Klaus Malling Olsen – författare

This eagerly awaited guide offers the most comprehensive treatment ever published on the gulls of Europe, Asia and North America.A total of 43 species is treated, and every species is described in considerable detail, with a full description of each plumage and racial variation.Gulls are intelligent, versatile, opportunistic, and ecological generalists. As such, they exploit a variety of habitats, both coastal and inland, take a wide range of food, and are often extremely abundant. They are also great wanderers, with several American species regularly appearing in Western Europe and vice versa. As well as identification criteria, this book includes an up-to-date assessment of the range and status of every species, together with information on patterns of vagrancy.This important guide is published at a critical time in the development of dull taxonomy. The large, white-headed forms occurring in the region comprise a superspecies complex, with the precise relationships between the various components still under considerable debate. A thorough illustrative and textual treatment of the group is much needed, and this book provided the most complete overview of the complex.The text is complemented noy only by superb colour paintings by Hans Larrson, but also by a large selection of colour photographs, sourced from some of the finest bird photographers in the world. This is the essential reference to a fascinating and endlessly challenging group of birds.

Covering 22 species found in the Western Palearctic and North America, this guide lists each species under the sections of: field identification; moult; description; geographical variation; measurements; and weight. It includes a quick reference section summarising key identification features. Terns are elegant sea and marshland birds that live throughout the world. In Europe and North America a total of twenty-three species is represented, all of which are dealt with in this book. The variations among the species and their subspecies is great, and identification is therefore often highly problematic. Terns are long-distance migrants and can be seen regularly on passage between their normal breeding and wintering areas. Klaus Malling Olsen devotes much attention to the immature and winter plumages of these birds, which are generally inadequately described in most other field guides, while he also deals in depth with the problems of moult, species, and subspecies. The text covers the bird in the field, moult, and the bird in the hand. The author concludes each species account with extensive data on measurements and weight and an itemized key to identification. The text is accompanied by over forty colour plates, which have been specially prepared for this guide by the talented Swedish bird artist Hans Larsson. The book is completed with a forty-eight-page representative photographic section.

This is the first complete identification guide to the skuas of the world. Skuas (and jaegers) are a fascinating and ­popular group of seabirds that make up a subfamily of just seven species. They can be ­divided into two main groups: the larger species of Catharacta skuas which are mainly found in the southern hemisphere (with Great Skua breeding­ in the north), and the three Stercorarius species (also known as jaegers) which breed in the ­northern hemisphere. Both northern and southern skuas breed at high latitudes and several ­species are long-distance migrants, ­performing spectacular migrations through most of the world''s oceans, ­sometimes even flying overland. The individual plumage variation in some species is enormous, creating one of the most puzzling yet fascinating challenges in modern field identification. This guide is designed to enable species ­identification and correct ­ageing, and the information presented is based on years of study in the field, detailed examination of photographs and ­museum skins, and ­extensive research of the ­relevant literature. The comprehensive text is accompanied by twelve exquisite colour plates by Hans Larsson, illustrating a wide range of plumages. In ­addition, there are eight pages of colour ­photographs and numerous black and white photographs and drawings that show key ­identification ­features. With this book, the seabird enthusiast should at last be able to ­identify almost every skua encountered, whether on a seawatch or at sea.

This is the first complete identification guide to the skuas of the world.Skuas (and jaegers) are a fascinating and ­popular group of seabirds that make up a subfamily of just seven species. They can be ­divided into two main groups: the larger species of Catharacta skuas which are mainly found in the southern hemisphere (with Great Skua breeding­ in the north), and the three Stercorarius species (also known as jaegers) which breed in the ­northern hemisphere.Both northern and southern skuas breed at high latitudes and several ­species are long-distance migrants, ­performing spectacular migrations through most of the world''s oceans, ­sometimes even flying overland. The individual plumage variation in some species is enormous, creating one of the most puzzling yet fascinating challenges in modern field identification. This guide is designed to enable species ­identification and correct ­ageing, and the information presented is based on years of study in the field, detailed examination of photographs and ­museum skins, and ­extensive research of the ­relevant literature. The comprehensive text is accompanied by twelve exquisite colour plates by Hans Larsson, illustrating a wide range of plumages. In ­addition, there are eight pages of colour ­photographs and numerous black and white photographs and drawings that show key ­identification ­features. With this book, the seabird enthusiast should at last be able to ­identify almost every skua encountered, whether on a seawatch or at sea.

Covering 22 species found in the Western Palearctic and North America, this guide lists each species under the sections of: field identification; moult; description; geographical variation; measurements; and weight. It includes a quick reference section summarising key identification features. Terns are elegant sea and marshland birds that live throughout the world. In Europe and North America a total of twenty-three species is represented, all of which are dealt with in this book. The variations among the species and their subspecies is great, and identification is therefore often highly problematic. Terns are long-distance migrants and can be seen regularly on passage between their normal breeding and wintering areas. Klaus Malling Olsen devotes much attention to the immature and winter plumages of these birds, which are generally inadequately described in most other field guides, while he also deals in depth with the problems of moult, species, and subspecies. The text covers the bird in the field, moult, and the bird in the hand. The author concludes each species account with extensive data on measurements and weight and an itemized key to identification. The text is accompanied by over forty color plates, which have been specially prepared for this guide by the talented Swedish bird artist Hans Larsson. The book is completed with a forty-eight-page representative photographic section.

