Birds of the Indian Ocean islands: Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion, Rodrigues, Seychelles and the Comoros (Chamberlain)

This book is excellent

Whenever I book a holiday to somewhere new, I look for a bird guide to cover that area as I can't see a bird without wanting to know "what was that?". Couldn't find a "Birds of Madagascar", but a web search did reveal this book. It covers more than just Madagascar, but that's fine - perhaps I'll have another holiday in the region. The book is not too bulky to carry around with you, printed on good quality glossy paper so should be robust for using in the field and, what I really like, has the distribution maps alongside the species descriptions, not hidden away at the back of the book as with many guides. It has the common names of the birds in English and alongside that French, which is the "lingua franca" of the area. There are so many endemics in the region that a birder visiting the area definitely needs a good field guide to separate the vangas, tylas, newtonias, tetrakas, etc. The book points out the distinguishing features, but descriptions are rather brief relying considerably on the drawings, which seem good - but only experience in the field can say how good. Looking forward to testing this guide in the field, but so far it looks pretty good!

Going to a new area as a naturalist is always exciting, but there is also the problem that the majority of species will be unfamiliar and a good field guide is therefore essential. My personal preference is for paintings rather than photos, as I find artists can bring out identification details in their plates to a greater extent than is usually achieveable in a photo.In this guide the plates are paintings, simply and beautifully done. Maps and texts are on the facing page opposite the plates, the ideal arrangement. I was pleased with the illustrations of species I am already familiar with, and excited by the pictures of species that are new to me. The book is small enough, and light enough, to find a space in the luggage of anyone visiting these islands.

This is by far the best and most portable field guide to the birds of Madagascar and the Indian Ocean Islands which we recommend to all our clients on our Birdfinders birdwatching tours to the region. The first edition was good and the second edition better, but this new fully-revised third edition is the best yet with excellent illustrations, range maps and concise information on identification, habitat and range. A must have for birders visiting this region and excellent value.

This is essentially a completely new book despite the fact that it is called 3rd edition. It is a classical field guide with the range maps and text facing the plates. By far the most convenient way to do it. The plates, all in full colour, are superb, the range maps clear and the texts are concise and most informative. Definitely a top field guide, and well worth buying even if one has no immediate intention to ever visit the area.Authors are actually both Ian Sinclair and Olivier Langrand.

The Birds of the Indian Ocean islands is very complete geographically , the pictures are accurate , as well as the distribution maps page next to the species pictures , the names of the birds are also in french in thinner characters.A must have if you travel in the Indian ocean .