of Europe and the Mediterranean countries of Africa and the Middle East. The 23 color plates act as a field guide with brief identification notes adjacent to each plate. The first half of the book offers the reference material of 1-2 pages for each bird. All the breeding, migrant, and vagrant species are covered, including the Cape Verde Cane Warbler isolated in the Cape Verde Islands.

Each plate displays 3-5 species with 6-11 different illustrations. These illustrations are top quality with detail, color, and form. Difference between genders and subspecies are shown nicely. One quirk of these plates is some species are displayed on two, three, or four different plates (e.g., Chiffchaff is on plates 17, 19, 21, and 22). This is both appreciated and somewhat awkward. It’s good to see the strategic placement of look-alike species next to each other throughout the plates; however, it does make it a little difficult to view all plumages of the bird at once.

The text ranges from 1-2 pages for each bird with the same sections of general characteristics, description (upper & underparts), bill/legs/iris, plumage variations, song, habitat, and distribution. This same information is often given for distinct subspecies. The descriptions are very thorough and detailed, providing excellent information to help differentiate between the difficult species. The weaker part of the text is the song description. It’s adequate but not as notable as the descriptions offered in Moore’s similar book for the Warblers of Britain and Europe.

Three nice additions to this book are the special tables and notes that focus on the more confusing species. One table details the Blyth’s Reed, Marsh, and Eurasian Reed Warblers. Another focuses on Green, Greenish, and Two-barred Greenish Warblers. And, a small section is given to point out the confusion between Radde’s and Dusky Warblers.

Range maps are supplied for 52 of the 62 birds, which are those more likely to be found in the region. The maps display summer, winter, resident, and migrant distributions. Although the maps, showing all Europe and northern Africa, offer good detail, they can be difficult to discern for those birds with limited ranges or those represented merely by small symbols. The vagrants are denoted with a small triangle or circle, which can be easily overlooked in the map.

This is an excellent book for the avid birder who wants greater detail on a difficult group of birds. I highly recommend it along with the book by Shirihai (Sylvia Warblers).

I’ve listed several related books below…
1) Sylvia Warblers by Shirihai et al.
2) Warblers of Europe, Asia, and North Africa by Baker
3) A Field Guide to the Warblers of Britain and Europe by Moore
4) The Chiffchaff by Clement
5) Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East by Jonsson
6) Birds of Europe by Mullarney et al.… (más)