BOOK REVIEWS—RESEÑAS DE LIVROS—RESENHAS DE LIVROS

Birds of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire. — Proximity to the mainland accounts for the Bart de Boer, Eric Newton, and Robin Restall. predominance of South American birds in 2011. Princeton University Press, Princeton, the resident terrestrial avifauna though some New Jersey, USA. Hardcover, 176 pp. ISBN insular Caribbean species are present, with 978-0-691-15336-0. Costs $27.95. their representation increasing from Aruba to The neighboring islands of Aruba, Bonaire. Because of the predominance of Curaçao, and Bonaire are part of the Nether- South American species, the three islands are lands Antilles situated in the southern Carib- excluded from the West Indian faunal region bean, just north of Venezuela. The islands and as a result many of the species typical arose from uplifting of submerged volcanic of these islands are excluded from major formations that resulted from the collision of field guides to West Indian birds. Therefore, the Caribbean and South American tectonic there has been a need for a field guide for plates during the Pleistocene. These islands these islands, which was filled for many were never connected via land bridges to the years by Voous (1983). At the time of Voous’s continent, although they are sufficiently near classic work, the three islands hosted 236 spe- the continent (Aruba, 30 km; Curaçao, 66 km; cies of which 63 species bred, 111 were Bonaire, 88 km), that for zoogeographic pur- Nearctic-Neotropical migrants, 43 species poses they are considered as continental visited from South America, and 36 species islands, by some. The islands are relatively were seabirds. More recently, as summarized small (Aruba, 190 km2; Bonaire, 288 km2; in the checklist in the “Birds of Aruba, Cura- Curaçao, 444 km2) and of low stature (i.e., çao, and Bonaire,” the total for the three maximum elevation above sea level for Aruba, islands has increased to 286 species, due pri- 188 m; Bonaire, 240 m; Curaçao, 377 m), and marily to an increased tally of vagrant species, partly as a consequence, they have a semi-arid undoubtedly due to more birding activity, and climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, the an increase in naturalized exotic bird species severity and timing of which vary among (psittacines and finches). years. The predominate native vegetation is “Birds of Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire” comprised of a mix of cactus and thorn-scrub, begins with a very brief introduction to the which varies in stature with exposure to the geology, geography, climate, history, and cur- northeast trade winds, and which in many rent political status of the islands. A section areas has been severely degraded as a result of on the flora and fauna provides descriptions various agricultural and industrial practices. of some of the more conspicuous plants and Lagoons, some fringed with mangroves, are animals of these islands. Avifauna is briefly scattered around the islands; salinity of described with much of the discussion based lagoons is variable, as is the seasonal presence on observations of Hartert (1893), but with of water. The recent establishment of a fresh- no mention of more recent analyses by Voous water sewage lagoon has further increased and others. A section on how to use the book habitat diversity on Aruba. includes definitions of terms used in the guide Given their proximity to mainland South as well as three detailed figures depicting vari- America and limited topographic relief, it ous aspects of bird topography. A useful sec- should not be surprising that no bird species tion on birding sites is provided for each are unique to these islands, although island and includes descriptions of the sites approximately 22 subspecies or races, many and some of their notable bird species. characterized by pale coloration, are largely Important bird areas and Ramsar sites are confined to one or more of the islands. noted in the text as well as in individual maps

