Robins and Chats

The cover of this Helm Identification Guide displays my initial reason for wanting this book, the artwork of Chris Rose. Depicting Bluethroat and White-throated Robin in impressive mountain habitats is a particular draw for a birder, like me, most experienced and focused on the Old World. Robins and chats are here predominantly a group of exclusively Asian and African breeding species (67 and 77 respectively), the rest shared between the two continents and Europe, with only three New World species, the bluebirds, included in the 168 species total.

Peter Clement’s passion for this group, and his extensive knowledge, come through from the start. His favourites are wheatears, mine are the robins and redstarts of Asia. Together with the akalats and alethes of Africa these are some of the most desirable birds to see on the planet, but they are tricky, often very shy and retiring and too many are endangered with highly restricted ranges. Habitat-wise there is a forest and mountain feel to the group, extending to the highest Himalayas for the bluest bird, Grandala, although the water-loving forktails also belong to the family. This has to be the comprehensive guide to robins and chats, containing a wealth of introductory information and a chapter on taxonomy by Per Alstrom, a helpful addition in these times of DNA affinities flip-flopping species between different families.

Species texts range in size and detail, sometimes with helpful line drawings for example depicting wheatear tail patterns. The information is well organised and written in an accessible way, with clear maps including known unknowns for distribution and migratory information indicated by question marks.

My highlights are the 62 colour plates by Chris Rose, not least for the mouth-watering detail of bluethroats, rubythroats and bush robins. Capturing plumage detail on, for example, the full range of subspecies for White-browed Shortwing, demonstrates the breadth and depth of the artist’s work. Other readers will be drawn to the 400 or so colour photographs representing every species in the book, bar one, the recently described Rubeho Akalat from Tanzania. It is a masterpiece to have illustrated all species in this way, even though the small size of most images perhaps doesn’t always quite capture the brilliance of these birds.

The Helm Identification Guides are both authoritative and attractive, and this is one of the best so far – a book not just for the shelf, but for regular exploration to inform and inspire the next trip!

Book reviewed by Andy Clements