Helm Bird Identification Guides

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Superb Bird Guides

The Helm series of Field Guides and Identification Guides are a superb set of resources for birders, birdwatchers and ornithologists alike.

I have been birdwatching for more than 30 years and as I have become a more serious ornithologist I have become more and more aware of how good the books in the Helm series are, but there is no point in waiting to become an experienced birdwatcher before getting these books; start with the best.

I have written lenses on How to be a Good Birdwatcher and Where to Watch Birds in Thailand, now it is time for me to share this lens which lists all the bird books in the Helm Identification Guide series that I know of.

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My Favourite Helm Bird Guide 

Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America

Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America (Helm Identification Guides)

Amazon Price: (as of 12/11/2009)Buy Now

This is one of those authoratitive books without peer. Gulls are a really difficult group of birds to deal with and this book details them all with great plates, many pictures of different moult phases and informative text.

If you want to identify gulls, get this book; it's as simple as that.

Helm Identification Guides - Bird Family Accounts 

The Helm Identification Guides are ornithological masterpieces, focusing on specific bird families and containing an unbelievable amount of information on their subjects. No serious ornithologist should be without at least some of these books.

I personally use "Pipits and Wagtails", "Raptors of the World" and "Shorebirds" regularly and they frequently help me sort out difficult identification problems.

Raptors of the World (Helm Identification Guides) by James Ferguson-Lees, David A. Christie

Raptors of the World (Helm Identification Guides) by James Ferguson-Lees, David A. Christie

The newest addition to the highly regarded Helm Id more...1 point

Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa (Helm Identification Guides)

Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa (Helm Identification Guides)

Warblers are the archetypal "little brown bir more...1 point

Shrikes and Bush-shrikes (Helm Identification Guides) by Tony Harris

Shrikes and Bush-shrikes (Helm Identification Guides) by Tony Harris

Shrikes are a group of spectacular predators, many more...0 points

Starlings and Mynas (Helm Identification Guides) by C.J. Feare, Adrian Craig

Starlings and Mynas (Helm Identification Guides) by C.J. Feare, Adrian Craig

The starling family contains some of the most comm more...0 points

Finches and Sparrows (Helm Identification Guides) by Peter Clement

Finches and Sparrows (Helm Identification Guides) by Peter Clement

Among the most familiar and colorful of birds, fin more...0 points

New World Blackbirds. The Icterids. Helm Identification Guides. by Alvaro and Peter Burke Jaramillo

New World Blackbirds. The Icterids. Helm Identification Guides. by Alvaro and Peter Burke Jaramillo

New World Blackbirds is a comprehensive guide to t more...0 points

Sunbirds (Helm Identification Guides) by Robert A. Cheke, Clive Mann

Sunbirds (Helm Identification Guides) by Robert A. Cheke, Clive Mann

The dazzling insect- and nectar-eating sunbirds in more...0 points

Terns of Europe and North America (Helm Identification Guides) by Klaus Malling Olsen

Terns of Europe and North America (Helm Identification Guides) by Klaus Malling Olsen

Terns are elegant sea and marshland birds that liv more...0 points

Seabirds (Helm Identification Guides)

Seabirds (Helm Identification Guides)

This is the definitive book on the seabirds of the more...0 points

Sylvia Warblers (Helm Identification Guides) by Hadoram Shirihai, Gabriel Gargallo, Andreas Helbig

Sylvia Warblers (Helm Identification Guides) by Hadoram Shirihai, Gabriel Gargallo, Andreas Helbig

The culmination of more than a decade of work, thi more...0 points

Tanagers (Helm Identification Guides) by Morton L. Isler, Phyllis R. Isler

Tanagers (Helm Identification Guides) by Morton L. Isler, Phyllis R. Isler

The tanagers of the Western Hemisphere, write orni more...0 points

Thrushes (Helm Identification Guides) by Peter Clement, Ren Hathaway

Thrushes (Helm Identification Guides) by Peter Clement, Ren Hathaway

This is the first book in nearly one hundred years more...0 points

Crows and Jays (Helm Identification Guides) by Steve Madge

Crows and Jays (Helm Identification Guides) by Steve Madge

In no other group of perching birds has evolution more...0 points

Parrots (Helm Identification Guides) by Mike Parr, Tony Juniper

Parrots (Helm Identification Guides) by Mike Parr, Tony Juniper

This superbly illustrated book is the first create more...0 points

Helm Field Guides 

Birdwatching Field Guides are books written to help birders and birdwatchers identify the bird species they see whilst out in the field.

The term "In the field" refers to being outside in any wildlife habitat be it forest, beach, open sea or wetlands.

Field Guides usually contain a large number of high quality plates depicting the birds along with a little text and often accompanied by a distribution map for each species.

