A Guide to the Birds of Sri Lanka

Rating:
Summary: The bible of Sri Lanka ornithology
Review: The bible of Sri Lanka birders; the recent and thoroughly welcome appearance of bird guides to this area notwithstanding. It is a shame, though, that the quality of the colour plates have deteriorated somewhat in the latest edition. A few new spp. have been seen in Sri Lanka in recent years that are missing in Henry, but the other volumes cannot touch this book's thoroughness of description and style. As for the competition: Kotagama - inexpensive and light in weight but the colour plates are wanting; Grimmett et al. - Excellent and comprehensive but heavy and expensive; Harrison and Worfolk - Excellent plates and individual local distribution maps combined with light weight, but expensive. Ali and Ripley's volumes are outstanding but they are not for the field and some vols. are out of print. Legge's venerable work was reprinted in 3 vols. by Tisara Press and may hold some interest to the dedicated enthusiast.