Book Review Birds of East Asia Eastern China, Taiwan, Korea,
Japan and Eastern Russia
By Mark Brazil – (2009)
528 pages; matt art paper, with 236 colour plates, more than 3000 illustrations thru-out the book, 5 monochrome technical drawings, 2 main maps and 2 appendix tables.
Soft Cover: 21.5cm x 14cm.
ISBN: 978-0-691-13926-5
Princeton University Press New Jersey
Among the many books available on the birds of Asia, none of them cater for an East Asian regional treatment as this book does. It covers the 985 species known (at the time as new records are made each year in this area) to the area plus 19 extralimital species that may occur in this region. Among the more than 3000 colour illustrations of the species, variation of the adult male and females including juveniles are excellently portrayed.
The species are listed under a common group name such as ‘Cuckoos’ or ‘Bee Eaters’ etc. A brief description and introduction for each group is provided separately at the front of the book. In the main chapter of the book under their common group names, each species has its local common name and scientific name, followed by length measurement and where known wing span and weight. Good notes on habitat, quite detailed physical descriptions, voice calls and distribution both locally and globally are provided along with a small map of the region shaded in five colour codes indicating its range and the specific colour/s as to whether it is resident, summer range, winter range, migrating and or scarce.
The author although rather humble in his writings, is obviously very knowledgeable and experienced in this region and shares with us his thoughts about vagrants and other extralimital species that may well occur here in the future and also just as importantly, his concerns on conservation and the hideous rampant illegal pet and bird cage trade in the area – which in fact extends throughout Asia and is at its peak of “black heartedness” in Indonesia as well as mainland China. Sadly, a reminder of the negative impact humans can have on natural fauna and flora, the final excellently illustrated plate in this book, is in fact of the 8 bird species either suspected or known to be extinct in this region.
This is an excellent book and an essential reference to anyone working on or has an interest in Asia’s birds. If you are planning a nature trip to Taiwan, Japan, Korea or eastern China and Russia, you will most definitely need this book, as it is a one stop shop of East Asia’s bird species.
Rod Rice
Principal Reviewer
Nature & Travel Books