The excellent west and south African field guides such as Birds of Western Africa by Borrow and Demey and the SASOL contain many, but not all of the species found in Angola and exclude of course the many endemic species.
Birds of Angola by Dean is a monumental avifauna on an ornithologically neglected country. Angola is rich in bird species and has a range of biomes and ecosystems that are almost unequalled in Africa. This book should be considered and is useful to have available during a visit to Angola.
The Southern African Birdfinder: Where to find 1,400 bird species in southern Africa must rank as one of the best 'Where to' guides for a region. It contains detailed information on sites, clear maps and directions and great photos. With a very slick layout this book is an essential addition to any trip in southern Africa. Highly recommended.
Many birdwatchers are not only interested in birds, so we have added the most useful books for other taxa where possible. Clicking on a link will take you to our partner, Wildsounds, one of the largest specialist UK mail-order companies. The prices here are a guide price and Wildsounds may be able to offer a better deal.
*** Wildsounds donates 5% of each order generated via these links to the ABC Conservation Fund. Please order here, get a good price and support ABC! ***
Field Guides | Where to Watch and Site Guides | Avifaunas and Monographs | Bird Sounds | Mammals | General Titles | Reptiles and Amphibians | Insects | Plants | Other taxa - Sounds |
Field Guides
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Sasol Birds of Southern Africa |
In ABC's view, this is the best field guide to the region. Field guides for southern Africa were always leagues ahead of other areas but this has surpassed them all. Handy for the field, the 200 plus colour plates and numerous distribution maps make this a joy to use. 445 pages. |
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Roberts Birds of Southern Africa VIIth Edition |
This amazing tome was so popular in South Africa that it has been reprinted. * SPECIAL OFFER £99 WHILE STOCKS LAST * 1296 pages. |
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Roberts Field Guide - Southern Africa |
At last! a field guide version of Roberts Birds of Southern Africa VIIth Edition featuring large, clear illustrations, distribution maps as well as a "breeding bar" indicating breeding season. Covers over 950 species including all the recent splits. 456 pages. |
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Birds of Prey of Africa & its Islands |
llustrator is Peter Hayman and the photographers include Nigel Dennis, Peter Steyn, and Warwick Tarboton. Following the success of Sasol Birds of Southern Africa, this guide presents the birds in photographic and illustrative form in a single volume. Each of the more than 140 species is afforded one double-page spread. Includes birds of prey found on Madagascar, the Comores, the Mascarenes and the Seychelles. A glossary and indexes to English and scientific names appear at the back of the book, as does a table of Afrikaans, French, German and Spanish common names, 347 pages. |
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Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa |
Full colour photos of over 900 species known to occur from Antarctica to the Zambesi River. The book is divided into more than 150 plates, each grouping similar birds. Facing each plate is a succinct, comparative description and distribution map. 368 pages. |
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Newman's Birds of Southern Africa |
The 9th edition of this excellent field guide. Text and maps with facing page colour plates. Numerous habitat photos. Extensively updated to include the latest information. With colour enhancements and fully updated text, this superb guide for all birds recorded from the Antarctic to the Zambezi will be more comprehensive than ever. Over 900 species are illustrated in all, including all 113 endemics, and all new vagrants. In this new edition, there is a new introductory section, revised and improved maps, updated illustrations, and a user-friendly design for use in the field. In terms of Southern Africa, the main competition is the SASOL guide which is probably better although each field guide has their devotees. 510 pages. |
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A complete illustrated field guide to the Birds of Africa south of the Sahara |
This is the first book to describe and illustrate all of the birds found in Africa south of the Sahara, including Socotra. It excludes Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion and Seychelles. The guide covers nearly 2100 species, and has 3000 images on 340 plates. The paintings portray most distinctive plumages, as well as diagnostic flight patterns and other details. It is compact enough to use in the field, and follows the standard field guide format, with texts and maps appearing opposite the colour plates. Many new species are described and illustrated for the first time. The text is formatted to give precise identification features, habitat, status and calls. The distribution maps are the first to show accurately the species distribution in sub-Saharan Africa and have combined all the latest atlas surveys. Also available with a durable PVC cover, this guide will be an indispensible part of any African birder's field equipment. 712 pages. |
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Photographic Guide to Birds of Prey, Southern, Central & East Africa |
This compact, easy-to-use format is the ideal pocket-sized book for a travelling companion. It contains authoritative text describing key identification features and full-colour photographs depicting each of the 88 species. Approximately 200 colour photos. 88 colour maps. 144 pages. |
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Raptors of the World: A Field Guide |
This new field guide uses all of the plates from the Helm ID Guide Raptors of the World, with concise, revised text on facing pages, to create a conveniently-sized, lightweight field reference covering all 330 raptor species. Several of the plates have been reworked and repainted for this field guide. The book also has an updated colour distribution map for each species. 320 pages. |
