Venezuela is blessed with one of the largest avifaunas in the world. More than 1,400 species have been recorded in the country, thanks to a great diversity of habitats ranging from the High Andes to lowland Amazonian rainforest, and just about everything in between. Its strategic position in the north of South America also ensures that it receives many non-breeding migrants, both from the north and from the south. Add to this a good number of endemics, and you have all the ingredients for a top birding destination.

This brand new field guide has been written to fulfill the needs of both visiting and resident birders by providing a single-volume, portable field guide that covers every species recorded in the country. It has been written specifically to make it easier to identify birds in a country where the bewildering number of species can be a real challenge. The concise text concentrates on the key information needed to identify a species (or subspecies), and the distinctions from confusing or similar species. Up to date distribution maps are provided for every species.

The illustrations are placed opposite the text for easy reference and cover all major plumage variations. The guide has been designed to be both portable in the field and user-friendly. It is the only guide you will need to identify birds in Venezuela and is a major new addition to the Helm Field Guides series.

David Ascanio is Venezuela's top field birder. He has traveled throughout Venezuela and elsewhere in the neotropics. He runs his own travel agency in Venezuela and has led bird tours for Victor Emanuel Nature Tours for more than twenty years.

Gustavo Rodriguez is an experienced amateur birdwatcher based in Caracas.

Robin Restall is the senior author and illustrator of the acclaimed Birds of Northern South America, and was also author of Munias and Mannikins.