Basics: 2003, 1st edition, softcover, 656 pages, 2,000+ color photos, 430+ species, range maps

This is an excellent photo guide covering the southern half of Chile and Argentina, along with the Falkland Islands and the sub-Antarctic seas. Over 300 species are shown with multiple color photos of great quality. Another 130+ species have brief accounts in the appendix. Most birds have two pages of photos. Typically, there is one large (half-page) photo with another 5-7 photos showing the various plumages for gender, age, and subspecies.

The text, in both English and Spanish, covers identification, habitat, range, and habits. The authors make a point to cover significant subspecies with many of the birds. While the identification section does give a good description, there is nearly zero mention of how the birds differ from their similar species. Even some brief notes on this would be helpful for groups like the canasteros, miners, and cinclodes.

The range maps are done very well and show the outlines of the provinces in each of the countries.

A slight quirk to this book is it being split into two halves. The first half covers land birds on green-margined pages. The second half covers water birds on blue-margined paper. Within each half, the standard taxonomic sequence is followed. I gave up looking for the kingfishers and had to resort to the index. The kingfisher is listed as a "water bird" and is on the last page next to the Black Skimmer. Now you know.

If you visit the Patagonia region, I highly recommend this somewhat thick and heavy guide. Just as importantly, I highly recommend it be accompanied by Jaramillo’s Birds of Chile. This latter book gives superior descriptions and a more detailed set of illustrations.

Other Related Books:
1) Birds and Mammals of the Antarctic, Subantarctic and Falkland Islands by Todd
2) Birds of Argentina and Uruguay by Narosky
3) Birds of Chile; including the Antarctic Peninsula, the Falkland Islands and South Georgia by Jaramillo
4) Birds of the Beagle Channel and Cape Horn by Couve
5) Birds of Torres del Paine National Park by Couve
6) Birds of Southern South America and Antarctica by de la Pena
7) Guia de aves de Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego by Narosky
8) Aves de Tierra del Fuego y Cabo de Hornos by Clark ( )

Comprehensive field guide to all the resident, migrant and vagrant birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Antarctic Peninsula, including the Falklands and South Georgia Islands. This is a unique region on the planet including the frozen austral fjords of Chile and the steep Argentina Atlantic coast that is virtually teemed with wildlife. Between are the Valdivian temperate forests that are the realm of the Chucao Tapaculo and the windy arid Patagonian Steppes where Rheas and Tinamous travel in groups. The guide describes over 400 species with over 2000 colour photographs. Descriptive accounts are provided for each species covering identification, status, range and habits. Distribution maps are also included. It is hoped that this book will inspire the reader to observe, learn and therefore protect the rich but also fragile birdlife of this remote outer corner of the world.