A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica Author: Visit Amazon's F. Gary Stiles Page | Language: English | ISBN:
0801422876 | Format: PDF
A Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica Description
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
- Series: Comstock books
- Hardcover: 656 pages
- Publisher: Comstock Pub Assoc; First Published edition (October 1989)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0801422876
- ISBN-13: 978-0801422874
- Product Dimensions: 1.5 x 6 x 9.2 inches
- Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
I lived in Costa Rica for several months over a couple of years while conducting research in Parque Nacional Tampanti. The book is good but a new edition is needed. I agree with several of the other reviewers that the size of the book is cumbersome but when you're birding in a country with 800+ bird species you should expect a big book. Here are my suggestions:
--If you are in a group make sure at least one person has the entire book. Everyone else can just carry plates. If you are a serious birder you will need to reference information such as habitat, voice and range that are only in the text section of the book to help solidify your identifications.
--At least one other reviewer mentioned bringing another field guide for additional information. IT IS A MUST. There is nothing more frustrating then having a bird sit in front of you and you can't match it to the illustrations in the book. Most of you know that plumage variation occurs from individual to individual. If you only have one guide you only have one illustrated point of view. Also, some plates in the guide are sub par. For example, the raptors section is not very good. To adjust for some poor plates I also carry the plates to "A Guide to the Birds of Mexico and Northern Central America" (Howell and Webb). Their plates are much better.
--Expect to get your book dirty (plastic bags or not). If you spend any amount of time in the forest you will eventually get caught out in the rain. Don't fight it and go running for cover. If you binoculars can handle it, stay out and keep birding and have a good time. Some of my best birding experiences in Costa Rica have been in complete downpours.
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