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Birds of Southern Africa, Collins Field Guide |
Available from 5 January 2009. Pocket field guide describing evey species in South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Angola (including Cabinda). Over 1250 species illustrated in colour. For many species the female or juvenile is shown in addition to the adult male. Each species is described in pages opposite the illustrations for quick and easy reference. The text details each bird's key identification features, its usual habit and the sound it makes. Each species has a distribution map showing its range and how common it is. |
Where to Watch and Site Guides
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Sasol Birding Map of Southern Africa |
Published in 2002, this map includes over 200 birding sites in Southern Africa, as well as many game and nature reserves, towns, and routes. Each site description gives details of habitat type and the birds it attracts. Includes in depth profiles on 8 of the region's major sites. Its an interesting concept and is a very useful guide to planning a trip in southern Africa. Well worth the £5.99! |
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Southern African Birdfinder: Where to find 1400 bird species in southern Africa |
The ideal companion to all the local bird field guides. After an introduction to birding in the southern African region, the authors identify and describe more than 200 top birding sites and associated birds across South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, the Indian Ocean islands and the little-documented, but increasingly popular areas of Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Malawi. All sites are ranked into one of three categories of priority: essential (the region's best); excellent (top sites but expendable to a time-limited visitor) and local interest (ideal for those looking for new areas to explore). All sites include practical details of access, best times to visit, habitat diversity and general natural history. A guide to finding the region's top 100 birds and an annotated checklist conclude the book. 448 pages. |
Avifaunas and Monographs
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Birds of Angola |
BOU Checklist 18. 2000. A monumental avifauna on an ornithologically neglected country. Angola is rich in bird species (at least 915) and has a range of biomes and ecosystems that are almost unequalled in Africa. Angola is opening up to birders (ABC & Birding Africa have run an ABC Conservation Tour there) and there are some stunning birds to be seen! 16 pages of colour plates. 444 pages. |
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Important Bird Areas in Africa and Associated Islands |
This book is great. Need to know something about important sites in Africa? This book should be your first port of call and is ideal for background reading or planning a trip. This is the first regional analysis of its kind for the African continent including Madagascar and the Indian Ocean islands, giving a clear understanding of the conservation status of the most significant sites for birds in Africa. 1144 pages. |
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Important Bird Areas of Southern Africa |
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Bird Sounds
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Birdsongs of South Africa |
99 species, each indexed by track number and announced. Most of the species included have voices which play an important part in finding them in the field. |
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Birdsongs of South Africa |
99 species, each indexed by track number and announced. Most of the species included have voices which play an important part in finding them in the field. |
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Southern African Bird Sounds (CD set) |
900 announced species; almost all the species occurring in the region. On the CD version the sounds are each announced but are in groups of 10 species per indexed track. Essential for birding in all of the Southern African sub-region's countries:- Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, southern Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Very useful in all other sub-Saharan countries where there is no dedicated sound guide, i.e. Kenya, Tanzania, etc. 7.5 hours. |
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Vocalisation of Angolan Birds |
111 species on one CD - in MP3 format. |
Mammals
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Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals |
All 1150 known species of African land mammals are covered in precise text with over 480 colour pictures and 280 maps covering 460 mammals or species groups. 494 pages. |
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Kingdon Pocket Guide to African Mammals |
New pocket identification guide to all African land mammals by one of the world's leading naturalists. It is an adaptation of the original Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. The greatly condensed text focuses on essential information such as identification and distribution, while the author's superb illustrations have been rearranged into an easy-to-use plate format and placed opposite the text. Complex and more obscure groups like the bats and certain rodent families are summarised by genera. 272 pages. |
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The Larger Mammals of Africa (Revised Edition) |
Struik Field Guide. 400 colour photos. Includes distribution maps, an extensive discussion on the description, distribution, status, habitat, behaviour, food and reproduction habits of the species as well as a succinct summary. 320 pages. |
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Collins Field Guide to Mammals of Africa |
