Logo

The geographical scope of the book includes the Indian subcontinent, particularly India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Tibet, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives and Afghanistan. In this book, the author have tried to include as many species of birds of this region as possible and have referred to Manakadan and Pittie (2001) for the list of birds occurring in the Indian subcontinent. Also included the newly assigned and proposed species for the region, by splitting of earlier species and elevation of the races to the status of full species, from Rasmussen and Anderton (2005). Since this book deals with the explanation of scientific names and not with systematics or taxonomy

In the treatment of each of the bird names in this book, the common name for each species is followed by alternate common name or names, if any exist, followed by the Latin binomen and the name of the author. The generic and specific names are explained using Jobling (1991) and also from Latin and Greek and various dictionaries cited in the bibliography. After an explanation of the Latin nomenclature, a brief additional note is given for each species describing the distribution or conservation status, as well as a word about the author, or any other relevant or miscellaneous aspect, to make the book more readable and comprehensive for the layman.

The text is also supplemented by carefully and specially drawn black and white sketches to make it more illustrative, interesting and informative, and the contents are presented in a special decorative design, to make them more readable.