Based on the award-winning The Australian Bird Guide, this compact format features over 700 bird species that are residents of or regular visitors to the Australian mainland and Tasmania, and surrounding seas.

The Compact Australian Bird Guide will appeal to both the beginner and experienced birdwatcher, and includes up-to-date species descriptions, distribution maps, illustrations and quick guide comparison pages for major groups. Ideal for your next holiday, field trip or simply to use in your own backyard.

Reviews:

"The compact guide admirably fulfils its stated purpose of being a concise and portable field guide for experienced ornithologists and an aid for the newcomer to bird watching in Australia (including overseas visitors) in making rapid, accurate field identifications without being swamped by too much detail."
Alan Lill, Association of Field Ornithologists, 17 April 2023

"This book is perfect for use in the field, for all levels of birdwatching skill, and its comprehensive content makes it perfect for resident and visiting birdwatchers alike."
Jonathan T. Coleman, International Journal of Avian Science, 2023

"It fits easily into a day-pack and can be quickly deployed, even when one is handling binoculars, a notebook, camera and other birding paraphernalia. <...> It is well-made well-bound and hard-wearing. It is clearly made for the tough Australian conditions"
Canberra Bird Notes, December 2022

"While the dazzling diversity of Australia's birds is something to be celebrated, it can all be a little overwhelming for someone who is new to birds. The Compact Australian Bird Guide achieves the delicate balance of being comprehensive yet concise, accurate yet accessible. The straightforward layout, succinct text and beautiful illustrations allow for a greater appreciation and understanding of Australian birds. For the novice bird lover, The Compact Australian Bird Guide will unlock the mysteries of Australian bird identification and for the seasoned birder it will be like seeing the familiar with fresh eyes."
Sean Dooley, BirdLife Australia

"This book succeeds splendidly as a compact aid to bird identification. Congratulations to all concerned and highly recommended as a valuable, proper and convenient, field identification guide"
Clifford B. Frith, Peter S. Valentine, Australian Field Ornithology (39), 2022

"This compact book is designed to provide beginners and experienced birdwatchers with a convenient, quick and beautifully illustrated identification guide to more than 700 bird species that are residents of or regular visitors to the Australian mainland and Tasmania, and surrounding seas."
The Gardens, Summer 2023

"This user-friendly, beautifully illustrated book is a guide to all bird species commonly found in Australia. Featuring more than 700 bird species that are residents of, or regular visitors to, Australia’s mainland, Tasmania and its surrounding oceans, this is a useful quick reference guide for both beginners and experienced birdwatchers."
Gardening Australia, September 2022

"I love big field guides. But I do not love lugging them around in the field, or on airplanes, or on long hikes. That’s why I’m absolutely delighted with the new Compact Australian Bird Guide."
Justine E. Hausheer, The Nature Conservancy (Blog: Cool Green Science), 3 October 2022

"Whether you’re a dedicated birder, someone with passing interest who wants a straightforward reference, or you’re a beginner keen to build knowledge, The Compact Australian Bird Guide is a first-class asset."
R M Williams, Outback, November 2022

This Revised Edition includes updated maps, artwork and species accounts, reflecting current knowledge of the biology and distribution of Australia's birds. It features around 4700 specially commissioned colour illustrations of over 900 species, with particular emphasis on providing the fine detail required to identify difficult groups and distinctive plumages. Comprehensive species accounts have been written by a dedicated team of ornithologists to ensure identification details, distribution and status are current and accurate. A new easier-to-use index is also included.

The Australian Bird Guide sets a new standard in field guides, providing an indispensable reference for all birders and naturalists looking to explore Australia's magnificent and unique birdlife.

