Description
SWIMMING WATERBIRDS: RAILS, GULLS, AND TERNS OF THE WETLANDS OF CA
Book Summary
This field miniguide, illustrated in full color by Toni Llobet, is a practical and visual tool for identifying the swimming waterbirds that inhabit the country's wetlands. The volume covers everything from anatids (swans, geese, and ducks) to gulls, terns, grebes, cormorants, divers, rails, and marsh terns. With detailed drawings that include juvenile, breeding, and winter plumages, as well as precise icons for habitat, abundance, and phenology, the reader will have a complete guide to ensure no species is missed during observation outings.
What is it about?
The book focuses on the practical identification of swimming waterbirds present in wetlands, an intuitive distinction that groups together very colorful and accessible species. Through careful illustrations, adult specimens are shown, as well as variations in juvenile, breeding, and winter plumage, and differences between sexes when relevant. Icons accompany each species to indicate its preferred habitat, relative abundance, and phenology (when and where it is most likely to be found). Descriptive texts highlight the distinctive features of each bird and offer clues about locations and typical seasons for rarer species. This guide is complementary to the one on wading waterbirds and small birds, and it excludes pelagic birds (such as shearwaters or gannets), which are covered in another specific miniguide.
Main Topics
- Visual identification of swimming waterbirds: anatids, gulls, terns, grebes, cormorants, divers, and rails.
- Plumage variations based on age, time of year, and sex.
- Habitat, abundance, and phenology of each species in the wetlands.
- Practical keys for field identification, including rare species and their typical locations.
Who is it recommended for?
This miniguide is designed for amateur and expert ornithologists, birdwatchers visiting wetlands, naturalists, and anyone interested in the practical and quick identification of the country's aquatic fauna. It is especially useful for those seeking a lightweight and visual field tool, without excessive technicalities, to accompany observation outings.
What this book offers
- Facilitates visual identification thanks to detailed illustrations showing juvenile, breeding, and winter plumages.
- Offers precise information on habitat, abundance, and phenology through clear and intuitive icons.
- Includes concrete indications on places and times to find rare species, improving the effectiveness of field trips.
- Complements the miniguide on wading waterbirds, offering complete coverage of the wetlands.
Technical Specifications
- Author: COPETE, JOSE LUIS
- Publisher: COSSET·NIA
- Language: cat
- Topic: FAUNA: BIRDS AND BIRD WATCHING
- Collection: FIELD MINIGUIDE
- Publication date: May 2025
- Number of pages: 16
- Weight: 32 g
Editorial Review
A well-designed field miniguide that combines high-quality illustrations with practical and visual information. The inclusion of juvenile, breeding, and winter plumages, together with habitat and phenology icons, makes it a useful tool for both novice birders and experienced observers. Its lightness (32 g) and its focus on specific wetland species make it ideal for taking into the field without complications. A perfect complement to the publisher's miniguide collection.