Munias and Mannikins

Robin Restall (1937–2023) was an author and illustrator. Originally a draughtsman, Robin’s development as an ornithology artist began with his love of cagebirds, which led to his first book, Munias and Mannikins (1996). He became a Research Associate at the Phelp Ornithological Collection in Caracas, Venezuela, where he conceived and painted the art for his masterpiece, the two-volume Birds of Northern South America, which featured his illustrations of 2,300 species. Published in 2006, this book remains a magnificent testament to Robin’s powers of observation and illustration. It went on to provide the basis for several other field guides, notably to Ecuador and Venezuela, both of which remain the standard works.