Newman’s Birds by Colour

Newman’s Birds by Colour

(Random House Struik, R210)

I’m not much of a birder, preferring generally to look for more easily recognisable animals when on game drives.

But two things have changed that: a recent outing with birding friends in the Kromdraai Conservancy and the acquisition of the new Newman’s Birds by Colour.

A renowned birder and illustrator, Ken Newman and his books are well known. But this new edition, with its “colour by number” approach, must be the easiest to use and is ideal for beginners as well as being a quick reference for more experienced birders.

Birds are described and grouped according to the dominant colour of their plumage and other distinctive features such as legs and crests.

The birds we saw at Kromdraai that are easy to check in the book included various widows in their breeding plumage, yellow-billed hornbills and, after the rain, very active European bee-eaters.

Birds by Colour includes fascinating tips on birding such as recognising jizz (general size and shape) and aspects that include habitat, feeding and migration, and useful information on where and how to look for birds. – Val Boje