Handbook of the Birds of the World

The "Handbook of the Birds of the World" (HBW) is a multi-volume series produced by the Spanish publishing house Lynx Edicions. It is the first handbook to cover every living species of bird. The series is edited by Josep del Hoyo, Andrew Elliott, Jordi Sargatal and David A Christie.

So far, 12 volumes have been produced. New volumes appear at annual intervals, and the series is expected to be complete with volume 16 by 2011. When Volume 16 is published, for the first time an animal class will have all the species illustrated and treated in detail in a single work. This has not been done before for any other group in the Animal Kingdom.

Material in each volume is grouped first by family, with an introductory article on each family; this is followed by individual species accounts (taxonomy, subspecies and distribution, descriptive notes, habitat, food and feeding, breeding, movements, status and conservation, bibliography). In addition, all volumes except the first and second contain an essay on a particular ornithological theme. More than 200 renowned specialists and 35 illustrators from more than 40 countries have contributed to the project up to now, as well as 834 photographers from all over the world.

Since the first volume appeared in 1992, the series has received various international awards. The first volume was selected as "Bird Book of the Year" by the magazines Birdwatch and British Birds, and the fifth volume was recognised as "Outstanding Academic Title" by Choice Magazine, the American Library Association magazine. The seventh volume, as well as being named "Bird Book of the Year" by Birdwatch and British Birds, also received the distinction of "Best Bird Reference Book" in the 2002 WorldTwitch Book Awards [ [http://www.worldtwitch.com/awards_2002.htm WORLDTWITCH - 2002 Book Awards - Birds and Birding ] ] This same distinction was also awarded to Volume 8 a year later in 2003. [ [http://www.worldtwitch.com/awards_2003.htm WORLDTWITCH - 2003 Book Awards - Birds and Birding ] ]

Individual volumes are large, 32 cm by 25 cm, and weighing between 4-4.6 kg; it has been commented in a review that "fork-lift truck book" would be a better title.

As a complement to the "Handbook of the Birds of the World" and with the ultimate goal of disseminating knowledge about the world's avifauna, in 2002 Lynx Edicions started the Internet Bird Collection (IBC). It is a free-access, on-line audiovisual library [ [http://www.hbw.com/ibc the Internet Bird Collection ] ] of footage of the world's birds with the aim of posting videos showing a variety of biological aspects (e.g. subspecies, plumages, feeding, breeding, etc.) for every species. It is a non-profit endeavour fuelled by material from more than one hundred contributors from around the world. The IBC currently holds over 20,000 videos representing almost 5,000 species and new material is added daily.

Published Volumes

A list of volumes of the "Handbook of the Birds of the World" produced to date is as follows:

Volume 1: Ostrich To Ducks

This volume was published in 1992. Unlike subsequent volumes, it does not have an introductory essay; instead, it has a 38 page overview by Eduardo de Juana of the biology of birds and a foreword welcoming the HBW project, by Christoph Imboden. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:
*Struthionidae (Ostrich)
*Rheidae (Rheas)
*Casuariidae (Cassowaries)
*Dromaiidae (Emu)
*Apterygidae (Kiwis)
*Tinamidae (Tinamous)
*Spheniscidae (Penguins)
*Gaviidae (Divers)
*Podicipedidae (Grebes)
*Diomedeidae (Albatrosses)
*Procellariidae (Petrels And Shearwaters)
*Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels)
*Pelecanoididae (Diving-Petrels)
*Phaethontidae (Tropicbirds)
*Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
*Sulidae (Gannets And Boobies)
*Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)
*Anhingidae (Darters)
*Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
*Ardeidae (Herons)
*Scopidae (Hamerkop)
*Ciconiidae (Storks)
*Balaenicipitidae (Shoebill)
*Threskiornithidae (Ibises And Spoonbills)
*Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
*Anhimidae (Screamers)
*Anatidae (Ducks, Geese And Swans)

