Birds of East Africa edited by P. L. Britton

Birds of East Africa edited by P. L. Britton is an important work of regional ornithological reference, first published in Nairobi in 1980 by the East Africa Natural History Society (EANHS). The full title is Birds of East Africa: Their Habitat, Status and Distribution, and the publication was produced through the society’s ornithological community, reflecting the considerable field knowledge being assembled in East Africa at the time. Nature Kenya, the successor organisation to the EANHS, continues to list the 1980 publication among its earlier publications.

Rather than serving simply as a pocket identification guide, Birds of East Africa provides a broader scientific treatment of the region’s avifauna, concentrating particularly on habitat, status and geographical distribution. This makes it an especially interesting reference for readers concerned with the historical distribution of East African birds and the development of ornithological knowledge in the region.

P. L. Britton was an active ornithologist whose work included studies of East African bird movements, identification, distribution and taxonomy. He was also closely associated with the EANHS Ornithological Sub-committee, which played an important role in documenting the birdlife of Kenya and neighbouring parts of East Africa. The production of this volume was described in later ornithological literature as a team effort by the sub-committee.

The geographical scope is particularly significant. The traditional East African ornithological region encompassed Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, and Britton’s work became an important reference point for subsequent researchers and birders. Later field guides have specifically noted that their taxonomy and nomenclature were initially based largely on the East African list published in 1980.

For collectors of African natural-history literature, ornithologists, birdwatchers and anyone interested in the history of bird distribution studies, Birds of East Africa offers a fascinating snapshot of East African ornithology at the beginning of the 1980s. It is a particularly worthwhile title for collections focusing on Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and the wider natural history of the African continent.

Condition: Very Good – Light shelf wear present, wear on edges of boards.