Gulls occupy a particularly important place in the world of birds. But because they are notoriously difficult to identify, they have been relatively neglected in the ornithological literature. Gulls of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East offers the most up-to-date guide for gull identification in Europe and beyond. With a direct and visual approach, and an abundance of beautiful color photographs, this book provides thorough accounts of all species and subspecies of gulls found in the Western Palearctic. The guide compares similar taxa and addresses the complexities of identifying hybrids. Gulls of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East will be the standard work for identifying these birds for some time to come.
- Richly illustrated with nearly 1,400 color photographs
- Thorough accounts of all species and subspecies of gulls found in the Western Palearctic
- Up-to-date information for easy and accurate identification of 45 species
Awards and Recognition
- A Birdwatcher's Yearbook Best Bird Book of the Year
- Third Place for the 2022 BB/BTO Best Bird Book of the Year, British Birds and the British Trust for Ornithology
"[An] excellent Princeton University Press guide."—Stuart Winter, Sunday Express
"[The book] lays bare the intricacies of the moult and aging of gulls, but in such a simple and comprehendible way that it is impossible not to glean valuable information even on the first read through."—Brian Robertson, Scottish Birds
"No matter what your experience of gulls might be, there is certainly plenty to learn in the book . . . . An excellent book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in identifying gulls, whatever their ability."—Brian Small, British Birds
"The authors are among the foremost experts on this taxing group, and have pioneered research into identifying distinctions among many of the most cryptic species. This book is a distillation of that knowledge and experience . . . . Highly recommended."—Dominic Mitchell, Birdlife Magazine
"A landmark for future photo ID guides."—David W.McAllister, Highland Naturalist
"This is one of the best books I have seen so far on gulls, and it is packed with identification tips and features, and excellent, clear and concise pictures. . . . It is a great reference book to check any field notes made later and is set out in an easy-to-follow format which is a welcome change. I thoroughly recommend this book to the beginner and expert alike.
"—Neville Davies, Gwent Wildlife Trust
"An analytical as well as a holistic approach to identification pointing out the detail as well as the broader picture."—Steven Rutherford, British Naturalists Association
"[A] must have book. . . . ‘Gulls’ deserves to find a place on any serious birders book shelf.
"—Phil Slade, Another Bird Blog
"[An] excellent and easy to paw over book.
"—Bo Beolens, Fat Birder
"The most up-to-date and comprehensive gull guide available. . . . After a few spotting sessions armed with this book you may be tempted to become a larophile."—Eric Brown, News Shopper
"An excellent reference source."—Gordon Hamlett, Birdwatcher's Yearbook
"With 45 illustrated species and subspecies and nearly 1400 images, this superb book looks like one of the most complete guides on this topic and cannot be missed by Gull experts. . . . A little gem!"—Gaia Bazzi, Avocetta: Journal of Ornithology
"This well-written and researched book is easy to read for both expert and beginner alike, with chapters that flow well and finish with a concise conclusion at the end. . . . An excellent resource detailing the ecology of this amazing bird."—Dave Grant, IBIS Book Reviews
