A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: Revised Edition

By Herbert A. Raffaele

Book Overview

This is a revised edition of a widely praised guide to the birds of the largest of the Caribbean islands and the neighboring Virgin Islands. It includes detailed accounts of all 284 well-documented species known to occur in the region, 273 being illustrated. The book also contains specific sections entitled "Biogeography" and "Conservation" to foster an appreciation of the uniqueness of the region's wildlife and to develop an awareness of local conservation issues. The section "Places to Bird" will help make the stay of short-term visitors more productive. The book also substantially updates the data on avian distribution and abundance in the region covering records through November 1988. From reviews of the first edition: "This well-illustrated volume is a must for any student of birds visiting Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands."--Chandler S. Robbins, The Quarterly Review of Biology "A valuable and informative guide."--James A. Dick, The Wilson Bulletin "This well-written book is the first comprehensive guide to the birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. All species, including winter visitors (which comprise 47 percent of the avifauna) are described and illustrated, making a second volume for identification of North American migrants unnecessary. . . . Aside from being a fine field guide, the book contains useful summaries of the biogeography of the region and the ecology of avian populations. . . . A major contribution is Raffaele's presentation of a wealth of hitherto unpublished information on the natural history of the region's birds."--James W. Wiley, Ibis

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691024243
• ISBN13: 9780691024240
• Release Date: December 1989
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 0.94 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.5"

Customer Reviews

very useful

This guide is very useful. Descriptions are detailed and interesting, often with histories of the birds' settlement on the islands. Some of the plates with birds more often found on the North American continent or birds not easily mistakenly identified are in black and white, but most of the plates are in color. A helpful feature is that both English and Spanish common names for the birds are listed even though the book is in English.

Great Guide to the birds of Puerto Rico

I have owned this book for a number of years and have been going to P.R. for over 15 years and this is by far the best book on the birds of the island. It has great maps and ideas for places to go bird watching on the island. The only setback is that i wish it had more color slides of the birds. But it does not make this a bad choice. I love my book and it is getting worn out and I will need a new one soon. Good Luck birding on a wonderful island.

Highly Informative

I carried this very handy book around Puerto Rico and Culebra. It was particularly helpful to know the specific areas where various birds are usually found, as well as local names. Very good illustrations.

An Invaluable Birding Guide in Puerto Rico

An extremely well-written and well-illustrated book with especially helpful and detailed text on habitat, behavior, and locales. On a recent trip to Puerto Rico for birding, we found this book to be extraordinarily helpful. Since we have come home to the Continental USA, it continues to be rich reading.

The best field guide available of the birds on Puerto Rico.

As a professional Puerto Rican biologist and bird watcher I found this book to be the best field guide of birds occuring at Puerto Rico. It covers as well, introduced, migratory, and endemic or native species with a full description of each bird characteristics and accompanying color plates that match the birds color patterns up to the last feather. It is a must have to any bird enthusiast living or visiting the Island, as well as for students or professional biologists.