Birds of Thailand (Princeton Field Guides) Paperback – October 1, 2002

BIRDS OF THAILAND is the reason the prestige university press and its zero-tolerance approach to schlock products exists. Princeton University Press has done itself proud with this condensed and focused version of author Robson's BIRDS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA.If you're interested in the birds that inhabit a medium-sized country like Thailand, you don't have many choices in field guides and you may not have many friends. At least, friends who share your precise and tiny interest. For that reason, this review should be read as a referendum upon the PRINCETON FIELD GUIDES as much as on this individual volume.A field guide's physical quality matters more than with other books since you're meant to carry the thing around. The PFG is quality construction through and through and just compact enough to make for convenient traveling.The choice of a small font size in Garamond BookCondensed is a wise one, providing exceptional clarity and saving space for the beautiful and competent illustrations (drawn, not photographed).Because the majority of birders are English speakers by first or second language, bird guides that cover species native to non-English speaking countries often read as though the people who live there (with the birds!) don't exist. This may be a pecadillo rather than a felony, since - after all - such a book is about *birds*, not people. Yet Robson's guide adds the nice touch of Thai indices and page headings, no doubt appreciated by the local colleagues who are necessary participants in a project of this high quality.The Princeton Field Guides include volumes on mammals as well as birds, with a penchant for out-of-the-way locations. If your interest takes you there, any one of these Guides is a worthy investment you'll not regret.

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This is basically the “Birds of South East Asia” with just the birds found in Thailand in it. The excellent illustrations are the same, so if you already own Craig Robson’s “Birds of South East Asia” why bother with this one? Well I now own both for the following reasons:The “Birds of Thailand” is ideal if you are birding in Thailand because it has distribution maps showing reasonably well where in Thailand you may see each species, “Birds of South East Asia” does not. If you are birding in Thailand “Birds of Thailand” only shows the birds from Thailand making narrowing down which birds you have seen much easier and the text is more specific to Thailand.

A BIG THANKS for excellent service, good price, and accurate description of product.

Supposedly this is the best field guide to Thailand birds, and maybe it is; I've never used another one. Having used the National Geo for North American birds for so long, I guess I'm spoiled. By comparison this book has many deficiencies. Range maps are so small they aren't as useful as you'd like; it's particularly annnoying that, when a bird is very localized, there's no regional view to help you out, only a tiny map of a big country. Behavioral descriptions, which can be so helpful with unfamiliar genuses of birds, are nearly nonexistent. Numbering of individual drawings is very hard to correlate with text, although there are a good number of alternate plumage drawings. Worst of all, some of the drawings just don't capture subtleties of field marks well enough.Overall, most of the problems can be attributed to attempts to save space, and with so many species to cover that's understandable. Authors should have just broken down and made a thicker book. Most birders are hardy; we can handle a few extra ounces.

I like this version as it is a paperback and so light to pack on my travels. There is enough information for the beginner as well as that little bit ectra for those who do this birdwatching seriously. I am orginally from Africa and so Asian birds are mostly unknown to me. This is exactly as I hoped it would be: compact, informative and easy to transport. One small complaint would be the sizeof the maps. a tad bigger would have been better, but that is personal.

Bought this book before a trip to Thailand. Used it extensively while there. Gave my first copy to a young nephew to help him with his English and spur an interest in natural history. Had to have this in my library so bought a second copy as soon as I got back to the states. Great illustrations, made it easy to recognize many of the birds I was seeing for the first time.

I don't like photo guides that much and this guide fits my desires. Maps are with the descriptions and it is very convenient to use. Big enough to enjoy using, small enough to carry in the field. Only problem I had was I was there in the wrong season for birding and the rain made things difficult.