If you are unsure which sound guide to buy for Britain (and Europe), we can help you make the right choice.
Before considering which bird species you want to hear, decide which format is best for you - Compact Disc (CD) or Cassette? Click here for a more detailed discussion about the pros and cons of cassette and CD.
Now ask yourself, "What sort of birds interest me?"
| A | Common or garden birds. Are you a beginner as far as bird sounds are concerned? Click here. |
| B | Regular British Birds from a particular habitat or from most habitats. Click here. |
| C | Regular British and European species (also including European species that are irregular visitors or vagrant to Britain). Click here. |
| D | A particular bird family or group of birds, e.g. warblers, raptors etc. Click here. |
Obviously this depends on what equipment you have. Please do consider CD - it is ideal for birdsong! The clarity is astounding and the instant access facility allows you to choose a sound from the track index and then repeat it as often as you like - ideal as an aid to learning bird songs and calls. Most people find it easier to learn one bird at a time, rather than many.
You can, of course, also play audio CDs through your computer's CD-ROM or DVD-ROM player or your DVD-video player.
Cassettes, however, have the advantage that light weight portable tape players are still available - ideal for taking out in the field or on holiday. Portable instant access CD players are becoming more affordable but they don't have built-in speakers as do most tape players.
CD
We recommend Garden Bird Sounds covers a respectable 70 birds. It is both indexed and announced.
Cassette
If you would like a good number of species on a single cassette Garden Bird Sounds covers a respectable 70 birds, each announced by the English common name. However the Teach Yourself Bird Sounds series is good, especially if you are a beginner and want the differences in bird sounds explained through detailed commentary. Each cassette in this series covers a single habitat and the 20 or so species commonly found there.
CD
(Indexed and announced). British Bird Sounds covers the characteristic songs and calls of 175 species of the most frequently found British birds, or Collins Field Guide Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Northern Europe. If you don't want announcements please see C below.
Cassette
Teach Yourself Bird Sounds series - which even experienced birdwatchers find useful.
CD
(Indexed but not announced). Bird Sounds of Europe and North-west Africa on 10 CDs is the best. It is the most comprehensive set of its type currently available. Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs is also good. Vogelstimmen Europas, Nordafrikas und Vorderasiens ("The Birdvoices of Europe, North Africa and the Near East") is very comprehensive but rather overwhelming as it contains recordings of the songs of extreme vagrants to the Western Palearctic many of which you are very unlikely to hear singing in Europe.
CD
Individual CDs from the Bird Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe on 4 CDs might suffice. Alternatively see Sound Guides: Europe & Western Palearctic: Bird Families and Groups for titles like Warbler Songs and Calls of Britain and Europe, etc.
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