Volume 2: New World Vultures To Guineafowl

This volume was published in 1994. It has a foreword by Walter J. Bock on the organization of information in HBW. Groups covered in this volume are as follows:
*Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
*Pandionidae (Osprey)
*Accipitridae (Hawks And Eagles)
*Sagittariidae (Secretarybird)
*Falconidae (Falcons And Caracaras)
*Megapodiidae (Megapodes)
*Cracidae (Chachalacas, Guans And Curassows)
*Meleagrididae (Turkeys)
*Tetraonidae (Grouse)
*Odontophoridae (New World Quails)
*Phasianidae (Pheasants And Partridges)
*Numididae (Guineafowl)

Volume 3: Hoatzin To Auks

This volume was published in 1996. It has an introductory essay by Robert Bateman on "Art And Nature".Groups covered in this volume are as follows:
*Opisthocomidae (Hoatzin)
*Mesitornithidae (Mesites)
*Turnicidae (Buttonquails)
*Gruidae (Cranes)
*Aramidae (Limpkin)
*Psophiidae (Trumpeters)
*Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules And Coots)
*Heliornithidae (Finfoots)
*Rhynochetidae (Kagu)
*Eurypygidae (Sunbittern)
*Cariamidae (Seriemas)
*Otididae (Bustards)
*Jacanidae (Jacanas)
*Rostratulidae (Painted Snipes)
*Dromadidae (Crab Plover)
*Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
*Ibidorhynchidae (Ibisbill)
*Recurvirostridae (Avocets, Stilts)
*Burhinidae (Thick-Knees)
*Glareolidae (Pratincoles, Coursers)
*Charadriidae (Plovers)
*Scolopacidae(Sandpipers And Allies)
*Pedionomidae (Plains-Wanderer)
*Thinocoridae (Seedsnipes)
*Chionididae (Sheathbills)
*Stercorariidae (Skuas)
*Laridae (Gulls)
*Sternidae (Terns)
*Rhynchopidae (Skimmers)
*Alcidae (Auks)

Volume 4: Sandgrouse To Cuckoos

This volume was published in 1997. It has an introductory essay on "Species Concepts and Species Limits in Ornithology" by Jürgen H. Haffer.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse)
*Columbidae (Pigeons And Doves)
*Cacatuidae (Cockatoos)
*Psittacidae (Parrots)
*Musophagidae (Turacos)
*Cuculidae (Cuckoos)

Volume 5: Barn-Owls To Hummingbirds

This volume was published in 1999. It has an introductory essay on "Risk Indicators and Status Assessment in Birds" by Nigel J. Collar.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
*Strigidae (Typical Owls)
*Steatornithidae (Oilbird)
*Aegothelidae (Owlet-Nightjars)
*Podargidae (Frogmouths)
*Nyctibiidae (Potoos)
*Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)
*Apodidae (Swifts)
*Hemiprocnidae (Tree-Swifts)
*Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)

Volume 6: Mousebirds To Hornbills

This volume was published in 2001. It has an introductory essay entitled "On Avian Bioacoustics" by Luis Baptista and Don Kroodsma.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Coliidae (Mousebirds)
*Trogonidae (Trogons)
*Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
*Todidae (Todies)
*Momotidae (Motmots)
*Meropidae (Bee-Eaters)
*Coraciidae (Rollers)
*Brachypteraciidae (Ground-Rollers)
*Leptosomidae (Cuckoo-Rollers)
*Upupidae (Hoopoes)
*Phoeniculidae (Wood-Hoopoes)
*Bucerotidae (Hornbills)

Volume 7: Jacamars To Woodpeckers

This volume was published in 2002. It has an introductory essay on "Extinct Birds" by Errol Fuller.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Galbulidae (Jacamars)
*Bucconidae (Puffbirds)
*Capitonidae (Barbets)
*Ramphastidae (Toucans)
*Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)
*Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Volume 8: Broadbills To Tapaculos

This volume was published in 2003. It has an introductory essay on "The History Of Bird Classification" by Murray Bruce.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Eurylaimidae (Broadbills)
*Philepittidae (Asities)
*Pittidae (Pittas)
*Furnariidae (Ovenbirds)
*Dendrocolaptidae (Woodcreepers)
*Thamnophilidae (Typical Antbirds)
*Formicariidae (Ground-Antbirds)
*Conopophagidae (Gnateaters)
*Rhinocryptidae (Tapaculos)

