Seabirds: The New Identification Guide

For many, seabirds are a bit of a mystery in that they occupy a world that for most is largely inaccessible. However, during the last couple of decades pelagic tours, both daily and for longer periods, have grown in popularity and have brought some of the world’s seabirds within reach, so a new identification guide to this amazing group of birds couldn’t have come at a better time.

Much has changed since Peter Harrison’s Seabirds: An Identification Guide was published back in 1983. Back then, the author described the 107 known species of tubenoses with his guide; due to taxonomic advances that number has risen to 170.

Within its 600 pages, Seabirds: The New Identification Guide describes 434 species from 18 families, with all but one illustrated. I often wonder how many people read the introductory pages of field guides but to not read the preface and the acknowledgements pages at the beginning of this book would be to seriously miss out. Peter Harrison takes the reader on a voyage of discovery that continues to this day and his passion shines throughout the book.

The species accounts are a delight, with wonderful up-to-date illustrations and the latest information captured by the succinct accompanying text, which also contains a map of the distribution of each and every bird described.

For anyone with an interest in the world’s seabirds this book is a must, but it doesn’t stop there - this is a book for anyone with an interest in birds and one not to be missed.

Book reviewed by Paul Stancliffe