Cotingas and Manakins

The Helm Identification Guide monographs are among the most collectable of ornithological volumes, taking pride of place on many birders’ bookshelves. The latest addition in the series is Cotingas and Manakins, written by long-time Neotropical birders Guy Kirwan and Graeme Green. The book covers just over 130 species; recent genetic work has shown that many species formerly shoved into the cotinga or manakin ‘bin’ are in fact unrelated, and so subsequently several species have been shuttled off to other families. Such moves include the schiffornises and purpletufts to Tityridae and a pending shift of the enigmatic Kinglet Calyptura to the Tyrannidae; however, this book retains these species.

Brief chapters on ecology and evolutionary biology open, followed by 34 colour plates by Eustace Barnes. From these, it is evident that the gulf in standard between Illustrations of Neotropical and Palearctic birds is continuing to close. Eustace has obtained sufficient field and museum experience to do most of his subjects justice, although the jizz of some is maybe a little wayward – for example, the overly pigeon-like renditions of Cotinga cotingas – but overall they represent an excellent identification resource.

The remainder of the book comprises the species accounts. Although termed an identification guide, this does not do the book justice given the comprehensive sections on natural history, in addition to the ID sections

on plumage, morphometrics and voice. The cumulative amount of information synthesised here is colossal – this is no easy feat considering that some species are still almost unknown. Thus the content is not only based on an extensive review of the literature, but also includes many of the authors’ own previously unpublished field observations and museum studies, as well as those of seasoned Neotropical fieldworkers. More than 400 colour photographs provide an exceptional visual treat and an incredibly important identification resource (and one to which I’m proud to have contributed). Only Chestnut-bellied Cotinga and the aforementioned Kinglet Calyptura have no images in the book.

The authors do not embark upon a ‘renegade taxonomy’, as can be the case in new family monographs, but highlight many future splits. I’ve been embroiled in much debate over the years about which of the three great tropical avifaunas (Neotropical, Afrotropical or Indomalayan) is more exciting, and although one has to concede that cryptic antbirds and elaenias are not everyone’s cup of tea, manakins and cotingas fly the flag for all that is brash, bold and knee-tremblingly exciting in the forests of Central and South America.

• Cotingas and Manakins By Guy Kirwan and Graeme Green (Christopher Helm, London, 2011).

• 624 pages, 34 colour plates, over 400 photographs.

• ISBN 9780713660258. Hbk, £60.00.

Available from Birdwatch bookshop