It was an early morning final October, 6.40 a.m. within the Casa Tangara dowii lodge as I used to be taking my statement place subsequent to a glass wall, overlooking the chicken feeders within the misty cloud forests of Costa Rica. My pal and host, Serge Arias, introduced me a mug of a slowly, drop by drop, ready specialty Tarrazú espresso. From my couch, I noticed the primary Widespread Chlorospingus, Silver-throated Tanagers, Chestnut-capped, White-naped and Yellow-thighed Brushfinches, all coming to Serge’s papayas.
Subsequent to me was a replica of “Birds of Central America” with a considerably longish subtitle “Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama” by Vallely and Dyer from 2018. Whereas it might be the primary complete subject information to the birds of Central America, it’s nonetheless huge and uncomfortably hefty to hold round, and whereas illustrations are lovely, the colors are considerably washed out. Serge instructed me: The identical writer, Princeton College Press, is engaged on the brand new Costa Rica information.
And I keep in mind what I instructed him, primarily based on many current subject information traits: Coming from them, it will likely be a superb guide, however it will likely be nowhere close to the user-friendliness of “Birds of Costa Rica” by Garrigues and Dean from 2014. Virtually with out exemption, new editions are typically bigger and heavier than their predecessors. Garrigues and Dean’s information was so comfortably light-weight. But, whereas Dean’s work are satisfactory for ID course of in subject circumstances (most however the Purple-throated Ant-Tanager), their model resembles previous twentieth century guides.
And now I maintain in my hand the actually trendy, in the most effective sense of the phrase, “Birds of Costa Rica” by Dale Dyer and Steve N. G. Howell, revealed earlier this yr. In a manner, “Birds of Central America” was the prequel of this new version. The up to date vary maps, quite longish and detailed species accounts, and illustrations are offered on handy facing-page spreads, with 3 to five species per plate.
In over 200 plates, this subject information covers greater than 800 frequently occurring chicken species present in Costa Rica. Now I can hear you screaming: however there are over 900 species! The rarest vagrants usually are not lined in the principle pages, however in appendices. Birdlife of Cocos Island is roofed in its personal appendix which incorporates detailed work however very concise textual descriptions. Further 103 offshore guests, uncommon migrants and vagrants are listed in Appendix B, however with out illustrations or descriptions.
The authors largely adopted the IOC taxonomy, but in addition quite liberally uplifted dozens of subspecies to full species at their discretion, which the writer described as ‘progressive taxonomy’. The arguments for such selections are to be discovered within the quite in depth Appendix C. A few of these splits could also be accepted later, however others are prone to find yourself rejected.
The correct work in Costa Rica come from the guide on Central America. I’m beneath the impression that the colors are barely much less brilliant than the birds I noticed, and, annoyingly, brown birds are proven in opposition to a brown background, so they don’t stand out within the pages. However, the work are beautiful, wetting your urge for food to search out these species. Particularly hummingbirds are a formidable enchancment and a major step ahead relating to subject identification.
Dale Dyer is an acclaimed chicken illustrator and a subject affiliate on the American Museum of Pure Historical past. His books embody the aforementioned “Birds of Central America”. Steve N. G. Howell is a global chicken tour chief with WINGS and is likely one of the world’s main authorities on the birds of Mexico and Central America. His books embody “Oceanic Birds of the World” (each: Princeton).
With 900 g / 32 oz of weight, “Birds of Costa Rica” by Dyer and N. G. Howell is heavier and just a little bigger than the earlier Garrigues and Dean customary and now not so snug to hold round. Having each guides, which one would I keep it up my subsequent journey to Costa Rica (subsequent? oh, let me dream!)? For its extra detailed textual content accounts, up to date maps and people seductive work, my selection is Dyer and N. G. Howell’s “Birds of Costa Rica”.
Birds of Costa Rica
By Dale Dyer & Steve NG Howell
456 pages, 203 plates with color illustrations; 19 color photographs, 900+ color distribution maps
Writer: Princeton College Press (Princeton Area Guides Collection)
ISBN: 9780691203355
Flexibound
Might 2023