The Book of Indian Birds by Salim Ali

ISBN: ‎ 9780195621679

OUP India; 11th edition, 1 November 1988

Hardback, 236 pages

For over 45 years Salim Ali's classic work has been a companion to both novice bird-watcher and seasoned ornithologist. Now appearing in its eleventh edition, this guide describes the habits and habitats of 296 of the most common birds found in the plains, foothills, wetlands, and sea coast of India. The field-guide format includes sections on bird watching, how to recognize birds in the field, bird migration, and nests and nesting habits. The book is beautifully illustrated, with 74 colour plates, showing male and female varieties where necessary, and 22 pages of black and white photographs. Scale references are given for all bird illustrations. There are also two maps: one to indicate the average annual rainfall of India, and one showing ring recoveries of Indian migratory birds on a global scale. The book is aimed at anyone with an interest in identifying Indian birds or learning about them.