Sylvia Warblers: Identification, taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Sylvia

Description

Based on phylogenetic research, this complete study of the genus Sylvia describes two new species and establishes identification criteria for all members of the family. A lengthy introduction explains the background to the research and outlines the main features of the genus. The 25 species are then treated in detail, including the African parisomas, which are here included in the Sylva group. The species accounts include sections on every aspect of identification, with colour illustrations showing age, sex and racial differences, distribution maps, sonograms, moult and wing diagrams and tables.

Alan Harris is one of the world's top bird artists. David Cottridge is an expert on bird photography. His photographs have appeared in many books and renowned magazines such as British Birds, Birding World and Bird Watching. He lives in Tottenham, north London. Hadoram Shirihai is Israel's foremost ornithologist, co-author of Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds, and the author of books including the acclaimed Sylvia Warblers and A Complete Guide to Antarctic Wildlife. While his work, especially on tubenoses, has taken him to virtually every corner of the globe, his love of deserts and bird migration means that he is still to be found at Eilat, the watchpoint at the head of the Red Sea that he brought to the world's attention, virtually every spring. The scientific name of the Desert Tawny Owl (Strix hadorami), a species that attracted his attention and research from when he was a schoolboy, honours his devotion to Middle Eastern ornithology.