Birding

Clements, James and Noam Shany. A Field Guide to the Birds of Peru. Temecula, California: Ibis Publishing Company, 2001. Though much criticized by bird-watchers for its faulty pictures of certain birds, this US$60 tome catalogs nearly 1,800 birds known to reside in, or migrate to, Peru. This is the best alternative for birders unable to afford Birds of Peru.

Krabbe, Nils, and John Fjeldsa. Birds of the High Andes. Copenhagen: Denmark Zoological Museum of the University of Copenhagen, 1990. Real birders consider this such a must-have masterpiece that they are willing to shell out US$150 it. It includes all the birds you are likely to encounter in the temperate and alpine zones of Peru.

Schulenberg, Thomas, and Douglas Stotz, Daniel Lane, and John O’Neill. Birds of Peru ( Princeton Field Guides). Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books, 2007. This long-awaited bible of Peru birding is coveted by every professional bird guide in Peru. It represents a huge step forward and was a colossal undertaking, as reflected by its beautiful color renderings of birds and its US$300-plus price tag.

Valqui, Thomas. Where to Watch Birds in Peru, 1st ed. Peru, 2004. This comprehensive self-published guide to birding in Peru explains not only what birds you’ll see where, but how to get there and where you might stay along the way. This is an excellent resource, and there’s nothing else like it on the market. More information about this book may be found at www.granperu.com/birdwatchingbook [1].

Walker, Barry, and Jon Fjeldsa, illustrations. Field Guide to the Birds of Machu Picchu. Lima: Peruvian National Trust for Parks and Protected Areas. This portable guide, written by Cusco’s foremost bird expert and owner of Manu Expeditions, is widely available in Cusco. At US$30 it is an excellent value, with 31 superb color plates and descriptions of 420 species.