Table of Contents

Foreword V Alphabetical quick reference to bird groups VI Acknowledgements IX Constructing the guide 1 Identifying birds 8 Birding in Australia 17 A guide for birders to the evolution and classification of Australian birds 23 Key to abbreviations and symbols 30 Species accounts 32 Checklist of species 532 Glossary 546 Index 549

About the Author

Peter Menkhorst is a principal scientist with the Victorian government and has forty years' experience in ecological research and the survey and management of Australian mammals and birds. He is the author of A Field Guide to the Mammals of Australia. Danny Rogers is an ornithologist specializing in shorebird ecology and patterns of feather molt in birds, and works for the Victorian government environment department. Rohan Clarke is a lecturer in vertebrate ecology at the School of Biological Sciences, Monash University. Jeff Davies is a Melbourne-based artist who specializes in portraits of Australian birds and their environments. Peter Marsack is an award-winning wildlife artist based in Canberra. Kim Franklin is a freelance artist and illustrator who has exhibited worldwide and is based in Adelaide.

Reviews

"Masterful... The descriptive information for each species is almost encyclopedic in nature, more than any other general field guide that I have seen."--Sam Crowe, The Birdzilla Blog