Stevenson and Fanshawe is the ideal choice for the eastern part of Africa. It covers Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi and is hard to beat. The fantastic illustrations are supported by clear descriptions of the identification features, voice, distribution and status as well as a good distribution map. These are all on the same page, so no flicking between pages. There is also good information on the conservation status of the species and details of the protected areas.
In addition, the Zimmerman et al is very good but only covers Kenya and those additional species which are also found in northern Tanzania. However, make sure to choose carefully between the hardback and more portable (and revised) paperback version. The hardback version is not one to carry in the field but the softcover does lack some detail!
A final possibility is to use Van Perlo which is portable and covers Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Yemen's Socotra Island. It is however an illustrated checklist and the tiny illustrations make identification of all but the most striking species difficult! It is, however, out of print in Europe and only available from the USA.
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 | Avifaunas and Monographs | Bird Sounds | Mammals | General Titles | Reptiles and Amphibians | Other taxa - Sounds |
Field Guides
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Field Guide to Birds of East Africa |
This field guide which covers Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi is the first complete guide to this region. A true magnum opus, it contains 3400 images of 1388 species illustrated on 287 superb new colour plates by Brian Small, John Gale and Norman Arlott. The text plus distribution map and the illustrations for each species are on facing pages and are both accessible and informative. If you're visiting the region and are not that familiar with the species then this is probably your best bet. 632 pages. |
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Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania (Softback) |
Designed specifically for use in the field, this is a portable version of the highly-acclaimed Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. This updated edition covers 6 additional species and it is definitely recommended for Kenya & northern Tanzania. For a guide that covers a wider area, get the Stevenson and Fanshawe field guide. |
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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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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 East Africa |
Field identification guide, with the text highlighting the diagnostic features for each species. For those species that are sexually dimorphic, have both breeding and non-breeding plumages, or in which the juvenile plumage differs markedly from that of the adult, more than one photograph has been included. A thumbnail silhouette and a distribution map are given for each species. Probably not for the serious birder to carry around in the field but the quality of the photos is good. 144 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 Eastern Africa |
Available from 5 January 2009. Pocket field guide illustrating all the species in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Somalia and Socotra. Although the text is very concise this book is ideal for use in the field. 1487 species illustrated in 96 colour plates. For many species the female or juvenile is shown in addition to the adult male. Any races or colour forms have been included. Informative notes on each species are conveniently placed 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. 302 pages. |
Avifaunas and Monographs
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Important Bird Areas in Kenya |
Useful guide to the country's best birding spots. Good for background reading and planning your trip. |
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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. |
Bird Sounds
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Sound Guide to East African Birds |
Available from early March 2009. Publication date not confirmed. Perfect companion to Field Guide to Birds of East Africa by Stevenson and Fanshawe. The first comprehensive collection of songs and calls of almost all the species found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. MP3 DVD. |
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Bird Song of Kenya & Tanzania |
Vocalisations of 99 common species, each indexed but not announced. Click for species index. |
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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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African Bird Sounds |
Out of a total of 1550 regular species in the area, 1466 are presented (95% of the total) on 15 CDs. Of these 1550 species, 150 are only found north of the Sahara, 275 (migrating and overwintering species) north and south of the Sahara and 1125 in the south only. Expensive but extremely good coverage. |
Mammals
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Pocket Guide to Mammals of East Africa |
This compact guide covers common and some of the less common mammal species of the region. Includes key identification features, behaviour, diet, breeding biology and size. Also includes full colour photos, illustrations of the animals tracks, distribution maps and a silhouette indicating relative size to a human figure. 160 pages. |
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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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Traveller's Guide to Wildlife of Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda |
* NEW * This book is designed to give everyone visiting Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda a pocket-sized guide to all the wildlife they might encounter. Covers over 475 commonly-seen species including birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates and plants. Each species is illustrated with a full-colour photograph and features a detailed description. Written by wildlife experts with extensive knowledge of the area. Includes information on wildlife photography including the best type of camera, film and lenses to use, techniques and codes of conduct. The most complete identification guide to the wildlife of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. 248 pages. |
Reptiles and Amphibians
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Pocket Guide to the Reptiles & Amphibians of East Africa |
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Photographic Guide to Snakes, other Reptiles & Amphibians of East Africa |
Covers 260 of the most common snakes, lizards, skinks, chameleons, terrapins and amphibians (frogs) of East Africa. Each species account features a brief text that highlights diagnostic features, a distribution map and a colour photo. 144 pages. |
Other taxa - Sounds
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Animal Calls of Africa |
40 mammals and 9 conspicuous birds. 34 min. |
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