This eagerly awaited guide offers the most comprehensive treatment ever published on the gulls of Europe, Asia and North America. A total of 43 species is treated, and every species is described in considerable detail, with a full description of each plumage and racial variation. Gulls are intelligent, versatile, opportunistic, and ecological generalists. As such, they exploit a variety of habitats, both coastal and inland, take a wide range of food, and are often extremely abundant. They are also great wanderers, with several American species regularly appearing in Western Europe and vice versa. As well as identification criteria, this book includes an up-to-date assessment of the range and status of every species, together with information on patterns of vagrancy. This important guide is published at a critical time in the development of dull taxonomy. The large, white-headed forms occurring in the region comprise a superspecies complex, with the precise relationships between the various components still under considerable debate. A thorough illustrative and textual treatment of the group is much needed, and this book provided the most complete overview of the complex. The text is complemented not only by superb colour paintings by Hans Larrson, but also by a large selection of colour photographs, sourced from some of the finest bird photographers in the world. This is the essential reference to a fascinating and endlessly challenging group of birds.

This eagerly awaited guide offers the most comprehensive treatment ever published on the gulls of Europe, Asia and North America.A total of 43 species is treated, and every species is described in considerable detail, with a full description of each plumage and racial variation.Gulls are intelligent, versatile, opportunistic, and ecological generalists. As such, they exploit a variety of habitats, both coastal and inland, take a wide range of food, and are often extremely abundant. They are also great wanderers, with several American species regularly appearing in Western Europe and vice versa. As well as identification criteria, this book includes an up-to-date assessment of the range and status of every species, together with information on patterns of vagrancy.This important guide is published at a critical time in the development of dull taxonomy. The large, white-headed forms occurring in the region comprise a superspecies complex, with the precise relationships between the various components still under considerable debate. A thorough illustrative and textual treatment of the group is much needed, and this book provided the most complete overview of the complex.The text is complemented not only by superb colour paintings by Hans Larrson, but also by a large selection of colour photographs, sourced from some of the finest bird photographers in the world. This is the essential reference to a fascinating and endlessly challenging group of birds.

ONE OF THE BB/BTO BEST BIRD BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2018This book represents the definitive photographic guide to gulls, by the world's greatest authority on gull identification.This outstanding new guide covers all of the world's gull species, tackling some of the most notoriously difficult identification and taxonomic challenges in birding. Concise text - complemented by an accurate colour range map - places particular emphasis on field identification, with detailed discussion of variation, and coverage of habitat, status and distribution.Each photograph has been carefully selected to highlight identification criteria and, crucially, to allow age and subspecific separation in the field. This book is an invaluable tool for identifying gulls, featuring the most sought-after rarities as well as beautiful, easy-to-identify species.

This is the first complete identification guide to the skuas of the world.Skuas (and jaegers) are a fascinating and ­popular group of seabirds that make up a subfamily of just seven species. They can be ­divided into two main groups: the larger species of Catharacta skuas which are mainly found in the southern hemisphere (with Great Skua breeding­ in the north), and the three Stercorarius species (also known as jaegers) which breed in the ­northern hemisphere.Both northern and southern skuas breed at high latitudes and several ­species are long-distance migrants, ­performing spectacular migrations through most of the world's oceans, ­sometimes even flying overland.The individual plumage variation in some species is enormous, creating one of the most puzzling yet fascinating challenges in modern field identification. This guide is designed to enable species ­identification and correct ­ageing, and the information presented is based on years of study in the field, detailed examination of photographs and ­museum skins, and ­extensive research of the ­relevant literature.The comprehensive text is accompanied by twelve exquisite colour plates by Hans Larsson, illustrating a wide range of plumages. In ­addition, there are eight pages of colour ­photographs and numerous black and white photographs and drawings that show key ­identification ­features. With this book, the seabird enthusiast should at last be able to ­identify almost every skua encountered, whether on a seawatch or at sea.

ONE OF THE BB/BTO BEST BIRD BOOKS OF THE YEAR, 2018This book represents the definitive photographic guide to gulls, by the world''s greatest authority on gull identification.This outstanding new guide covers all of the world''s gull species, tackling some of the most notoriously difficult identification and taxonomic challenges in birding. Concise text - complemented by an accurate colour range map - places particular emphasis on field identification, with detailed discussion of variation, and coverage of habitat, status and distribution.Each photograph has been carefully selected to highlight identification criteria and, crucially, to allow age and subspecific separation in the field. This book is an invaluable tool for identifying gulls, featuring the most sought-after rarities as well as beautiful, easy-to-identify species.