Book recommendations for British birds?

[twitchersOH]

My DH has asked for a book about British birds for Christmas, but I’m totally clueless where to start. He’s not a complete beginner but wouldn’t call himself an expert either.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good bird book? Ideally something that’s a mix of info and nice pictures/illustrations and not too textbook-y.

Help!

I think the best ones are published by the RSPB or Collins. They both have smaller, cheaper paperbacks, and bigger, more expensive (but more comprehensive) hardbacks. So would he prefer a handy-size pocketbook, or glossier table/shelf book? How much are you thinking of spending? Ask yourself those questions to decide which version to go for.

Thank @PizzaNinja - I think he'd definitely want a glossier book that is going to look nice on the shelf, budget probably up to £50 for the right book. I'll take a look at RSPC and Collins.

Although it sounds like you’re looking for a coffee table type book, may I recommend Corvus - A Life With Birds by Esther Woolfson. It’s a brilliant book.

www.londonreviewbookshop.co.uk/stock/corvus-a-life-with-birds-esther-woolfson

I'd recommend this, @twitchersOH. Full disclosure, I knew the author, Dominic Couzens, slightly in a previous life - but I also know he’s a mine of information about birds and wildlife generally. I haven’t put an Amazon link but it has very good reviews on there. He's written other books about birds too.

(I’ve also read 'Corvus' as recommended above, and loved it)

For identification, I like this one:

www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-Birds-Identification-Britain-WILDGuides/dp/0691199795

It has photos of birds rather than just drawings, which I find easier.

Depends if he wants an ID book or a book with a different take on birds?

A year of Birdsong
H is for Hawk
Kes
Silent Spring

Lots more ideas here: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/75058.BooksforrBirdLovers

Not a book, but the Merlin app is good. It identifies bird song. Discovered we had chiff chaff’s in the nearby woods. Wouldn’t be able to identify one by sight, but can recognise its bird call (makes a ‘chiff-chaff’ sound!).

why don’t you get him some binoculars also?

I'd recommend the WILDGuides one too, assuming it's an ID guide that he wants.

The Oxford Book of Birds by Bruce Campbell. Amazon and eBay are worth a look here. I had this book as a child in the 80s (have always loved birds) and several other bird guides and I maintain still this is the best and most beautifully illustrated one. Lots of lovely colour plates and shows the same bird in different stages of its plumage (seasonal or juvenile etç) and the differences in plumage between the male and female. It is a gem.

Oh, and of its not a guide he wants he might enjoy The Genius of Birds by Julia Ackerman which talks about how intelligent and resourceful various bird species around the world are. It's an eye opener into the minds of birds.