Winner, The 2017 RZS NSW Whitley Medal
Winner, The 2018 Australian Book Industry Awards: Small Publishers' Adult Book of the Year

Reviews:

"Like looking through a new pair of binoculars, The Australian Bird Guide makes it seem like you are seeing even familiar birds for the first time."
Sean Dooley, Editor, Australian Birdlife

"This field guide is an invaluable reference for anyone with an interest in this country’s birdlife."
Gardening Australia, November 2019

"Books, such as The Australian Bird Guide, are important for the conservation of Australia’s flora and fauna; they bring nature to people and enable everyone to identify and take joy in the birds, other animals, and plants that we share the world with."
Harry F. Recher, Pacific Conservation Biology 26(1) 2020

Reviews of the First Edition (May 2017):

"a gorgeous lure to spend more time in nature."
Susan Wyndham, "2017 Books of the Year", Australian Book Review #397, December 2017

"The illustrations are amazing. Each is the purest and most accurate depiction of a species possible: the absolute platonic ideal of itself... makes me yearn — to see more birds, to note obscure plumage details, to plan holidays to see farther-flung species. This book reinvigorates my love of birds and birding and makes clear how lucky we are to have such amazing riches. And that is some powerful art."
Kate-Gorringe-Smith, Australian Birdlife, June 2017

"Not only does The Australian Bird Guide successfully provide a rich, contemporary bird identification book, it has the potential to play a far more significant cultural role – in cataloguing the full extent of the glorious variety of Australian birds it becomes a palpable celebration of the wonder of nature."
Sean Dooley, Sydney Morning Herald online, 28/7/17

"If you are looking at getting a field guide to the birds of Australia, the ABG is undoubtably the best."
Michael Szabo, Birds New Zealand (14), June 2017

"Compared with all other Australian bird guides, the text and most of the illustrations are on a higher level... The cornucopia of high quality illustrations – including numerous smaller sketch-ups illustrating such things as foraging behaviours, honeyeater corroborees, and size comparisons with similar possible species – puts the guide in the upper echelon of bird guides globally... For me, this volume by Menkhorst and colleagues has become my new favourite."
Eliot Miller, Emu - Austral Ornithology 117(3), July 2017

"Birds are illustrated in poses that best highlight diagnostic features. Seabirds are depicted almost exclusively in flight, precisely as most will encounter them at sea. The text is detailed without being too over-the-top, featuring all of the expected information and including helpful notes on recent taxonomic changes, distributional information that might be too granular to identify on the maps, and behavioural notes which might assist finding the bird and separating it from confusing species. The maps are clear and show all subspecies."
Chris Watson, Australian Birdlife, June 2017

"the ABG is undeniably the most comprehensive field guide to be published in Australia to date, surpassing previous guides in the quantity and accuracy of illustrations and pertinent information."
Richard Noske, Australian Book Review, October 2017

Little Brown Birds of the Sydney Region began as an ebook to help bird watchers overcome their issues with identifying the malurids (fairy-wrens and allies) and acanthizids (thornbills, gerygones and scrubwrens and their allies) of the greater Sydney Region. This printed edition features completely revised illustrations and additional chapters to cover the lives of these birds as well as tips on binocular choice, equipment and field craft.

The entire text synthesises decades of research from many of Australia’s most celebrated ornithologists and researchers as well as my personal observations and experiences spanning more than two decades as a bird guide and educator. The species accounts section has been expanded and renewed. It’s packed with diagnostic illustrations, comparison images and features to assist in identification. There is truly something in every page of Little Brown Birds of the Sydney Region for every birder and nature lover.

Since its first release in 1984, Simpson & Day's Field Guide to the Birds of Australia has established itself as a premier reference for bird enthusiasts in Australia. This guide stands out for its comprehensive coverage and authoritative content, making it a top choice among Australian birders and birdwatchers.

Enhance Your Birdwatching Skills
The guide offers detailed and thorough instructions on "How to Observe a Bird," providing practical hints for birdwatchers to improve their birding skills. It's an essential tool for both novice and experienced bird enthusiasts, designed to deepen their understanding and enjoyment of birdwatching.

A Visual Exploration of Australian Birds
With 132 superb full-colour plates, the guide presents all Australian bird species in vivid detail. These are complemented by over 900 black and white line illustrations, enriching the visual experience and aiding in accurate species identification.

Advanced Identification and Insights
The guide includes key points of identification using the latest classification system, enhancing your birdwatching experience with scientific precision. It also features specialised sections on seabird identification by bill, particularly useful for identifying species like albatrosses, petrels, and shearwaters.