607 BOOK REVIEWS—RESEÑAS DE LIVROS—RESENHAS DE LIVROS for each island, which show the locations of but for which evidence of successful breeding the birding sites. The conservation section in the wild has not been established. notes that only two resident species in the Each of the 286 species known from the islands are listed in the IUCN Red List islands are described and illustrated in 71 although the local subspecies of two owl spe- color plates and almost 1,000 illustrations. cies are of conservation concern. In the sec- Robin Restall did all of the illustrations, many tion on local names, the authors describe the of which were taken from Restall et al. (2007) difficulties and challenges of providing local or Kenefick et al. (2001). For sexually dichro- names for birds in Papiamento, the creol lan- matic species, both sexes are shown, and the guage used on the three islands. The authors various plumages that differ by age and/or should be congratulated for providing some season are also illustrated for those species of the local bird names, despite the fact that showing such variation. The degree of plum- the Papiamento language has two official age variation illustrated is sometimes exten- spellings and the language itself represents a sive as evident in the plate of the frigatebirds hybrid derived from pidgin Portugues influ- (plate 9) and plates of migrant warblers. For enced by a mix of Arwak, Spanish, Dutch, most migrants, only those plumages that French, English, and several African lan- occur when a migrant is present in the islands guages. The reference to local names is useful are depicted, and therefore alternate plum- for visiting birders when they converse with ages for some are not shown, e.g., male local residents, but more importantly, use of Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) and Blue local names is invaluable for conservation Grosbeak (P. caerulea). Many species are efforts, which require “ownership” of the avi- shown in both non-flight postures and in fauna by the island residents. Overall, how- flight (e.g., raptors, some shorebirds, gulls and ever, the introductory sections will be terns, waterfowl, nightjars, and swallows) disappointing to visitors wanting more back- whereas pelagic species are shown only in ground on the avifauna and its ecology and flight and most other groups are shown only evolution in these islands. in standing or perched positions. A nice addi- The species accounts are arranged in the tion is the inclusion of illustrations of the dif- standard format of a modern identification ferent subspecies for those species in which guide with a page providing the description differences are distinguishable by plumage in and the adjoining page illustrating the the field. Overall, the quality and accuracy of described species. Each species account pro- most plates are good and based on my own vides English, Dutch, and scientific name as field experience identifying birds on these well as local name from each of the islands, islands observers should have little trouble where known. Brief descriptions of key using the illustrations to identify most birds field marks are provided for each species with found in these islands. However, for migrants, distinguishing traits noted in bold lettering. including some shorebirds and thrushes, Habitat and status for each species is also which are not well illustrated in the plates, provided in the accounts. Range maps are observers would be wise to refer to a North not provided for the islands, but given American field guide to ensure accurate iden- their relatively small size this is not likely to tification. be a problem for most species. Naturalized The illustrations in “Birds of Aruba, Cu- exotic species are described in the text and raçao, and Bonaire” represent a vast improve- illustrated; a list (without illustrations) is ment over those depicted in Voous (1983). In provided for exotics that occasionally escape, this earlier book, some of the illustrations

608 BOOK REVIEWS—RESEÑAS DE LIVROS—RESENHAS DE LIVROS were of poor quality and many species were — Joseph M. Wunderle, Jr., International not illustrated. Nonetheless, bird watchers Institute of Tropical Forestry, USDA Forest may wish to consult Voous (1983) for more Service, Sabana Field Research Station, HC 02 detailed descriptions of plumages and natural Box 6205, Luquillo, Puerto Rico 00773, USA. history, much of the latter of which was E-mail: [email protected] distilled from the Dutch literature and previ- ously unavailable in English. Although, Voous REFERENCES (1983) is dated (but not out of print) it still provides good introductory information Hartert, E. 1893. On the birds of the islands of on the islands and their avifauna, and for Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire. Ibis 5: 289–338. Kenefick, M., R. L. Restall, & F. Hayes. 2001. Birds many breeding species, some of the most nd detailed summaries of diet, breeding behavior, of Trinidad and Tobago, 2 ed. Chistopher Helm Press, London, UK. and habits published for birds on any Restall, R., C. Rodner, & M. Lentino. 2007. Birds of Caribbean island. In contrast, the “Birds of Northern South America, Yale Univ. Press, Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire” provides an New Haven, Connecticut, USA. up-to-date compact complete identification Voous, K. H. 1983. Birds of the Netherlands guide that all bird watchers will want to have Antilles, 2nd ed. Walburg Press, Zutphen, The with them when in the field on these islands. Netherlands.

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