Helm Identification Guides
Encyclopedia
The Helm Identification Guides are a series of books that identify groups of bird
s. The series include two types of guides, those that are:
Early volumes were sometimes published under the Croom Helm or Christopher Helm imprints. In addition, a parallel set of guides, very similar in design, was published by Pica Press in the 1990s (marked Pica in the list below); Pica was later absorbed into A & C Black
(now part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
), and all guides are now marketed as a single series.
Several of the books have won the British Birds
Bird Book of the Year award.
A list of titles in the series, in chronological order of publication, is as follows:
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
s. The series include two types of guides, those that are:
- Taxonomic, dealing with a particular family of birds on a worldwide scale—most early Helm Guides were this type, as well as many more-recent ones, although some later books deal with identification of such groups on a regional scale only (e.g., The Gulls Guide, which covers only species in Europe, Asia, and North America)
- Geographic, including all bird species in an area (e.g., The Birds of the West Indies)
Early volumes were sometimes published under the Croom Helm or Christopher Helm imprints. In addition, a parallel set of guides, very similar in design, was published by Pica Press in the 1990s (marked Pica in the list below); Pica was later absorbed into A & C Black
A & C Black
A & C Black is a British book publishing company.The firm was founded in 1807 by Adam and Charles Black in Edinburgh, and moved to the Soho district of London in 1889. In 1851, the firm bought the copyright of Walter Scott's Waverley Novels for £27,000. In 1902 it published P. G...
(now part of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Bloomsbury Publishing plc is an independent, London-based publishing house known for literary novels. It is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. The company's growth over the past decade is primarily attributable to the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling. Bloomsbury was named Publisher of...
), and all guides are now marketed as a single series.
Several of the books have won the British Birds
British Birds (magazine)
British Birds is a monthly ornithology magazine that was established in 1907. It is now published by BB 2000 Ltd, which is wholly owned by The British Birds Charitable Trust , established for the benefit of British ornithology...
Bird Book of the Year award.
A list of titles in the series, in chronological order of publication, is as follows:
Works with a taxonomic scope
Note: 'nW' indicates those that do not have worldwide coverage.1980s
- Seabirds - an identification guide by Peter Harrison (1983) ISBN 0-7470-1410-8
- Shorebirds - an identification guide to the waders of the world by John Marchant, A. J. Prater and Peter HaymanPeter HaymanPeter Hayman is a British ornithologist and illustrator.After his education in Taunton school he studied architecture. He worked as an architect for several years in London but in 1969 he became an artist. His main interest was water-colour paintings of British birds...
(1986) ISBN 0-7470-1403-5 - Wildfowl - an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the world by Steve MadgeSteve MadgeSteve Madge is a birder, author, and bird tour leader, based in Cornwall, England.He is a former member of the British Birds Rarities Committee...
and Hilary BurnHilary BurnHilary Burn is an English wildlife illustrator.-Career:Burn is the daughter of Colin Barber, an engineering draughtsman. She attented the Macclesfield High School and studied at the University of Leeds where she graduated to Bachelor of Science in zoology. From 1968 to 1971 she was a biology...
(1988) ISBN 0-7470-2201-1 - A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World by Angela Turner, illustrated by Chris Rose (1989) ISBN 0-7136-4206-8
1990-1994
- Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers - A Handbook by C. Hilary Fry and Kathie Fry, illustrated by Alan HarrisAlan HarrisAlan Harris is a Welsh playwright. His play A Good Night Out in the Valleys launched the new National Theatre Wales in March 2010 and he has worked with theatre companies throughout the United Kingdom....
(1992) ISBN 0-7136-8028-8 - Finches and Sparrows by Peter Clement, illustrated by Alan HarrisAlan HarrisAlan Harris is a Welsh playwright. His play A Good Night Out in the Valleys launched the new National Theatre Wales in March 2010 and he has worked with theatre companies throughout the United Kingdom....
and John Davis (1993) ISBN 0-7136-8017-2 - Crows and Jays - A Guide to the Crows, Jays and Magpies of the World by Steve MadgeSteve MadgeSteve Madge is a birder, author, and bird tour leader, based in Cornwall, England.He is a former member of the British Birds Rarities Committee...