Comprehensive Birding Information
Beyond identification, the guide offers habitat descriptions and distribution maps for all species. It includes checklists for Australian Island Territories and provides in-depth information on breeding and breeding cycles. A "Key to Families" section allows for easy comparison and location of bird families.

Resource-Rich for Bird Enthusiasts
This guide is not only about identifying birds but also about connecting with the wider birdwatching community. It includes rare and vagrant bird bulletins, a core library list, easy-to-use indexes, a glossary of avian terms, and a list of birdwatching and naturalist organisations.

At a Glance
> Expert bird observation techniques
> Comprehensive species illustrations and identification tools
> Detailed habitat and distribution information
> Resources for connecting with the birdwatching community

This eighth edition has been revised and updated, including some beautiful new plates.

'The Field Guide to the Birds of Australia is a masterpiece of a guide and a comprehensive resource for birding in Australia.' Birdfreak

Raptors are popular and iconic birds, and are important ecologically, with some species listed as threatened. Yet they are among the most difficult birds to identify. This fully updated third edition of the popular and award-winning field guide Birds of Prey of Australia contains two sections: a field guide with distribution maps, detailed illustrations and information on identification; and a handbook which includes an overview of the current knowledge about raptors, including their biology, ecology and behaviour. An illustrated section on difficult-to-distinguish species pairs is also included, along with new photographs.

• Updated edition of this popular and award-winning field guide
• 'Bible' of raptor identification, providing current knowledge on the ecology and biology of these species
• New and improved photos
• Companion to the recently released Australian Birds of Prey in Flight, which aids identification of soaring raptors

Stephen Debus has studied or observed all 24 of Australia’s resident raptor species during the past 40 years, almost half of them intensively and some over many years. Awarded BirdLife Australia’s D.L. Serventy Medal for ornithological publication, his many works include the definitive field guide to this difficult group of birds.

A Glimpse into the Feathered Wonders Down Under

The Pinnacle of Avian Exploration

This book is the most up-to-date guide to Australian birds available. Written in everyday language, with crisp, brilliant digital images taken in the wild, this authoritative guide includes:

• The first entry and photograph of the previously believed extinct Night Parrot
• The recently recognised as a full species Lesser Sooty Owl
• The Thick-billed Grasswren
• All seven species of Quail-thrush
• The Paperbark Flycatcher
• Rare photographs of the male Superb Lyrebird in courtship display
• The Bustard in courtship plumage
• The male Magnificent Riflebird in its courtship dance
• The first photograph of a nesting colony of Australian Swiftlets taken in a deep, dark cave in tropical Queensland

... and much more.

The easily accessible information on each bird includes: common and scientific names; size; description; behaviour; preferred habitat; feeding habits; voice; status; and breeding.

Zoom in on the Detail
Distribution maps are arranged next to the photographic illustrations of the bird. A binocular icon indicates 'hot spots' to find particular birds.

A Panoramic Experience
All wild birds that have been regularly recorded on the Australian mainland, Tasmania and offshore continental islands and oceans, including sub-species where the differences are recognisable in the field, have been included and photographed.

Through the Lens of the Experts
Features over 1,400 photographs by some of Australia's best wildlife photographers, including Colin Cock, Michael Schmid, Eric Sohn Joo Tan, Duade Patton, John Anderson, Alwyn Simple, Peter Jacobs, Andrew Bell, Tony Ashton, Nolan Caldwell, Chris Wiley, Maureen Goninan, Marlene Lyelle and George Adams to name but a few.

For Everyone with Feathered Interests
Whether you're a beginner just starting to explore the world of avian wonders, or a seasoned 'birdo' with years of field experience, this book promises to be a treasured resource that will be enjoyed by all.

A guide to the special birds found across Australia’s vastly varied landscapes.

From the eastern rainforests to the central deserts, Australia is home to some 900 species of birds. Finding Australian Birds covers over 400 birdwatching sites conveniently grouped into the best birding areas, from one end of the country to the other. This includes areas such as Kakadu in the Top End and Uluru in the Red Centre of the Northern Territory, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, an amazing diversity of forests along the eastern Australian seaboard, including some of the world’s tallest forests in Tasmania, the iconic Strzelecki and Birdsville Tracks in South Australia, and the mallee woodlands and remote Kimberley region in Western Australia.

