This long-awaited book is the finest and most complete identification handbook of the birds of Western Palearctic ever produced. Unlike many other guides, the handbook is illustrated with high-quality photography, which, together with the comprehensive text, details the entire plumage spectrum and geographical variation of every species in the region. The book is packed with information that will guide you through the complexities of ageing and sexing, and enable you to identify challenging species and plumages in the field. The book also contains details of the very latest taxonomic research.

Black Bush Robin (Cercotrichas podobe), Israel, from the forthcoming ‘Photographic Handbook of the Birds of the Western Palearctic’, A & C Black. © Hadoram Shirihai

The Handbook team has established a Western Palearctic Photo Collection of almost all the bird species, races and plumage variations that occur in the region. More than 100 photographers have already contributed to the collection, including many of the most experienced and talented in Europe. However, we are still seeking to improve the collection and to find good images of a few of the missing species, subspecies and plumages. Thus, we are inviting photographers to help filling such gaps and to improve the collection by submitting further high-quality or useful (for identification or ageing/sexing purposes) photographs taken in the field. Click here for a list of gaps in the collection. Note that we are also interested in high-quality images of more common species that do not appear on this list. Suggested photos for submission should be sent as low-resolution jpegs or some similar format. Please send these direct to the photographic editor of the project René Pop pop.texel@texel.com. For information and guidelines on how to submit photographs please click here.

Krüper's Nuthatch (Sitta krueperi), Greece, from the forthcoming ‘Photographic Handbook of the Birds of the Western Palearctic’, A & C Black. © René Pop