The Field Guides published by Helm are particularly good and I own and regularly use a number of them. Whilst I have not looked at all the field guides listed here, I have used enough of them to know that they are of consistently high quality and would be confident in recommending any of them.

Helm Field Guides - Asia 

Birds of Northern India (Helm Field Guides) by Richard Grimmett, Tim Inskipp

Birds of Northern India (Helm Field Guides) by Richard Grimmett, Tim Inskipp

From the wet evergreen forests and alpine peaks of more...0 points

Birds of the Middle East (Helm Field Guides) by R.F. Porter, S. Christensen, P Schiermacker-Hansen

Birds of the Middle East (Helm Field Guides) by R.F. Porter, S. Christensen, P Schiermacker-Hansen

Birds of the Middle East is the first comprehensiv more...0 points

Some Photos of Asian Birds 

Indian Grey Hornbill by Naseer Ommer

Indian Grey Hornbill

Long-tailed broadbill by lightmatter

Long-tailed Broadbill

Mr. Big Bill by CharlesLam

White-throated Kingfisher

Lammergier (Gypaetus barbatus) by Garrulus

Lammergier

Roufus Treepie by Nimesh M

Rufous Treepie

Green Bee-eater by wildxplorer

Green Bee-eater

The Ballet Dancer by Jyothi Vaidyanathan

Painted Stork

JambuFruitDove by ltshears

Jambu Fruit Dove

Fairy Bluebird - Irena Puella by Brent and MariLynn

Asian Fairy Bluebird

Bali Starling Zoo by ltshears

Bali Starling

Glossy Ibis by dominic sherony

Glossy Ibis

curated content from Flickr

Helm Field Guides - Africa 

Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania (Helm Identification Guides) by Dale A. Zimmerman, Don Turner, David Pearson, Ian Willis, Doug Pratt

Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania (Helm Identification Guides) by Dale A. Zimmerman, Don Turner, David Pearson, Ian Willis, Doug Pratt

Here is the definitive guide to the birds of Kenya more...0 points

Some African Birds 

Blacksmith Lapwing by Stig Nygaard

Blacksmith Plover

Blacksmith Lapwing by Stig Nygaard

Blacksmith Plover

Superb Starling by Stig Nygaard

Superb Starling

Superb Starling by Stig Nygaard

Superb Starling

Array by I Love Trees

Bateleur

Bataleur by Mister-E

Bateleur

Superb Starling, calgary Zoo by species_snob

Superb Starling

Senegal Coucal (Centropus senegalensis) by tj.haslam

Senegal Coucal

Red-billed Oxpecker by Stig Nygaard

Red-billed Oxpecker

African Jacana by Mister-E

African Jacana

Hooded Vulture by Mister-E

Lappet-faced Vulture

Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica) by tj.haslam

Blue-breasted Kingfisher

Senegal Coucal (Centropus senegalensis) by tj.haslam

Senegal Coucal

curated content from Flickr

Helm Field Guides - South & Central America 

Birds of Cuba (Helm Field Guides) by Orlando H. Garrido, Arturo Kirkconnell

Birds of Cuba (Helm Field Guides) by Orlando H. Garrido, Arturo Kirkconnell

The richness and diversity of Cuban birdlife featu more...0 points

A Guide to the Birds of the Galapagos Islands (Helm Field Guides) by Isabel C. Castro

A Guide to the Birds of the Galapagos Islands (Helm Field Guides) by Isabel C. Castro

Made famous by Charles Darwin's work on evolution more...0 points

Birds of Venezuela (Helm Field Guides) by Steven L. Hilty

Birds of Venezuela (Helm Field Guides) by Steven L. Hilty

Venezuela has an immensely rich bird fauna, with 1 more...0 points

Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica (Helm Field Guides) by F.Gary Stiles, Alexander F. Skutch

Guide to the Birds of Costa Rica (Helm Field Guides) by F.Gary Stiles, Alexander F. Skutch

Costa Rica, a country of no larger than West Virgi more...0 points

Birds of Chile (Helm Field Guides) by Alvaro Jaramillo

Birds of Chile (Helm Field Guides) by Alvaro Jaramillo

This is the essential new field guide to the birds more...0 points

Birds of Belize (Helm Field Guides) by H. Lee Jones

Birds of Belize (Helm Field Guides) by H. Lee Jones

"This is a first-class book that will enable more...0 points

A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (Helm Field Guides) by Richard Ffrench

A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago (Helm Field Guides) by Richard Ffrench

