HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the WorldVolume 2: Passerines

It is impossible not to be awed by the work which has gone into this massive project. It is a huge achievement, a real testament to the commitment of all involved in its production. Although it has, inevitably, caused its share of politics, the now-complete Checklist provides for the conservation professional an important new benchmark in defining which species are out there and which should be the most immediate subject of attention. For the recreational birder it provides a magnificent celebration of the world’s birds and their spectacular and astonishing diversity. That is something upon which all can surely agree.

Andy Stoddard, Rare Bird Alert, January 2017

“This book is unique. It is evolutionarily distinct, it fills its own bibliographical niche and has no competitors. And like any species that is radically different from its nearest relatives, it is original and captivating. I am not perhaps a typical checklist user, since I do not maintain a life list and do not feel particularly compelled to keep on top of the latest taxonomic arrangements, yet I have already spent entire days browsing the contents, and have the book placed for easy reference right next to my desk so that I can consult it as I work. If I have enjoyed it so much, those who want to anticipate the next split will find the book impossible to resist.”

Christopher J. Sharpe, Neotropical Birding, Spring 2015

There is no doubt that this second part of the Checklist is an outstanding piece of work, and that picking it up for just an hour or so is simply not an option. Once I open it I find myself absorbed in thought for several hours. These days we so often turn to online resources (such as HBW Alive) when we want information, and while these websites provide instant answers to many questions, the ability to look at all of the members of one family together in a book is still a winner for me.

Keith Betton, British Birds, June 2017

“So is this book really useful? Without question it is. It is now the most current and up-to-date checklist of world birds. It has been assembled by people who have spent over twenty years evaluating and deciding the taxonomic issues related to birds. It is a complete checklist of the non-passerine species using the most up-to-date taxonomy. Having both an illustration and a range map alongside of the species entry is a real blessing. It is an essential purchase for researchers and for all those engaged in world-wide birdwatching. Even if you are not a combat lister, you still need to know which species you have seen and where.”

John Roy, Canadian Field Naturalist, 2014

“The checklist itself is bound to become a very popular choice, being backed up by the BirdLife International, and as a matter of fact, it has been adopted by the United Nations Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, and also by the European Commission to be used in their decision-making. The modern taxonomic approach also seemingly does have benefits when it comes to bird conservation. Further, because of the illustrations, this is the most handsome and lister-friendly checklist of them all. It is simply an amazing book and an undisputed titan of its kind.”

William Vermala, Ornis Fennica, Autumn 2015

This is a pair of books in which you can see, at a glance, what every single one of the world’s birds looks like, where they occur, how perilous (or not) their conservation status is (as of 2016 at least, as that year’s IUCN Red List update was produced handin- glove with the Illustrated checklist), and what their key taxonomic points are. For birders—quite aside from ornithologists and conservationists— the two volumes should thus be manna from heaven. Whether you read each page in taxonomic sequence or dip into the books randomly, you will deepen your understanding of the Neotropical avifauna, and probably prepare your avian bucket list or informally test your identification skills too. Although eyewateringly costly, the Illustrated checklist represents very good value for money. You will not regret the purchase.

James Lowen, Neotropical Birding 21, 2017

“In my opinion this is, up to now, the best, clearest and most aesthetically pleasing checklist I have ever had the pleasure of studying. /…/ This provides a brilliant overview of each genus and family, with the birds’ appearance and distribution, name, status and subspecies presented for every species. Working on the HBW series has given the editors such great experience in how to produce a clear and elegant layout, that the presentation of the Illustrated Checklist is simply brilliant.”

Lennart Nilsson, Anser, December 2014