ORNITHOLOGICAL LITERATURE 
425 
more attention compared to the first edition, such 
as ‘Black' kites (Milvus spp.), Daurian and 
Turkestan shrikes (Lanins spp.), Long-tailed Tils 
(Aegilhales caudatus), and more. However, some 
important and distinctive subspecies have been 
left out, i.e., ‘pekinensis' Common Swift (Apus 
apus), which is widespread in the Middle East on 
migration, and Oriental Turtle Dove (Streptopelia 
n. orientalis ) that occurs in the Middle East as a 
rare visitor. 
The trade-off of having a slim and compact 
book is having less space for demonstrating 
different plumages and variation within species. 
This is especially evident, which is odd in some 
cases as many plates have been reorganized which 
left substantial blank space. For example, on plate 
62. Teinminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii). a 
common and widespread species in the Middle 
East, has only one illustration. An additional 
illustration could have made an important differ¬ 
ence with so much empty space on that plate. 
There is almost no representation of the birds’ 
habitats in the background of the illustrations. 
That could have added to the understanding of the 
ecological requirements of many species. One 
rather odd split is the Common (Eastern) Night¬ 
ingale (Luscinia megarhynchos gol-ji). This form 
is not normally recognized as a potential split; 
hafizi is usually used for this eastern taxon rather 
than golzii, and the illustration is far loo dark and 
rufous. Some plates needed redrawing hut were 
not. Plates 46 (bustards and cranes) and 73-77 
(terns) especially look old-fashioned, have little 
detail, and misrepresent the birds* jizz with short 
legs and large heads and bills. 
Many details in the text are given about 
vagrancy into the region. This is valuable 
intormation. but there seem to be many errors in 
the data presented. Sixteen species recorded in 
Israel by 2008 are not mentioned as vagrants into 
Israel, while out-of-date data resources were 
apparently used which led to incorrect informa¬ 
tion. For instance, the Plain Leaf Warbler 
IPhyllo.scopus neglecius) is mentioned as a 
vagrant in Israel. This erroneous record originates 
from older checklists that have been replaced by 
newer checklists and resources about the birds of 
Israel (these newer resources even appear in the 
references chapter). The Black Wheatear (Oe- 
nanthe leucura ) has been observed in Israel; it 
does not appear in the main text, but appears in 
the checklist at the end of the book. Crested 
Honey Buzzard (Pernis ptilorhynchus) is a scarce 
migrant and rare winter visitor to Israel, and is a 
popular target species for visiting birders to Israel. 
It appears only as a vagrant in this edition. I hope 
similar errors do not exist for other countries in 
the region. 
This book is invaluable for birders visiting 
remoter parts of the Middle East, such as Iran, 
southern Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. The special¬ 
ties of those parts of the Middle East do not 
appear in most field guides. Thus, this edition is 
an essential identification reference for Middle 
Eastern endemics and specialties, and for many 
eastern subspecies of common Western Palaearc- 
tic species that migrate through or overwinter in 
(he Middle East. It is also an important reference 
for all birders with a general interest in the 
avifauna of the region. 
This edition is somewhat limited for serving 
birders visiting more popular regions such as 
Israel and Turkey. The lack of detail on variation 
in these countries and different plumages among 
species, combined with the relatively lower 
quality level of some of the plates, becomes a 
disadvantage compared to other field guides.— 
YOAV PERLMAN. Israel Ornithological Cen¬ 
ter. Society for the Protection of Israel, 2 Hane- 
gev Street, Tel Aviv 66186, Israel; e-mail: 
yoav.perlman@gmail.com 
CHECKLIST OF THE BIRDS OF NEW 
ZEALAND, NORFOLK AND MACQUARIE 
ISLANDS. AND THE ROSS DEPENDENCY, 
ANTARCTICA. Fourth Edition. By Checklist 
Committee (OSNZ). Ornithological Society of 
New Zealand and Te Papa Press, Wellington, 
New Zealand. 2010: 500 pages. ISBN: 978-1- 
877385-59-9. NZ $ 100.00 (soft cover).—The 
islands of the New Zealand archipelago and the 
region around the New Zealand base on Ross 
Island, Antarctica, are true ornithological hot¬ 
spots. Both enthusiasts and scientists flock to visit 
New Zealand to spot endemic avian lineages, 
make natural history discoveries, and test critical 
behavioral and ecological theories; they also 
experience and learn from pioneering conserva¬ 
tion management to protect a unique avifauna in 
the face of imminent extinction caused by 
introduced mammals. For example. New Zeal¬ 
and’s birds provide distinct opportunities to study 
the evolution of flightlessness, cooperative breed¬ 
ing, reversed sexual dimorphism, seabird diversi¬ 
ty, host-parasite coevolution, the impact of 
