RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds

by Marianne Taylor, Stephen Message (Illustrator)

A compact, lightweight and informative guide to 310 of the most common birds found in the UK.

RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds is a compact, lightweight and informative field guide, featuring 310 bird species regularly seen in the UK. Species are illustrated in all distinct plumage forms likely to be observed in the wild by renowned bird artist Stephen Message, and a detailed distribution map for the British Isles is also provided.

Concise text covers appearance, behaviour and voice – focusing on key identification points – and also outlines where you will find the species, describes its seasonal movements and includes the latest UK population data. Finally, confusion species are cross-referenced, with their most important and easily noted differences from the subject species described. A comprehensive introduction provides a guide on how and where to find birds, and how to make the most useful and rewarding observations for newcomers to birdwatching.

Uniquely, this guide also provides images and descriptions for not only a selection of rarer visitors, but also for a range of domestic species and certain commonly observed aberrant forms of more familiar birds, all of which are omitted from most field guides but can cause great confusion for beginners when encountered in the wild.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Birds, Nature

272 pages, Paperback

Published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide. Particulary helpful is the way this guide points out similar birds which may be confused with the bird in question, describing the subtle differences between the species, to aid correct identification.

[Pete daPixie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It may be cheap at just £6.99 and pocket sized too, but this RSPB guide contains enough information to qualify as an ideal starter for any watcher of British birds.
I first bought this book upon joining the RSPB and it has served me very well over the years. Simon Harrap has included many tips and sound advice for the novice, not just on separating similar species but also on optical equipment.
Although I have other bird guides containing greater details and wider ranges of subjects, I still use this handy pocket guide when visiting bird reserves etc.

[Addie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used this reference book as we drove all around England for 2 weeks. It came in so handy as we heard or saw birds, and as we identified them while also using the Merlin Bird app. It was a great way to keep a running tab on which birds we had already identified by putting a small X in the corner of the page. Informative with great illustrations and easy to understand descriptions of the birds, even of various ages or genders of each type.

[Tony Wareing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m sure this is more of a book to refer to when you’re trying to identify a specific bird, but I just read it cover to cover.. because I like birds. I’m sure it’s a great tool for identifying birds in the moment it was also a great read.

[Ms Kaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish the birds were sectioned by colour!

[Autumn Kotsiuba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended by my local birder group. Definitely a huge help in getting started.

[Claire Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

my trusty pocket book that comes with me every time i go birding <3