Reed and Bush Warblers

Reed and bush warblers - the Locustellidae, Acrocephalidae and Cettiidae - occur widely throughout Europe, Asia and Africa, with a single species in Australia and several on remote oceanic islands. Although not all are closely related, they have much in common, in particular their relatively nondescript appearance and retiring behaviour, making their identification one of the sternest of all identification challenges. Thankfully, most species have distinctive vocalisations that can assist in their identification.

In this book, Peter Kennerley and David Pearson describe a total of 112 species in rigorous detail, with particular emphasis placed on identification, separation of similar species and racial recongnition. This is allied with detailed colour maps and a broad discussion of voice (including sonograms for almost every species), habitat, behaviour, breeding, migration strategy and taxonomy to give an authoritative and exhaustive overview of the biology of these birds. Detailed biometrics and wing-structure information provide essential guidance for ringers and a useful support to field identification, while the complex systematics of the group are discussed in an invited chapter by Staffan Bensch, who brings clarity to the changes that are trasforming our understanding of the relationships between these species.

The text is complemented by 42 superb colour plates and numerous line drawings by Brian Small, illustrating each species and all distinctive races. More than 350 colour photographs provide a unique additional aid to identification, capturing the character of each species and the variation within polytypic species.

This magnificent book represents the definitive reference work on this complex and fascinating group of birds.