Reed Mini Guide: Birds

This is the ultimate keep-in-your-pocket field guide to the birds of Britain and other parts of northern and central Europe. It may be diminutive in size but it punches well above its weight in terms of usefulness, being packed with more than 350 images of all the species most likely to be encountered. For each of the 250 species accounts there is at least one photograph for identification and a brief written account listing ID features of key plumages, range and habitat, behaviour and voice.

The book covers everything from grebes and grouse to warblers and waders, encompassing all common breeding birds, together with those likely to be seen on migration or during winter – from garden birds such as Chaffinch and Long-tailed Tit to wetland specialities including Bittern and Avocet – along with recent colonists like Glossy Ibis and Great White and Cattle Egrets and some of the more unusual species to look out for, such as Pectoral Sandpiper and Yellow-browed Warbler. The easy-to-use layouts and small size make the book ideal for taking on walks or days out. It is perfect for beginners or wildlife-watchers of an intermediate level, and also for children as a first book on birds.