Review by Stash Buckley and Carol Anne Calvin his new book, published in T1993 by Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey,' is on the whole a very complete, use­ ful guide for identification and background information on all 290 species in the families Fringillidae, Estrildidae, and Passeridae. Its 73 color plates include, in addition to the usual illustration of males of each nominate subspecies, ren­ derings of the previously neglected females, juveniles, and Mrs. Reynolds raises a lot subspecies which should prove of Bourkes, housing two very useful in the field and in avi­ pairs together or with other culture. Range maps and basic Neophemas. species information accompany­ ing the plates are further enhanced by a detailed text which is easily located by page numbers given with each species in the plate section. The scientific name is also given in both plate and text sections which is very helpful in identifying a particular species since common names can so often , These Turquosine babies be misleading. represent the many grass :-:1:'<7".;-4\,..,..• ....._ •.,., .• parakeets which A complete table of contents .,. Mrs. Reynolds raises. facilitates the location of a par­ ticular species, giving the bird's reference number, common name, scientific name, and text page number. The addition of plate numbers would have been desirable to save time and avoid confusion, as one might think the number given was the plate num­ ber when indeed it was the arbitrarily assigned reference number. Preliminary notes and la­ beled diagrams of avian anatomical features as well as the glossary of terms, bibliography, and index (by scientific and com­ mon name) add to the book's usefulness as a reference tool. Being familiar mostly with es­ trildid finches, we must limit our following critique to the section on this group. Our comments re­ flect mostly our experiences as The Reynolds' Peachface Lovebirds are offered one more nest box than there aviculturists rather than field in­ are pairs in a flight. The next boxes sit on a shelf and can easily be vestigators. removed for inspection. Having worked closely and 60 May/June 1995 lived rather intimately with many strongly suspect the skin used for blue-breasted but, is indeed, in of the estrildid finches over the the illustration is the same one life, a blue-bodied bird with green past seven years, we have come used by Derek Goodwin in Es­ wings and a red tail. to know a good deal about their trildid Finches of the World Although it is interesting and morphology and behaviors. In (1982), only from a different important that the authors men­ many instances the authors are angle. The flaw is immediately ap­ tion the naturally occurring "right on" with their plates and parent as it is in Goodwin's yellow-headed mutation of the narratives. There are, however, illustration: the bird is not only Royal Parrotfinch Erythrura some errors with what we have found to be true of not just one or two representatives of a given species, but of groups of a spe­ cies, observed over several generations. One error, which could prove to be very misleading in the field, is the illustration of the Chestnut­ breasted Negro-finch Nigrita bi­ color, which depicts the bird as stocky, with a short, thick bill. In fact, the Chestnut-breasted Negro­ finch is a slim, streamlined bird with a long, narrow pointed bill, rather like the Violet-eared Wax­ bill Uraeginthus granatina in 'body shape and size. Its long, pointed bill is at least twice as long as illustrated, indicative of an insect-eater, not a seed-eater, con­ sistent with Nigrita bicolor's dietary preference-insects and softfood, not seeds. Another glaring flaw concerns the Blue-breasted Parrotfinch Erythrura tricolor. The authors suggest that this bird is rare and unknown. In fact, this bird has been in European aviculture for quite a few years. The' suggestion that male and female differ only slightly is misleading. The male ex­ hibits the deep blue of an Indigo Bunting, while the female is much paler, similar to the male Cordon Bleu. Also, females are smaller than males. As this species appears to be currently trapped from dif­ ferent islands than in the past few years, more recently trapped birds are much smaller in size, suggest­ ing island variation. The call, a descending trill, is superficially similar to that of the Blue-faced Parrotfinch Erythrura trichroa to e e t, an Harr·s a d a Davi which it is closely related. We afa WATCHBIRD 61 cyaneovirens they have over­ book is remarkably perceptive as, "Aviculturally Speaking" looked the naturally occurring for example, in the case of the "And so we made a nation; so red-headed mutation of the Crim­ Crimson Finches Neochmia pha­ we swept away the greatest hard­ son-winged Aurora Pytilia eton. The authors