This beautifully illustrated photographic field guide is the first to focus on the identification of the fascinating, diverse and unique wildlife of Madeira and the Canary Islands--featuring the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and dragonflies that are most likely to be seen. Richly illustrated introductory sections cover the key wildlife sites to visit on each of the islands and provide an overview of the islands' geography, climate, habitat types and current conservation efforts. Stunning colour photographs highlight the key identification features of each species, and the accompanying text covers status, habitat preference, behaviour and, where appropriate, calls. The guide also features an up-to-date distribution map for each species. Complete with an attractive, user-friendly design, this is a must-have guide for all visitors to these magical islands. A beautifully designed and illustrated photographic field guide to the wildlife of Madeira and the Canary Islands Highlights the islands' unique native species and their conservation status Covers all birds, land and marine mammals, reptiles, amphibians, butterflies and dragonflies that are likely to be seen Features richly illustrated introductory sections on key sites to visit on each of the islands, covering their geography, climate, habitats and conservation Includes distribution maps for all species, as well as information on occurrence, status, habitat preference, behaviour and calls

This is the first comprehensive field guide dealing exclusively with the birds of this spectacular region. Birds of the Atlantic Islands covers all resident, migrant and vagrant species found in Macaronesia which comprises the Canary Islands, Madeira, Azores and Cape Verde. Over 450 resident, migrant and vagrant species are illustrated with full details of all the plumages and major races likely to be encountered. Species accounts are accompanied with concise text outlining bird identification, status, range, distribution and voice. This authoritative book will not only be an indispensable guide to the visiting birder, but also a vital tool for those engaged in work to conserve and study the avifauna of this region. The Atlantic Islands shelter a remarkable diversity of birds, many seriously endangered with small and vulnerable ranges. It further covers the climate, geography and ornithological history of these incredible islands, as well as practical guidance on the best birdwatching areas.

Guía de campo que describe e ilustra a todas las especies y subespecies de aves de la Macaronesia (Azores, Madeira, Salvajes, Canarias, Cabo Verde). Novedosa al presentar mapas de distribución detallados, estatus para cada especie por archipiélago y la lista oficial de la Sociedad Ornitológica Canaria (SOC) de las aves de Macaronesia. Incluye las islas atlánticas de Macaronesia, una región que comprende los archipiélagos de las Azores, Madeira, las islas Salvajes, las islas Canarias y las islas de Cabo Verde. Describe 573 especies/subespecies: todas las aves residentes y nidificantes, las visitantes migratorias y las divagantes. Más de 230 mapas de distribución detallados. 150 láminas a todo color. Datos actualizados hasta diciembre de 2010.

An essential guide to birds of the Canary Islands, an area with an impressive range of species This comprehensive guide covers all bird species found in the Canary Islands, a group of beautiful islands that are home to endemics such as the Blue Chaffinch, and are one of the best places in the world to see a number of rare species. The book covers every species recorded in the Canary Islands, including vagrants. Included are 73 colour plates illustrating more than 300 species, with text on facing pages for quick and easy reference. The concise text covers status, distribution, habitat, identification, voice and taxonomy. Also incorporated is an introduction with information on the geography and climate of the Canary Islands, plus habitats, birding sites and conservation.

A state-of-the-art photographic identification guide to Europe’s whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals This cutting-edge photographic identification guide to Europe’s sea mammals—the only such guide of its kind—covers the 39 species of whales, dolphins and porpoises and 9 species of seals found in the region, which spans the eastern Atlantic from Iceland to Macaronesia, and the Mediterranean, Caspian and Baltic seas. Written and illustrated by a team of professional tour guides with extensive experience presenting the region’s sea mammals, the guide features more than 180 color photographs, maps and graphics, highlights key identification features and includes information on the range, ecology, behaviour and conservation status of each species. Produced with the marine conservation charity ORCA, the book presents mapping data from a decade of surveys, which shows both current distribution and changes over time. Europe’s Sea Mammals is an essential companion for whale watchers and anyone else who is interested in this enigmatic group of mammals. The only photographic guide dedicated to this popular whale-watching region Features more than 180 color photos, maps and graphics Highlights key identification features and provides essential information on the range, ecology, behaviour and conservation status of each species

