Angola contains some of Africa’s most interesting endemic bird species, along with magnificent scenery and a range of big mammals. The country was once a virtual no-go zone for overseas visitors, but with the infrastructure of the country rapidly recovering from the long civil war, a wealth of mouth-watering African specialities is again within reach for Afrotropical birders.
The country hosts a range of habitats, from semi-desert in the south to forest patches and grasslands in the more mountainous north and baobab and mangrove woodlands at the coasts, and the range of birds is similarly broad. While the endemics such as Angolan Cave Chat, Swierstra’s Francolin and Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird are perhaps the star species, Angola also hosts a range of spectacular regional specialities such as Red-backed Mousebird, Gabela Bushshrike, Black-and-rufous Swallow, White-fronted Wattle-eye and Cinderella Waxbill.
This book by Michael Mills is the first guide to Angola ever published. Plates by Nik Borrow depict every distinct plumage and race, and Mills’s authoritative text highlights the key features needed to identify each species in the field, with accurate range maps provided for every species. This guide is the definitive work to Angolan birds and an essential companion for any birder visiting this amazing corner of southwest Africa.
