Any suggestions for a coffee table bird ID book?

[Danceswithhelicopters]

As per the title. Any recommendations for a nice hardback coffee table style book for the identification of UK birds?

Sonething with large plates showing all the seasonal and gender variations.

 

[Pattree]

When you say “coffee table” are you talking out rapid identification, biological and lifecycle information or artistic/large format illustrations? …… or combination of the above?

I find with any bird book you need to get your head round the illustrator’s interpretation. We have an old Reader’s Digest bird book in which the birds are drawn with ruffled feathers. Some on line illustrations are particularly sleek. Colouring varies between muted and vibrant.
I have one in mind- if I can find it. It is specifically for identification rather than browsing. It has the silhouette of a sparrow on each page as a size comparator. I’ll add it later if I find it

 

[Lean'n'mean]

Not sure it's still published but 'The Birdlife of Britain' by Peter Hayman & Philip Burton has been my go to bird ID book since the late 70s. If not available new, one might be able to pick up a used copy on the usual market sites. It really is the best.

 

[Danceswithhelicopters]

When you say “coffee table” are you talking out rapid identification, biological and lifecycle information or artistic/large format illustrations? …… or combination of the above?

I find with any bird book you need to get your head round the illustrator’s interpretation. We have an old Reader’s Digest bird book in which the birds are drawn with ruffled feathers. Some on line illustrations are particularly sleek. Colouring varies between muted and vibrant.
I have one in mind- if I can find it. It is specifically for identification rather than browsing. It has the silhouette of a sparrow on each page as a size comparator. I’ll add it later if I find it

Bird ID as it's primary read.

 

[Broch]

Bird species and ranges are changing with every year so, if you really want to have the best chance of identifying what's around you you'll need the most up to date texts possible. It's actually quite interesting comparing old (60's & 70's) books with current ones and seeing the changes.

I have many old ones but the best ID books (without going for an encyclopaedic level) I think are: 'Britain's Birds' - Wild Guides, and Birds of Britain and Europe DK?RSPB

https://amzn.eu/d/9HHhzqJ

https://amzn.eu/d/8qIfPa7

Edit: the Wild Guides book is best for plumage in the seasons, the DK book for details about food and nesting.

 

[Tengu]

Fullers Great Auk is a coffee table book.

 

[slowworm]

In this house it would normally be a robin or a wren sitting on our coffee table, or a chicken or two when we kept them.

 

[Broch]

Fullers Great Auk is a coffee table book.

As is Eric Hoskin's 'Owls', or 'Birds of Prey', Edward Lear's 'Birds', the Hamlyn 'Birds of the World', and Arlott's 'Bird Paintings' - but you wouldn't use any of them for ID