A Field Guide to the Birds of New Zealand (Princeton Pocket Guides, 7)

This guide was very helpful. I took a 8 day trip to New Zealand last year and had all these photos of birds I didn't know. This guide was full of wonderful glossy photos that made it easy to identify the birds and label them for facebook postings, etc. I may use it again if I travel to Australia since many of the birds of NZ also reside in Australia. There was information about each bird, although not as much as I would have liked. However, since it is a small, lightweight pocket book I imagine more written detail would have made it to heavy. At the current weight and size it is more handy to put in a suitcase.

Great book. I really love the organization. All the photos are on the right side, and all the descriptions are on the left. If you want to identify a bird, simply flip through the book scanning the pictures as you go. When you see it, you can check the name and read more about it.PRO:-Great photos.-Organization, seriously.-Includes a map and some background on New Zealand, useful for travelers.CON: (really none, these are extremely minor criticisms)-Only 1-2 photos of each bird. This isn't a photo book, it's a field guide. So not really a mark against it.-Too big for a pocket, too small for a coffee table. Fits well in a camera bag, handbag, or purse. Doesn't fit well on a shelf.

Would have preferred illustrations rather than photos, otherwise just fine.

I was really glad to have this book when I went to New Zealand. The pictures and explanations were mostly clear. I would have preferred drawings rather than photos like in Sibley's or Peterson's guidebooks. I couldn't identify some birds because I needed clearer pictures of distinguishing characteristics. Also when I entered my observations into ebird.org, many of the names in English were different.

I think this is the best of a bad bunch when it comes to ID guides on New Zealand. For a country that has such amazing birdlife, the options seem very limited. Although you can't fault the information and range of birds in this guide, a number of the images are poor quality. Taken in low light or out of focus. In the absence of anything better it still proved to be a worthwhile companion on our recent trip around the Fjiordlands.

Very concise yet thorough guide. The text is very clearly organized and Fitter's use of language is highly efficient, reducing the size of the book compared to a more wasteful writer. The photos are good and the descriptions of how to distinguish similar species is excellent. The only con is that the range maps are pretty small. Loved using this book.

Although I have never been to New Zealand, I am an avid birdwatcher who bought the book in preparation for a summer trip to the island nation. The photographs and lay-outs of this field guide will be eminently useful when we go out to find out photograph our own nocturnal kiwis, such as the one portrayed on the cover.

I am a biologist by profession and a birder by avocation. I found this book easy to use, informative, and interesting to read. I bought this book for a recent vacation to NZ, and I was able to record 35 new species on my life list with the help of this guide.

This is a comprehensive guide to the subject and at the price, good value, particularly given the lack of competition. Good photos & usable distribution maps. I liked the background articles and the discussion of the pressures on native birds; there were also sections per entry about the relevant "threats & mangement". I found, however, that it's better as a reference work than as a field guide. There's no quick reference index or thumbnails to the relevant categories of birds; no assistance between "confusion" species - both needed when in the field. The binding is vulnerable when wet; yeah, I should have been more careful, but it does rain (heavily) in parts of NZ and this is a "field guide".

Great book. Perfect for our needs. Good explanations and excellent pictures.

Will enhance a trip to NZ enormously. Easy to use, carry and enjoy.

lovely book

This is a "must-have" book if you're going to N.Z. The photos are really good and the book is stuffed full of information.