Wildfowl of the Northern Hemisphere
Wildfowl of the Northern Hemisphere
By Ray Hutchins | 192 pages, colour illus. | Merlin Publications | Distributed by NHBS | Softcover | 2008 | £14.99 | ISBN: 9780954307011
Illustrated field guide, showing all 77 species of wildfowl found in the Northern Hemisphere, male and female, Whistling Ducks, Swans, Geese, Shelducks and Ducks, painted in the water and on the water.
Each species account contains information on plumage, distribution, population size, conservation, breeding biology, and ecology with an explanation of the derivation of the Latin name, this latter has not been done before. The accounts are laid out so that all relevant information for each species is contained within a two-page spread for easy cross-referencing between the text and the artwork.
At the end of the book, there are useful sections on ‘Where to See Wildfowl’ giving brief details of sites right across the Northern Hemisphere with more detailed information for UK sites managed by the RSPB and the WWT.
Unfortunately I’m not only pretty unimpressed with the illustrations but left wondering who would fund this guide useful? To me the portraits are pretty scruffy looking with some, like the swans, making the birds look positively grubby as well as disheveled. The colours are also rather variable with some spot on and others pretty wide of the mark. As for use I guess it might help if you are interested in captive wildfowl or escapees but otherwise it is rather narrow in species focus whilst being too wide geographically. The text is fine but is too limited for a ‘species account’ and has too much emphasis on ID. Allin all I just can’t see the point – I’m sure someone will tell me if I’m missing the point.
Buy this book from www.nhbs.com
Created: 08th Jan 2009