comparison of wood timber reserve in the tem­ phoenicoptera. Indeed, our orig­ the appearance and behavior of perate world, simply to be free of inal stock of red-headed mutations the Crimsons to that of the African it, while our cattle trampled down were wild-caught. grenadiers Uraeginthus is very ac­ the wild bamboo, the cane; we ex­ Another problem we have with curate. terminated the paroquet for its the book is the abridged version We also agree with the authors' plumage, the passenger pigeon of the calls. We have video taped difficulty in properly classifying for its flesh." bird behaviors and calls for many the Blue-bills and Seedcrackers and DonaldCuirassPeattie 1938 years now and have worked with their possible relationship to the the Kulikoro Firefinch Lagonos­ Twinspots. This is evidenced by ticta virata for at least three the fact that the chick Crimson generations and have not heard Seedcracker Pyrenestes sangui­ the whistling call the authors de­ neus and the chick Peters' Deadline Schedule scribe. However, if you go back Twinspot Hypargos niveoguttatus to the original Goodwin text are quite similar, being the same July/Aug '95 where he describes the call as skin shade-a dark grayish-blue­ May 1 - editorial copy whistle-like, similar to that of a and are quite downy. The May 15 - display ADS canary, that makes sense. The calls Red-breasted Blue-bill chicks Sper­ of both male and female, although mophaga haematina, on the Sept/Oct '95 Featuring slightly different from each other, other hand, are light-skinned, not LORIES are a series of bell-like tones. An­ as downy as the aforementioned July 1 - editorial copy other example is the Bamboo chicks and have a broad yellow July 15 - display ADS Parrotfinch Erythrura hyper­ border on upper and lower man­ ythra, where the authors' dible which is absent in the Nov/Dec '95 completely omit the crackling Seedcrackers and Twinspots. Also, Sept. 1 - editorial copy tones. This is the most salient as­ the Blue-bill chicks have a unique Sept. 15 - display ADS pect of the mating call, especially begging response at a few days among birds that are performing of age. They tend to stand up in Jan/Feb '96 the fencing ritual. the nest with their huge mouths Featuring Our major criticism of the book agape, a response we have not ob­ SMALL ASIAN HOOKBILLS is that it is mainly a rehashing of served in any other estrildid finch. Nov. 1 - editorial copy Nov. 15 - display ADS Derek Goodwin's classic work, Es­ This is probably an evolutionary trildid Finches ofthe World, with adaptation in response to the huge Mar/Apr '96 many of the "unknowns" incor­ bill of the parents, making the Jan. 1 - editorial copy rectly filled. With the exception chicks easier to feed. Jan. 15 - display ADS of Robin Restall, the authors seem One of the most interesting and to have almost completely ignored fascinating aspects of the book for May/June '96 the avicultural community as a us is the illustration (showing both Featuring source for current information. male and female) ofthe subspecies ECLECTUS PARROTS For example, although most of the of the Pintailed Parrotfinch­ March 1 - editorial copy current stock of Mindanao Erytrura prasina coelica-from March 15 - display ADS Parrotfinches Erythrura coloria Borneo. This is indeed an attractive are suspect due to their hybrid­ bird and one we would like to ization with the Blue-faced see. Parrotfinch, new birds have been In conclusion, we feel this work WATCHBIRD BINDERS recently imported into Europe, to be a relatively complete and use­ Hansome, sturdy binderholds a full year's issues of and one can immediately see the ful treatment of the family. Its The Watchbird (6 issues).Of rich brown leather-like dimorphism between male and fe­ beautiful color plates and informa­ vinyl embossed in gold. $6.95 each male, even down to the shades tive text go beyond any preViously CONTINENTAL U.S.-Add $2.75 ShippinglHan­ of green. Perhaps most interesting published field gUide. It is a pity dling for one binder. Add 75¢ for each additional binder. is that not only do the males sing that the authors did not consult FOREIGN - Add $8.00 Shipping/Handling forone (a rather guttural trill), but the fe­ with the many aviculturists world­ binder. Add $2.50 for each additional binder. Please remit in U.S. funds. males do also, a much sweeter wide who have gained intimate version of his song. Granted, this Phoneordersacceptedusing IViSA I_ knowledge of their charges, espe­ sort of information is hard to come American Federation ofAviculture cially the rarer finches, through P.O.Box56218 by, .but can be acqUired if one years of close observation and Phoenix,Arizona85079-6218 keeps close tabs with the avicultu­ study and could have added so (602) 484-0931 • fax(602) 484-0109 ral community.