The Birds of Turkey

For anyone with an interest in the birds of Turkey this book is a must buy book. Within its 511 pages it explores in great depth not only the status of the country’s birds but also its rich ornithological history. It is amazing how big a part British ornithologists played in this.Following the introductory chapters that range from the breeding season, 300 breeding species are listed, to an exploration of the country’s wide variety of habitats, is the systematic list. At 419 pages this forms the bulk of the book and the species accounts range from a single paragraph, Crab Plover, to two pages for Lesser Short-toed Lark. All but the rarest are also accompanied with a useful distribution map.

There are no illustrations as this is not an identification guide, but there are 32 pages of stunning colour photographs that illustrate a selection of species and habitats, my personal favourite being a close up of a male Semi-collared Flycatcher, although the one of the Caspian Snowcock is pretty special. If you are a regular to Turkey or are planning a visit and want to find out more about the country’s birds then this is the book for you.

Book reviewed by Paul Stancliffe