HBW and Birdlife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World: Two Volume Set

The first ever Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World is really two works in one. It is a complete checklist whose taxonomy incorporates the most up-to-date information and an exhaustive methodology (Tobias et al. 2010) in an entirely systematic and consistent way. At the same time, it contains illustrations and distribution maps for every bird species in the world. This includes the original artwork from the HBW series, as well as hundreds of new illustrations, all in two compact volumes.

An extensive introduction, with many illustrated examples, explains the rationale and advantages of the taxonomic system adopted in the Checklist, as well as how to use the book. A modern, broad version of the Biological Species Concept (BSC) has been applied, with the aid of the scoring system to evaluate differences in morphology, vocalizations, ecology and geographical relationships published in Ibis by Tobias et al. (2010). For the non-passerines, this has resulted in relatively few lumps (21) but a much higher number of splits, 462 in total, compared with the taxonomy presented in the HBW series. The number of taxonomic changes for the passerines has been significantly high. Volume 2 has 41 lumps and 628 splits, compared with the taxonomy presented in the HBW series.

Volume 1 has two appendices cover all the species considered to have become extinct since 1500. The first appendix gives a full treatment, including text, illustration and former range map, for the extinct species known from complete specimens. The second appendix provides information for the extinct species not known from complete specimens.

Large-format maps offer the reader assistance in interpreting the distribution sections. They provide both administrative and physical details, for greater clarity of use.

In total, Volume 1 deals with 35 orders, 105 families, 988 genera, 4372 extant species, 99 extinct species, and has 2126 bibliographical references. Volume 2 deals with 1 order, 138 families, 1,358 genera, 6,592 extanct species, 57 extinct species, and has 2809 bibliographical references.