Volume 9: Cotingas To Pipits And Wagtails

This volume was published in 2004. It has an introductory essay on "Ornithological Nomenclature" by Richard Banks

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:
*Cotingidae (Cotingas)
*Pipridae (Manakins)
*Tyrannidae (Tyrant-Flycatchers)
*Acanthisittidae (New Zealand Wrens)
*Atrichornithidae (Scrub-Birds)
*Menuridae (Lyrebirds)
*Alaudidae (Larks)
*Hirundinidae (Swallows And Martins)
*Motacillidae (Pipits And Wagtails)

Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes To Thrushes

This volume was published in 2005. It has an introductory essay on "The Ecology And Impact Of Non-Indigenous Birds" by Daniel Sol, Tim Blackburn, Phillip Cassey, Richard Duncan and Jordi Clavell.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Campephagidae (Cuckoo-Shrikes)
*Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
*Chloropseidae (Leafbirds)
*Irenidae (Fairy-Bluebirds)
*Aegithinidae (Ioras)
*Ptilogonatidae (Silky-Flycatchers)
*Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
*Hypocoliidae (Hypocolius)
*Dulidae (Palmchat)
*Cinclidae (Dippers)
*Troglodytidae (Wrens)
*Mimidae (Mockingbirds And Thrashers)
*Prunellidae (Accentors)
*Turdidae (Thrushes)

Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers

Published in September 2006. It has an introductory essay on "The ecological significance of bird populations" by Cagan Sekercioglu with a Preface by Paul R. Ehrlich.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
*Platysteiridae (Batises & Wattle-eyes)
*Rhipiduridae (Fantails)
*Monarchidae (Monarch-flycatchers)
*Regulidae (Kinglets & Firecrests)
*Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
*Cisticolidae (Cisticolas & allies)
*Sylviidae (Old World Warblers)

Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees

Published in October 2007. With a foreword on Fossil Birds by Kevin J. Caley.

Groups covered in this volume are as follows:

*Picathartidae (Picathartes)
*Timaliidae (Babblers)
*Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills)
*Pomatostomidae (Australasian Babblers)
*Orthonychidae (Logrunners)
*Eupetidae (Jewel-babblers and allies)
*Pachycephalidae (Whistlers)
*Petroicidae (Australasian Robins)
*Maluridae (Fairy-wrens)
*Dasyornithidae (Bristlebirds)
*Acanthizidae (Thornbills)
*Epthianuridae (Australian Chats)
*Neosittidae (Sittellas)
*Climacteridae (Australasian Treecreepers)
*Paridae (Tits and Chickadees)

Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes

With an introductory essay on Bird Migration by Ian Newton.

*Remizidae (Penduline-tits)
*Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
*Sittidae (Nuthatches)
*Tichodromadidae (Wallcreeper)
*Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
*Rhabdornithidae (Rabdornis)
*Nectariniidae (Sunbirds)
*Melanocharitidae (Berrypeckers and Longbills)
*Paramythiidae (Painted Berrypeckers)
*Dicaeidae (Flowerpeckers)
*Pardalotidae (Pardalotes)
*Zosteropidae (White-eyes)
*Promeropidae (Sugarbirds)
*Meliphagidae (Honeyeaters)
*Oriolidae (Orioles)
*Laniidae (Shrikes)

Footnotes

References

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1992). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334091

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1994). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334156

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1996). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334202

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1997). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 4: Sandgrouse to Cuckoos. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334229

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (1999). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 5: Barn-Owls to Hummingbirds. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334253

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (2001). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 6: Mousebirds to Hornbills. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 848733430X

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Sargatal, J. (editors). (2002). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334377

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2003). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 8: Broadbills to Tapaculos. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334504

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2004). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 9: Cotingas to Pipits and Wagtails. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334695

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2005). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 10: Cuckoo-Shrikes to Thrushes. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 8487334725

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2006). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 11: Old World Flycatchers to Old World Warblers. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 849655306X.

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2007). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 12: Picathartes to Tits and Chickadees. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 9788496553422

* del Hoyo, J.; Elliot, A. & Christie D. (editors). (2008). Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-84-96553-45-3

External links

* [http://www.hbw.com/ More information on the Handbook of the Birds of the World]