Chapters are arranged by state or territory and begin with an overview. Birdwatching sites are then grouped by region to provide specific details on target species, access and useful information such as accommodation and facilities. This second edition includes over 30 new birdwatching sites and updated information on site access. The book also provides a comprehensive ‘Bird Finding Guide’, listing all of Australia’s birds with details on their abundance and where exactly to see them.

Finding Australian Birds will be valuable to both Australian birdwatchers and international visitors. It will assist novices, birders of intermediate skill and keen ‘twitchers’ to find any Australian species.

Praise for the first edition:

"Twitchers will find this a most agreeable companion but all bird-loving travellers should pop a copy in their backpack, along with good binoculars."
Susan Kurosawa, Weekend Australian, June 2014

"The amount of detailed information within its pages will be enough to make even the best-travelled birders eager to get out and check a few more sites"
Chris Watson, Australian Birdlife, June 2014

"This excellent birdwatching site guide by Tim Dolby and Rohan Clarke will save you time if you are planning an Australian birdwatching trip, and is sure to help you find more of your target species... you wouldn’t want to plan an Australian birding trip without consulting this one."
Michael Szabo, Birds New Zealand (16), December 2017

Includes:

• Fully updated second edition, featuring new sites and current site access details.
• Up-to-date information on 400+ good birding locations in Australia, written by experts with first-hand knowledge of the sites.
• An easy-to-use travel companion for local and international birdwatchers on Australia’s best natural sites.

Contents:

NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Top End
The Red Centre: Alice Springs and nearby arid lands

QUEENSLAND
Cape York Peninsula
North Queensland
Queensland Gulf Country and outback
South-East Queensland

NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Sydney, the Central and South Coasts
The Hunter Valley and NSW North Coast
Western slopes and central tablelands
Western plains

VICTORIA
Northern Victoria
Southern Victoria

TASMANIA

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Adelaide and the South-East
Arid lands: the Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula and the South Australian outback

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Southern Western Australia
Northern Western Australia

OFFSHORE ISLANDS AND TERRITORIES

Annotated bird list of Australia and its territories
Further reading
Useful resources
Index of bird common names
Index of place names

Authors:

Tim Dolby is a well-known Australian birdwatcher and guide, who has led multi-day birdwatching tours to remote parts of Australia for over a decade. He was the principal editor of Where to See Birds in Victoria, a comprehensive guidebook to some of the best birdwatching sites in the state.

Rohan Clarke is an ecologist at Monash University with a research focus on bird conservation and island ecosystems. He’s also a passionate birder, with a love of seabirds, and an author of both the award-winning The Australian Bird Guide and The Compact Australian Bird Guide.

For each species, the authors examine the many-and-varied common names and full scientific name, with derivation, translation and a guide to pronunciation. Stories behind the name are included, as well as relevant aspects of biology, conservation and history. Original descriptions, translated by the authors, have been sourced for many species.

As well as being a book about names, this is a book about the history of the ever-developing understanding of birds, about the people who contributed to this understanding and, most of all, about the birds themselves. This second edition has been revised to follow current taxonomy and understanding of the relationships between families, genera and species. It contains new taxa, updated text and new vagrants and will be interesting reading for anyone with a love of birds, words or the history of Australian biology and bird-watching.

ISBN: 9781486311637 | 368 pages | 245 x 170 mm
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Illustrations

Reviews:

"The wealth of meticulously researched information presented in this book makes it an essential reference for anyone keen about birds and words, and a very welcome addition to ornithological literature."
Virgil Hubregtse, The Victorian Naturalist 136(6), 2019

"This wonderful book by Ian Fraser and Jeannie Gray fills a niche in the available bird literature as it seeks, and achieves admirably, to explain in depth how the Latin and English names of our Australian birds came about. ...If you are wondering what a Dick, Dick, the Devil is, or a howling jackass, or even a doubtful reed-bellower, then this is the book for you."
Libby McGill, Western Australian Bird Notes 172, December 2019

