An entertaining and informative book on the diversity of Africa’s ornithology, Rupert Watson’s anecdotal style allows the reader to delve into the mysteries of common and rare birds, discovering little-known facts as well as generally accepted knowledge, of a wide range of African birds.

Quoting comments made by David Livingstone on the Honeyguide, discussing the nest building of the Piping Cisticolas, alongside the discovery in 1991 of the Udzungwa Forest Partridge in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains, and the joy of seeing a Black Bee-eater in Uganda, this book is a plethora of fascinating insights.

With sections of Only in Africa, Mainly in Africa, Six Special Species and a simple map of Africa, this celebration of African birdlife leads on to conservation, inspiration and information, also expressing gratitude to previous pioneers and explorers of Africa.

Rupert Watson titled this remarkable book from his personal encounters with the secretive White-necked Picathartes and Congo Peacock

Illustrations by Peter Blackwell