Full-color "pocket book" — a new essential for birdwatching — Common Wild Birds Field Guide: Beijing Region
The newly published book Common Wild Birds Field Guide: Beijing Region, compiled by the Birdwatching Group of Friends of Nature, has recently made its debut. On January 19, 2014, at the Friends of Nature office, this new book truly stood out. This is an upgraded version of the Beijing Wild Birds Field Guide, first published in 2001 by the Birdwatching Group of Friends of Nature (originally named the "Birdwatching Team"). Twelve years later, it returns with a fresh new look, introducing 315 commonly seen bird species in Beijing with over 700 images. Rich in content and illustrated throughout, it has been praised by Professor Zhang Zhengwang, Secretary-General of the Bird Branch of the Chinese Society of Zoology at Beijing Normal University, as "a remarkable bird field guide that combines scientific accuracy, visual appeal, and practicality."
A closer look at the new book Common Wild Birds Field Guide: Beijing Region reveals it to be a full-color "pocket book" and a new essential for birdwatching, standing out with five key features —
First, it highlights feature comparisons for easier field identification.
For some birds that are difficult to identify accurately, mainly various raptors, warblers, and gulls, the book provides detailed descriptions of their distinctive features. It also includes particularly prominent photos marked with arrows, making it highly practical. The images include birds in flight, perched, and from various angles, offering a comprehensive visual guide especially for hard-to-identify species. When you encounter these birds in the wild, you can match their features using the images. For example, there are three photos of the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, seven of the Great Tit, and four of the Light-vented Bulbul. Once you understand them from the book, you won’t be confused by a quickly flying bird in the wild, wondering whether it’s a Great Tit, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Siberian Tree Sparrow, or something else.
Second, it adds geographical and temporal distribution of birds, facilitating birdfinding by map.
Each bird species comes with a distribution map showing common locations within Beijing. The habitats of the birds are described in detail, along with the time periods they are typically present in the city, indicating how common they are. This is a highly practical spatiotemporal distribution map of Beijing birds — something most bird guides fail to offer. It is achieved based on a wealth of images and data. The book also includes an introduction to popular birdwatching spots in Beijing, highlighting 72 locations. While many of these places are well-trodden by bird enthusiasts, others remain hidden gems waiting for you to discover and enjoy.
Third, it incorporates the latest taxonomic advances for cutting-edge knowledge.
This book adopts the latest developments in bird taxonomy, reflecting the most current findings to help readers stay up-to-date with the forefront of ornithological science. Based on the latest taxonomic methods, some bird species have been split, with subspecies elevated to full species status. For example, the Daurian Redstart has been separated from the previously classified Eurasian Blackbird (nominate subspecies). Some researchers also argue that the Rufous-tailed Robin found north of Jiangsu in China and those in southern China should be considered two distinct species, with the southern ones classified as the Western Rufous-tailed Robin, differing mainly in vocalizations and iris color. Such cutting-edge taxonomic insights are frequently featured in this book.
Fourth, it is a meticulously edited collaboration between senior experts and experienced birders for authoritative accuracy.
The Birdwatching Group of Friends of Nature organized renowned experts and seasoned birders to co-author this book. With expertise in various areas of birdwatching, they formed a committee of over 20 members, with Senior Editor Gao Wu serving as chief editor. Together, they worked with over 60 skilled birder photographers who contributed more than 700 high-quality images. Drawing on their professional knowledge and extensive birdwatching experience, they have carefully compiled and accurately described commonly seen birds in Beijing, creating a trustworthy guide that helps resolve common doubts and misconceptions among birdwatchers.
Fifth, its compact full-color "pocket book" format makes it easy to carry anywhere.
Good things come in small packages. This book measures 16 cm in length and 12 cm in width — small enough to fit in your hand or pocket. Despite having 372 pages, it remains lightweight. Compared to the bulky, large-format China Birdwatching Field Guide, this is a condensed, essential version — carrying it around won’t be a burden.
Priced at 69.80 RMB, it’s worth every penny. Ordering from the Birdwatching Group of Friends of Nature may even come with a discount.
This book is publicly published by the Machinery Industry Press. Bird enthusiasts can contact the Friends of Nature office or the Birdwatching Group of Friends of Nature to purchase it and get an early look. When placing orders, feel free to send a text message or email, leaving your contact information and the quantity desired. For details, contact: Li Qiang (Phone: 13001076278, Email: nps7@qq.com)
Birdwatching Group of Friends of Nature