The most comprehensive single-volume field guide to Madagascar's wildlife The Indian Ocean island of Madagascar is one of the world's great natural treasures and ecotourism destinations. Despite being an island, it is home to nearly an entire continent’s variety of species, from the famous lemurs to a profusion of bizarre and beautiful birds, reptiles and amphibians. Wildlife of Madagascar is a compact and beautifully illustrated photographic guide, and an essential companion for any visitor or resident. With an eye-catching design, authoritative and accessible text and easy-to-use format, it provides information on identification, distribution, habitat, behaviour, biology and conservation for all the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies likely to be seen. The most comprehensive single-volume field guide to Madagascar’s wildlife Attractive layout features more than 900 stunning colour photographs Covers the mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and butterflies, and some of the other invertebrates and plants, most likely to be seen Provides key information about identification, distribution, habitat, behaviour and conservation Introductory sections provide background information on Madagascar and its unique environments

A field guide to the wildlife of southern Africa, describing over 2,000 plants and animals, with accurate illustrations in full colour. This book has been a trusted fi eld companion for many years. Comprehensively updated, it now features range maps for most groups. The chapters are colour-coded for easy reference, and diagnostic features appear in bold type within the descriptions. Each chapter is written by a leading expert in the field. All the main plant and animal groups are covered: Lower invertebrates, Spiders and other arachnids, Insects, Freshwater fishes, Frogs, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals, Grasses, sedges, ferns and fungi, Wild flowers, Trees

The volcanic and oceanic nature of the Canary Islands, its rich plant biodiversity and high rate of endemism, as well as the relict character of some of its plant communities make it a territory of great biological interest. The main geographic, climatic, bioclimatic, biogeographic and floristic features of the Islands are shown and related to the distributional pattern of potential communities along an altitudinal gradient. Current vegetation units and their ecology are described and illustrated with numerous pictures. Potential vegetation units are summarized and comprehensive maps of the potential natural vegetation for each island are given. Human impact on the natural landscape, the occurrence of invasive plants, and the probable impact of climate change on the flora and vegetation are discussed. The conservation status of flora and vegetation are assessed. Four appendixes include a syntaxonomical scheme, a brief history of botanical studies and explorations in the Islands, ethnobotanical notes, and a list of selected literature.

Crossbill Guides is a series of attractively produced nature travel guides on major European natural areas. Madeira is Portugal's emerald island - wild, rough and verdant green, situated roughly 850km southwest of Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean. Together with the much smaller and drier island of Porto Santo and the saw-toothed crescent of the Desertas islands, it forms a small archipelago that is a splendid destination for nature lovers and hikers. The misty laurel forests and sunny peaks are packed with a rare, unique flora and fauna, while whales, dolphins, sea turtles and large numbers of seabirds patrol the surrounding ocean. Hikers, birdwatchers, botanists, whalewatchers and other nature lovers¿¿¿. this is your naturalist guide to Madeira. The Crossbill Guide to Madeira describes 15 routes and numerous other sites to discover Madeira and Porto Santo. In addition, it describes excursions on the ocean, the Desertas islands and the remote Selvagens archipelago to explore Madeira's sea life. The book is complemented with extensive chapters on landscape, geology, history, descriptions of the flora and fauna and tips to observe wildlife. Includes the islands of Porto Santo, Desertas and Salvagens.

Flora of Madeira is the first book to describe fully all of the vascular plants of the Madeiran and Salvage Islands. It covers over 1360 species of native and naturalized plants, many of them little known. A high proportion of taxa, some 16%, are endemic to the islands themselves or are restricted to Macaronesia (the collective name for the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, Salvages, Canaries and Cape Verdes). Isolated from other land-masses, the Madeiran islands are botanically rich and diverse, and the rugged and beautiful landscape embraces a broad range of habitats. Madeira also contains the most extensive remaining areas of laurisilva, the evergreen forest which is the last representative of the ancient Tethyan forests of S. Europe and N. Africa. The remote Salvage Islands have a smaller but equally interesting flora. Flora provides descriptions and keys for taxa at all levels, as well as information on habitats, distributions and flowering times. Local names are also cited. Fifty-seven plates of original drawings illustrate 212 of the Madeiran and Macaronesian endemic taxa, some of them depicted for the first time. Introductory chapters describe the geography of the islands, the main vegetation types and the extensive measures being implemented to conserve this unique flora. Flora of Madeira is the only fully comprehensive publication on the wild flora of the Madeiran and Salvage Islands, for use as both a reference work and a field guide. This book is a digital reprint of ISBN 0-11-310017-5 (1994).