Available from 7 March 2011. The most up-to-date field guide to the mammals of Africa, a continent that includes about 25% of the world's mammals. This field guide includes all the species people most want to see when on safari and contains some 50 colour plates depicting almost all of Africa's 1150 plus species. For many species the female or juvenile is shown in addition to the adult male. Identifiable races or colour forms have also been included, as have the spores or tracks of key species. Informative notes on each species are placed opposite the illustrations and text describes the key identification features, the usual habits and habitat of the species and its global conservation status. In addition there are over 1000 distribution maps, information on geography, climate, conservation, finding and observing wildlife and a section on the continent's finest national parks. 304 pages. |
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Photographic Guide to Southern, Central & East African Mammals |
Slim pocket guide. 228 colour photos. Over 150 black & white distribution maps. 144 pages. |
General Titles
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Guide to the Reptiles of Southern Africa |
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Southern Africa - Travellers' Wildlife Guide |
From the world-famous Kruger National Park in S Africa to Botswana's Okavango Delta and Namibia's Etosha National Park, travelers want to experience savannahs, forests, deserts and other stunning habitats and catch glimpses of some of the world's most spectacular wildlife. This book gives all the information you need to find, identify and learn about southern Africa's magnificent animal life. Colour illustrations of more than 500 of the most common amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals - the species you are most likely to see. Identification and location information on the most frequently seen animals. Up-to-date information on the ecology, behaviour and conservation of the animals. Information about and photos of southern Africa's major habitat types and most frequently visited parks and reserves. 488 pages. |
Reptiles and Amphibians
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Field Guide to Snakes & other Reptiles of Southern Africa |
Third edition. Supplements the 397 southern African reptiles included in the second edition of this photographic field guide with 83 new species. Each species entry includes size range, a physical description, and notes on biology and breeding, habitat and distribution. The existing accounts have been fully rewritten. 112 colour plates, 480 maps. 399 pages. |
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Photographic Guide to Snakes & other Reptiles of Southern Africa |
Slim pocket guide. Approximately 240 colour photos and 240 b/w maps. 144 pages. |
Insects
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Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa |
Dragonflies are a beautiful, important and conspicuous component of freshwater, whether still or flowing. They are also important indicators of freshwater quality and condition, which is significant for current and future conservation initiatives in South Africa. The country's dragonflies are particularly interesting as many are special or endemic to the area, making it a part of the world of great conservation significance. Sadly however, many of these endemic species are highly threatened, especially by invasive alien trees which shade out their habitat. 297 pages. |
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Field Guide to Insects of South Africa |
An authoritative, beautifully photographed work that fills the need for a comprehensive insect guide to the region. Some 1200 insect species are described, each with a full-colour photograph, distribution map, identification features, biology, habitat and, where applicable, related species. 444 pages. |
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Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa |
Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa is designed for easy, rapid identification of all butterflies likely to be seen in South Africa. Following a worldwide trend to butterfly watching, readers are encouraged to observe behaviour rather than collect specimens. A detailed introductory section discusses butterfly biology, behaviour and anatomy, and butterfly families and sub-families. A comprehensive section on individual butterfly species supplies a wealth of information - scientific and English common names, information on flight periods and numbers of broods, behavioural traits and differentiation from similar species, as well as notes on size, geographical distribution and larval food sources. Photographs are mostly of live specimens taken in the wild, and include under- and uppersides, and dimorphism where necessary. |
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Scorpions of Southern Africa |
Although southern Africa is one of the best places on earth to see and study scorpions, little information is generally available on these misunderstood and often persecuted creatures. This book is both a field guide to the identification of the more common and visible of southern Africa's rich fauna of 130 scorpion species and a description of the physiology and ecology of scorpions. It offers an intriguing insight into the amazing adaptations that have enabled scorpions to survive over millions of years. Laymans' terms are used in the book, as far as possible, and a glossary of more complicated terminology is provided. Distribution maps and photographs are given for over 50 southern African species as well as practical information about where to look for scorpions and how to best handle these often feared creatures. 88 pages. |
Plants
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Wild Flowers of South Africa |
Photographic field guide to over 1100 species, with distribution maps. 488 pages. |
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Photographic Guide to Southern African Trees |
In this slimline pocket guide, Dr Piet van Wyk presents approximately 250 of southern Africa's most commonly seen trees in a clear and succinct but easily accessible way. |
Other taxa - Sounds
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Animal Calls of Africa |
40 mammals and 9 conspicuous birds. 34 min. |
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