"In truth there is little for the carping critic to cavil about. All in all, Australian Bird Names: Origins and Meanings is a most valuable reference work, rich in interesting information of a kind not easily found elsewhere. It is good to see that CSIRO Publishing appreciates the need to keep it up to date."
Kevin Windle, Canberra Bird Notes 44(3), December 2019

"At times amusing and always interesting, this book a would make an excellent addition to the bookshelf of anyone who is interested in birds, words or history."
Rhianna King, Landscope, Autumn 2020

"Birdwatchers with a thirst for knowledge about all manner of trivia and history will enjoy poring through hundreds of pages crammed with details."
John Peter, Australian Birdlife, December 2019

Australian Bird Guide - Revised Edition

This Revised Edition includes updated maps, artwork and species accounts, reflecting current knowledge of the biology and distribution of Australia's birds. It features around 4700 specially commissioned colour illustrations of over 900 species, with particular emphasis on providing the fine detail required to identify difficult groups and distinctive plumages. Comprehensive species accounts have been written by a dedicated team of ornithologists to ensure identification details, distribution and status are current and accurate. A new easier-to-use index is also included.

The Australian Bird Guide sets a new standard in field guides, providing an indispensable reference for all birders and naturalists looking to explore Australia's magnificent and unique birdlife.

Audubon Bird Call:

The Audubon Bird Call invented by Roger Eddy in 1947 and still made by the Eddy family in Rhode Island USA. When twisted, this remarkable little birchwood and metal instrument makes a variety of sounds similar to wild birds. Each Audubon Bird Call is handmade and individually tuned, tending to work much better than standard "pishing".

It is the standard songbird call throughout the world and whilst it doesn't mimic a single specific bird, the sound it makes gets inquisitive birds to come in closer to check out the noise. In Australia, this works particularly well on honeyeaters, thornbills, fairy-wrens, emu-wrens, grasswrens, scrubwrens, gerygones, whistlers, and occasionally even Tyto owls will come in to check it out at night if you're quiet!

With reasonable care it should last a lifetime - just keep it dry. Can be carried in pocket, on a key ring, or worn on a lanyard.

The bird call's sound is produced by rotating the wooden cylinder against the cast zinc plug. By varying the pressure between the two surfaces while twisting back and forth, a variety of bird sounds can be accurately imitated. Originally conceived by songbird hunters in Europe, the bird call attracts birds by creating the illusion that other birds are in the area.

Recognised by multiple generations of birders and outdoors people, the Audubon Bird Call has been made and tuned by hand in the USA in the same way for over 60 years.

Compact Australia Bird Guide:

Based on the award-winning The Australian Bird Guide, this compact format features over 700 bird species that are residents of or regular visitors to the Australian mainland and Tasmania, and surrounding seas.

The Compact Australian Bird Guide will appeal to both the beginner and experienced birdwatcher, and includes up-to-date species descriptions, distribution maps, illustrations and quick guide comparison pages for major groups. Ideal for your next holiday, field trip or simply to use in your own backyard.

Audubon Bird Call:

The Audubon Bird Call invented by Roger Eddy in 1947 and still made by the Eddy family in Rhode Island USA. When twisted, this remarkable little birchwood and metal instrument makes a variety of sounds similar to wild birds. Each Audubon Bird Call is handmade and individually tuned, tending to work much better than standard "pishing".

It is the standard songbird call throughout the world and whilst it doesn't mimic a single specific bird, the sound it makes gets inquisitive birds to come in closer to check out the noise. In Australia, this works particularly well on honeyeaters, thornbills, fairy-wrens, emu-wrens, grasswrens, scrubwrens, gerygones, whistlers, and occasionally even Tyto owls will come in to check it out at night if you're quiet!

With reasonable care it should last a lifetime - just keep it dry. Can be carried in pocket, on a key ring, or worn on a lanyard.

The bird call's sound is produced by rotating the wooden cylinder against the cast zinc plug. By varying the pressure between the two surfaces while twisting back and forth, a variety of bird sounds can be accurately imitated. Originally conceived by songbird hunters in Europe, the bird call attracts birds by creating the illusion that other birds are in the area.

Recognised by multiple generations of birders and outdoors people, the Audubon Bird Call has been made and tuned by hand in the USA in the same way for over 60 years.