Birds of East Asia

A hugely impressive field guide to Japan, Korea, Taiwan, eastern provinces of China and a huge chunk of eastern Russia. The text is authoritative and the colour plates, by a team of 15 artists, range from good to excellent. This region is home to many exciting endemics, such as Ryukyu Robin, Okinawa Rail, and, of course, the Steller’s Sea-eagle of the front cover. Added to these are a supporting cast of species on the radar of keen rarity-hunters in Europe, such as Pallas’s Warbler, Siberian Rubythroat and Amur Falcon. Completely essential for a trip to the region and pretty useful for anyone with an interest in far-eastern vagrants to our own shores also.

Book reviewed by Andy Musgrove