A visit to Trinidad and Tobago has introduced coun more...0 points

Some South/Central American Birds 

amazon king fisher (en route) by Kradlum

Amazon Kingfisher

black vulture (Drake Bay) by Kradlum

Black Vulture

scarlet macaw (Drake Bay) by Kradlum

Scarlet Macaw

male variable seedeater (Drake Bay) by Kradlum

Vriable Seedeater

blue-gray tanager (Arenal) by Kradlum

Blue-gray Tanager

bare-throated tiger-heron by Kradlum

Bare-throated Tiger-heron

red-capped manakin (Corcovado) by Kradlum

Red-capped Manakin

mangrove swallows (Cano Negro) by Kradlum

Mangrove Swallows

rufous motmot, chest,  (Arenal) by Kradlum

Rufous Motmot

black-cheeked ant-tanager (Drake Bay) by Kradlum

Black-cheeked Ant-tanager

Black-hooded antshrike (Drake Bay) by Kradlum

Black-hooded Antshrike

magnificent frigate bird (Drake Bay) by Kradlum

Magnificent Frigatebird

anhinga (Cano Negro) by Kradlum

Anhinga

great potoo (Cano Negro) by Kradlum

Great Potoo

curated content from Flickr

Helm Field Guides - North America 

Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America (Helm Field Guides) by David Sibley

Field Guide to the Birds of Western North America (Helm Field Guides) by David Sibley

The Sibley Guide to Birds has quickly become the n more...0 points

Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America by David Sibley

Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern North America by David Sibley

The Sibley Guide to Birds has quickly become the n more...0 points

Some North American Birds 

Red-winged Black Bird by Manjith Kainickara

Red-winged Blackbird

Sandhill Crane by dobak

Sandhill Crane

Baltimore oriole by sean.cuill

Baltimore Oriole

Bald Eagle by rasmithuk

Bald Eagle

Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus), in late evening light by mikebaird

Long-billed Curlew

Black-and-white Warbler by Carly & Art

Black-and-white Warbler

Kentucky Warbler by Carly & Art

Kentucky Warbler

Canvasback 2 by black_throated_green_warbler

Canvasback

California Quail (Callipepla californica) by kevincole

California Quail

_2000143 Belted Kingfisher by kimjonesphotography

Belted Kingfisher

Yellow Shafted Flicker by BobMacInnes

Yellow-shafted Flicker

Clark's Grebe (Richmond Harbor) by black_throated_green_warbler

Clark's Grebe

Turkey Vulture Circling by BobMacInnes

Turkey Vulture

curated content from Flickr

Helm Field Guides - Oceania 

Some birds of Oceania 

Hanging About by aussiegall

Rainbow Lorikeet

le cajou by belgianchocolate

Kagu

Weka on the prowl by angrysunbird

Weka

Running Kea by Aidan Wojtas

Kea

Cousin Island - Seychelles by tiarescott

Fairy Tern

White-faced heron by jmcgross

White-faced Heron

IMG_0392 by Paleontour

Kookaburra

Rainbow Bee-eater by wollombi

Rainbow Bee-eater

IMG_2184 by Paleontour

Cassowary

Magpie Goose (Anseranas semipalmata) by Rictor Norton & David Allen

Magpie Goose

some kind of bird by kthypryn

Tawny Frogmouth

Saddleback getting ready to fly. by angrysunbird

Saddleback

Male Stitchbird by angrysunbird

Stitchbird

curated content from Flickr

Helm Field Guides - Europe 

Birds of the Mediterranean (Helm Field Guides) by Paul Sterry

Birds of the Mediterranean (Helm Field Guides) by Paul Sterry

The Mediterranean is remarkably rich with birds, n more...0 points

Some European Birds 

Pochard on Surrey Water by drplokta

Pochard

Song Thrush #3 by foxypar4

Song Thrush

Oyster Catcher in flight by foxypar4

Oystercatcher

Tawny Owl (Strix aluco) by Rictor Norton & David Allen

Tawny Owl

chough by polandeze

Choughs

Grey-backed Fiscal by Stig Nygaard

Red-backed Shrike

Male common Bullfinch by brewbooks

Bullfinch

Green Woodpecker in Stave Hill Ecology Park by drplokta

Green Woodpecker

Black Woodpecker by arudhio

Black Woodpecker

curated content from Flickr

Online Nature Mall 

This online nature mall has lots more bird books for sale as well as other birdwatching related items such as optics, clothing and recordings.

Helm Field Guides - Other 

Great Birding Lenses 

Bird Clipart 

Leave a Comment Please 

If you have ever used a Helm Identification Guide please leave a comment about it here. Any comments about the lens are welcome too.

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About The Lens Author 

Lensmaster nickupton has been a member since June 23 2007, has rated 150 lenses, favorited 74, and has created 63 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "The Sneetches by Dr Seuss". See all my lenses

by nickupton



I have been birdwatching since I was seven and have used more field guides than I can remember, some good, some bad.

The Helm series of bird gu... (more)

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