Field Guide to Birds of North Queensland

The Far North Queensland (FNQ) region extends from Townsville across the tablelands region to the Gulf of Carpentaria, and includes all of the Cape York Peninsula to the Torres Strait. The many diverse habitats include a large section of the Great Barrier Reef, wet tropics rainforest, both wet and dry eucalypt savanna, mangroves and many wetlands.

FNQ is an outstanding place for birds, with 14 endemic species that occur only in the Wet Tropics, four more on Cape York and six more widespread. The text by Phil Gregory gives a summary of the main identification features for all 420+ regularly occurring species, along with their range, habitat and conservation status.

Each species has up to five stunning photographs taken by local expert guide Jun Matsui and showing the key field characters, with hundreds of new and upgraded photographs added for this second edition.

The new edition includes recently split species such as Cryptic Honeyeater and Eastern Shriketit, as well as covering flagship species like Southern Cassowary, Palm Cockatoo, and both Victoria's and Magnificent Riflebird. It is an essential field guide for serious birders and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as for more general tourists.

About the Author

Born in Southampton, England, Phil Gregory first came to Australia in 1977. He has contributed to a number of important ornithological works, including Handbook of the Birds of the World. Special interests include field identification, vocalisation, taxonomy and distribution. He became a full time birding guide in 1998 and now based in Kuranda he leads several tours a year throughout the Pacific Region.

With a lifetime interest in wildlife beginning in Japan, Jun Matsui first arrived in Australia in 1999. He spent a year traveling around and volunteering at various birding hot-spots including Broome Bird Observatory before eventually taking a job as a specialist bird tour guide for Japanese groups based in Cairns.