Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region, Peru: Includes a Bird Finding Guide to the Area
$37.50
Pros
- covers the nearly 500 species known to occur in the region
- includes best birding sites in the region
- includes annotated checklist
Publisher’s Description:
The extraordinary ruins of Machu Picchu, at an elevation above 2400 m, were among the most amazing creations of the Inca Empire at its height: its giant walls, terraces and ramps seem to have been cut out of continuous rock escarpments. This remote site lies on the eastern slope of the Andes on the upper reaches of the Amazon basin in a region exhibiting a rich diversity of flora and fauna. With the publication of this Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region, visitors from all over the world can now appreciate and identify the birds of the mountains, valleys, and forests of this World Heritage Site.
The Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu and the Cusco Region is the result of a unique, three-continent collaboration between Barry Walker in Peru, Buteo Books in Virginia (USA), and Lynx Edicions in Barcelona. The text from previous versions of Barry Walker’s field guide has been completely rewritten and updated. Covering the nearly 500 species known to occur in the region, the individual species accounts provide details on habitat, behavior, localizations, and occurrence. The 165 color plates on pages facing the text are drawn from illustrations painted for the monumental Handbook of the Birds of the World. This is a field guide with all the essentials to identify the bird in the field, yet compact and light enough to fit in a pocket or carry on the Inca Trail. A section of the book contains a detailed guide to the best birding sites in the region and an annotated checklist, both of which will be of great value to the visiting birdwatcher.
Comments
Although I have not used this book in the field yet, I have spent some time studying it, and I am impressed. It is sturdy and a nice size, with clear illustrations on plates which are not crowded. It would be nice if the type was a bit larger. What I especially like is that the author frequently mentions where the individual birds can be found— both in terms of locality and elevation, and habitat. He also gives suggestions for birding sites in the area. You often see Barry Walker acknowledged by authors of books about Peru, which is a tribute to his expertise and helpfulness. I am looking forward to using this guide in Peru, but will refrain from rating it until that time.
Having now used this guide in the field, I do have additional comments. First, I was very underwhelmed by the drawings of the birds, which in most cases do not capture their essence. At times, I had difficulty matching the picture to the bird I saw. Second, without range maps, the written comments on where the bird can be found can be misleading, as you may expect to find it only in the place mentioned but not elsewhere. One minor point, the name of the El Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes is also given as the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. Having said this, I was very glad to have the book with me in the Sacred Valley rather than trying to lug along the Birds of Peru, or use the app for the latter, which I did not care for.