, illustrated by Hilary BurnHilary BurnHilary Burn is an English wildlife illustrator.-Career:Burn is the daughter of Colin Barber, an engineering draughtsman. She attented the Macclesfield High School and studied at the University of Leeds where she graduated to Bachelor of Science in zoology. From 1968 to 1971 she was a biology...
(1994) ISBN 0-7136-3999-7 - Woodpeckers by Hans Winkler, translated by David Christie, illustrated by Dave Nurney (1995) ISBN 1-873403-25-9 'Pica'
- New World Warblers by Jon Curson, illustrated by David QuinnDavid Quinn (bird artist)David Quinn is a British bird artist. He won the 1987 "Bird Illustrator of the Year Award" of the British Birds magazine. His illustrations have appeared in several works, including the New World Warblers and Tits, Nuthatchs & Treecreepers volumes of the Helm Identification Guides series, as well...
and David Beadle (1994) ISBN 0-7136-3932-6
1995-1999
- Buntings and Sparrows - A Guide to the Buntings and North American Sparrows by Urban Olsson and Jon Curson, illustrated by Clive ByersClive ByersClive Byers is a British bird artist.His illustrations have appeared in a number of well-known and popular bird identification guides, including Birds of the Western Palearctic and the Buntings and Sparrows volume of the Helm Identification Guides series....
(1995) ISBN 1-873403-19-4 'Pica' - Terns of Europe and North America by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans LarssonHans LarssonHans Larsson was a Swedish Professor of Philosophy at Lund University, Sweden and a Member of the Swedish Academy , chair no. 15. He was known in Sweden as Kloke-Hans .Prof. Larsson was a humanist and an author...
(1995) ISBN 0-7136-4056-1 'nW' - Swifts - A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World by Phil Chantler, illustrated by Gerald Driessens (1995) ISBN 1-873403-31-3 'Pica'
- Tits, Nuthatches & Treecreepers by Simon Harrap, illustrated by David QuinnDavid Quinn (bird artist)David Quinn is a British bird artist. He won the 1987 "Bird Illustrator of the Year Award" of the British Birds magazine. His illustrations have appeared in several works, including the New World Warblers and Tits, Nuthatchs & Treecreepers volumes of the Helm Identification Guides series, as well...
(1996) ISBN 0-7136-3964-4 - Munias and Mannikins by Robin Restall (1996) ISBN 1-873403-51-8
- Pittas, Broadbills and Asities by Frank Lambert, illustrated by Martin Woodcock (1996) ISBN 978-1-873403-24-2 'Pica'
- Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa by Kevin Baker (1997) ISBN 978-0-7136-3971-1
- Skuas and Jaegers - a guide to the skuas and jaegers of the world by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans LarssonHans LarssonHans Larsson was a Swedish Professor of Philosophy at Lund University, Sweden and a Member of the Swedish Academy , chair no. 15. He was known in Sweden as Kloke-Hans .Prof. Larsson was a humanist and an author...
(1997) ISBN 1-873403-46-1 'Pica' - Shrikes - A Guide to the Shrikes of the World, by Norbert Lefranc, illustrated by Tim Worfolk (1997) ISBN 1-873403-47-X 'Pica'
- Nightjars - A Guide to Nightjars and related Nightbirds by Nigel Cleere, illustrated by Dave Nurney (1998) ISBN 1-873403-48-8 'Pica'
- Parrots - A Guide to the Parrots of the World by Tony JuniperTony JuniperTony Juniper is a British environmental campaigner, author and commentator most recognised for his work as Executive Director of Friends of the Earth, England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Vice Chair of Friends of the Earth International from 2000-2008.Juniper was the Green Party's parliamentary...
and Mike ParrMike ParrMike Parr is an Australian performance artist and printmaker. Parr's works have been exhibited in Australia and internationally, including in Brazil, Cuba, France, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the United States.-Early life:...
