Basics: 1983, hardcover, 145 pages, 32 color plates of 53 species, range maps for most species

Covering all 53 breeding, migrant, and vagrant Old World Warblers (and kinglets) found in Europe (as of 1983), this book covers the descriptions and similarities of this difficult group of look-alike birds. Each bird is assigned its own 2-page chapter and is illustrated with several different plumages and views.

The 32 color plates contain 1-4 species in each and show 5-11 illustrations per plate. The plates depict age and seasonal differences and, for a few species, geographic variations. Most of the birds are shown with both a perching and flying position. The artistry is good but lacks sufficient detail and realism needed for solid identification for some of the birds. The paintings are a bit too generalized and rough. The greens and yellows sometimes look too bright or exaggerated. The artistry gives the appearance of having been completed a little too hastily or, with just the intent to capture the generalized image of the bird at the sacrifice of detail. Ultimately, this means the plates will help you learn the birds or to narrow your choices down to the right warbler(s), but they might not provide you a definitive identification. The plates in two of the European field guides by Mullarney and by Johnsson are superior to these. This is also true for a few other warbler-related books noted below.

The text in each chapter consists of five sections. These are distribution/habitat, description, in the field (i.e., tips on identification), song, and similar species. This information is pretty good; however, its length makes this book function more as an at-home reference after a mystery warbler has been studied. The section on similar species is helpful and offers some good notes. The paragraph on the song is done very well and offers more information than most other books.

Two tables help to supplement the identification of the birds. One table compares 7 characteristics of 5 female/immature Sylvia warblers. Another table compares 7 characteristics between the Dusky and Radde’s Warblers.

Except for a few of the rarer species, each bird is given a range map showing Europe and all the countries around the Mediterranean. These maps are of good size (2.5-inch square), show all country outlines, and provide the various seasonal ranges such as breeding, migration, resident, and wintering.

This is a useful reference to have on this difficult group of birds. Unless you intend to sit in the field looking at only warblers, the book cannot really be considered as a field guide. It’s a reference.

Purely for warbler identification, there are three other books with better illustrations or text. These are the Guide to the Warblers of the Western Palaearctic by Parmenter, Sylvia Warblers by Shirihai, and Warblers of Europe, Asia, and North Africa by Baker.

I’ve listed several related books below…
1) Guide to the Warblers of the Western Palaearctic by Parmenter/Byers
2) Sylvia Warblers by Shirihai et al.
3) Warblers of Europe, Asia, and North Africa by Baker
4) The Chiffchaff by Clement
5) Birds of Europe with North Africa and the Middle East by Johnsson
6) Birds of Europe by Mullarney et al. ( )