Helm Identification Guides


The Helm Identification Guides are a series of books that identify groups of birds. The series include two types of guides, those that are:
  • Taxonomic, dealing with a particular family of birds on a worldwide scale—most early Helm Guides were this type, as well as many more-recent ones, although some later books deal with identification of such groups on a regional scale only
  • Geographic, including all bird species in an area
Early volumes were sometimes published under the Croom Helm or Christopher Helm imprints. In addition, a parallel set of guides, very similar in design, was published by Pica Press in the 1990s ; Pica was later absorbed into A & C Black, and these guides are now marketed as a single series. A completely revised version of the initial Seabirds has been published by Lynx Edicions.
Several of the books have won the British Birds Bird Book of the Year award.
A list of titles in the series, in chronological order of publication, is as follows:

Works with a taxonomic scope

Note: 'nW' indicates those that do not have worldwide coverage.

1980s

  • Seabirds - an identification guide by Peter Harrison 'obs.'
  • Shorebirds - an identification guide to the waders of the world by John Marchant, A. J. Prater and Peter Hayman
  • The Tanagers : Natural History, Distribution, and Identification by Morton L. Isler and Phyllis R. Isler 'Smithsonian'
  • Wildfowl - an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the world by Steve Madge and Hilary Burn
  • A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World by Angela Turner, illustrated by Chris Rose

    1990–1994

  • Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers - A Handbook by C. Hilary Fry and Kathie Fry, illustrated by Alan Harris
  • Finches and Sparrows by Peter Clement, illustrated by Alan Harris and John Davis
  • Crows and Jays - A Guide to the Crows, Jays and Magpies of the World by Steve Madge, illustrated by Hilary Burn
  • New World Warblers by Jon Curson, illustrated by David Quinn and David Beadle

    1995–1999

  • Woodpeckers by Hans Winkler, translated by David Christie, illustrated by David Nurney 'Pica'
  • Buntings and Sparrows - A Guide to the Buntings and North American Sparrows by Urban Olsson and Jon Curson, illustrated by Clive Byers 'Pica'
  • Terns of Europe and North America by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans Larsson 'A & C Black' nW'
  • Swifts - A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World by Phil Chantler, illustrated by Gerald Driessens 'Pica'
  • Tits, Nuthatches & Treecreepers by Simon Harrap, illustrated by David Quinn
  • Munias and Mannikins by Robin L. Restall
  • Pittas, Broadbills and Asities by Frank Lambert, illustrated by Martin Woodcock 'Pica'
  • Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa by Kevin Baker 'nW'
  • Skuas and Jaegers - a guide to the skuas and jaegers of the world by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans Larsson 'Pica'
  • Shrikes - A Guide to the Shrikes of the World, by Norbert Lefranc, illustrated by Tim Worfolk 'Pica' 'obs.'
  • Nightjars - A Guide to Nightjars and related Nightbirds by Nigel Cleere, illustrated by Dave Nurney 'Pica'
  • Parrots - A Guide to the Parrots of the World by Tony Juniper and Mike Parr, illustrated by Kim Franklin, Robin Restall, Dan Powell, David Johnston and Carl D'Silva 'Pica'
  • Rails - a guide to the rails, crakes, gallinules and coots of the world by Barry Taylor, illustrated by Ber van Perlo 'Pica'
  • Starlings and Mynas by Chris Feare and Adrian Craig, illustrated by Barry Croucher, Chris Shields and Kamol Komolphalin
  • Owls - a Guide to the Owls of the World by Claus König & Friedhelm Weick and Jan-Hendrik Becking 'Pica' 'obs.
  • New World Blackbirds - the Icterids by Alvaro Jaramillo and Peter Burke
  • Tanagers by Morton L. Isler and Phyllis R. Isler ''softcover''

    2000–2009

  • Thrushes by Peter Clement, illustrated by Ren Hathway
  • Shrikes and Bush-shrikes by Tony Harris, illustrated by Kim Franklin
  • Raptors of the World by James Ferguson-Lees and David Christie, illustrated by Kim Franklin, David Mead and Philip Burton
  • Pigeons and Doves by David Gibbs, illustrated by Eustace Barnes and John Cox
  • Sylvia Warblers - identification, taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Sylvia, by Hadoram Shirihai, Gabriel Gargallo and Andreas J. Helbig, illustrated by Alan Harris, photographic editor David Cottridge
  • Sunbirds - A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World by Robert A. Cheke and Clive F. Mann, illustrated by Richard Allen
  • Wrens, Dippers and Thrashers by David Brewer, illustrated by Barry Kent MacKay
  • Stonechats - A Guide to the Genus Saxicola by Ewan Urquhart, illustrated by Adam Bowley
  • Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse - a guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the World by Steve Madge and Phil MacGowan
  • Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America, by Per Alstrom & Krister Mild, illustrated by Bill Zetterstrom 'nW'
  • Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans Larsson 'nW'
  • Owls of the World by Claus König & Friedhelm Weick

    2010–2019

  • Reed and Bush Warblers by Peter Kennerley and David Pearson, illustrated by Brian Small
  • Cotingas and Manakins by Graeme Green and Guy Kirwan
  • Cuckoos of the World by Johannes Erritzøe, Clive F. Mann, Frederik P. Brammer and Richard A. Fuller, illustrated by Richard Allen, Jan Wilczur, Martin Woodcock and Tim Worfolk
  • Robins and Chats by Peter Clement, and Chris Rose
  • Wildfowl of Europe, Asia and North America by Sébastien Reeber 'nW'
  • Flight Identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East by Dick Forsman 'nW'
  • Antpittas and Gnateaters by Harold F. Greeney and David Beadle
  • African Raptors by William S. Clark and Rob Davies nW''''

    2020–current

  • Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds by Phil Gregory and Richard Allen
  • Seabirds: The New Identification Guide by Peter Harrison, Martin Perrow, and Hans Larsson 'Lynx'
  • Shrikes of the World by Norbert Lefranc