, illustrated by Kim Franklin, Robin Restall, Dan Powell, David Johnston and Carl D'Silva (1998) ISBN 1-873403-40-2 'Pica' - Rails - a guide to the rails, crakes, gallinules and coots of the world by Barry Taylor, illustrated by Ber van Perlo (1998) ISBN 0300077580 'Pica'
- Starlings and Mynas by Chris Feare and Adrian Craig, illustrated by Barry Croucher, Chris Shields and Kamol Komolphalin (1998) ISBN 0-7136-3961-X
- Owls - a Guide to the Owls of the World by Claus Konig & Friedhelm Weick and Jan-Hendrik Becking (1999) ISBN 1-873403-74-7 'Pica'
- New World Blackbirds - the Icterids by Alvaro Jaramillo and Peter Burke (1999) ISBN 0-7136-4333-1
- Tanagers by Morton L. Isler and Phyllis R. Isler (1999) ISBN 978-0-713651-16-4 softcover (a revision of The Tanagers : Natural History, Distribution, and Identification (1987) ISBN 978-0-874745-52-8)
2000-2004
- Thrushes by Peter Clement, illustrated by Ren Hathway (2000) ISBN 0-7136-3940-7
- Shrikes and Bush-shrikes by Tony Harris, illustrated by Kim Franklin (2000) ISBN 0-7136-3861-3
- Raptors of the World by James Ferguson-LeesJames Ferguson-LeesI. James Ferguson-Lees is a British ornithologist. He spent his early years in Italy and France, but was educated in Bedford, England. He turned down the chance to study zoology at Oxford University in order to get married, and became a teacher for seven years...
and David Christie, illustrated by Kim Franklin, David Mead and Philip BurtonPhilip BurtonPhilip Burton was an Irish Fine Gael politician, farmer and auctioneer. He was elected to Dáil Éireann for the Cork North East constituency at the 1961 general election. He was re-elected at the 1965 and 1969 general elections, but lost his seat at the 1973 general election. He was subsequently...
(2001) ISBN 0-7136-8026-1 - Pigeons and Doves by David Gibbs, illustrated by Eustace Barnes and John Cox (2001) ISBN 1-873403-60-7
- Sylvia Warblers - identification, taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Sylvia, by Hadoram ShirihaiHadoram ShirihaiHadoram Shirihai is an Israeli ornithologist and writer.-Biography:Shirihai grew up in Jerusalem where he became fascinated with birds when he was 13 and spent much time documenting shorebird behaviour, raptor breeding biology and participating in bird migration surveys...
, Gabriel Gargallo and Andreas J. Helbig, illustrated by Alan HarrisAlan HarrisAlan Harris is a Welsh playwright. His play A Good Night Out in the Valleys launched the new National Theatre Wales in March 2010 and he has worked with theatre companies throughout the United Kingdom....
, photographic editor David Cottridge (2001) ISBN 0-7136-3984-9 - Sunbirds - A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World by Robert A. Cheke and Clive F. Mann, illustrated by Richard Allen (2001) ISBN 1-873403-80-1
- Wrens, Dippers and Thrashers by David Brewer, illustrated by Barry Kent MacKay (2001) ISBN 1-873403-95-X
- Stonechats - A Guide to the Genus Saxicola by Ewan Urquhart, illustrated by Adam Bowley (2002) ISBN 0-7136-6024-4
- Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse - a guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the World by Steve MadgeSteve MadgeSteve Madge is a birder, author, and bird tour leader, based in Cornwall, England.He is a former member of the British Birds Rarities Committee...
and Phil MacGowan (2002) ISBN 0-7136-3966-0 - Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America, by Per Alstrom & Krister Mild, illustrated by Bill Zetterstrom (2003) ISBN 0-7136-5834-7 'nW'
- Gulls of Europe, Asia and North AmericaGulls of Europe, Asia and North AmericaGulls of Europe, Asia and North America by Klaus Malling Olsen and Hans Larsson is a volume in the Helm Identification Guides series of bird identification books....
by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans LarssonHans LarssonHans Larsson was a Swedish Professor of Philosophy at Lund University, Sweden and a Member of the Swedish Academy , chair no. 15. He was known in Sweden as Kloke-Hans .Prof. Larsson was a humanist and an author...
(2003) ISBN 0-7136-7087-8 'nW'