Trinidad & Tobago Birding -- Suggested Reading List

Recommended Literature

Suggestions for additional material are always welcome! Click here to email me.

Some of these are out-of-print titles. For older titles, I've supplied the ASIN, a predecessor of the ISDN. You may need to request older books from your library or ask a bookstore to conduct a search for you.

For readers in Europe and Great Britain, here are two convenient sources of many of these titles:

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General Nature

Beebe, William. 1952. Introduction to the ecology of the Arima Valley, Trinidad. Zoologica 37:157-183. A highly readable description of the area of the Asa Wright Nature Centre, written by the inventor of the deep-sea diving chamber.

Caufield, Catherine. 1986. In the Rain Forest: Report from a Strange, Beautiful, Imperiled World. Univ. Chicago Press. A comprehensive and timely account of the status of our world's richest ecological communities, past, present, and future. ISBN 0226097862.

Forsyth, Adrian and Kenneth Miyata. 1987. Tropical Nature: Life and Death in the Rain Forests of Central and South America. Fascinating introduction to the plant and animal life of the wet tropics. Especially valuable to all interested in the study of this lush habitat. MacMillan Publishing Company. ISBN 0684187108.

Insight Guides. Trinidad & Tobago. 1987. APA Publications, Singapore. A superbly colorful guide to the history and culture of Trinidad & Tobago. The colors will make your mouth water. ISBN 0139308687.

Kricher, John. 1999. A Neotropical Companion: An Introduction to the Animals, Plants, and Ecosystems of the New World Tropics. 2nd ed. Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey. An introduction to the animals, plants, and ecosystems of the New World tropics. Broad coverage, fun reading. ISBN 0691009741.

Martini, Frederic. 1984. Exploring Tropical Isles and Seas: An Introduction for the Traveler and Amateur Naturalist.. Princeton Hall, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. An introduction to tropical coral reefs, tropical islands, and tropical oceans, with their respective marine mammals, reptiles, and fish. ASIN 0132959313.

Voss, Gilbert L. (ed.) 1976. Seashore Life of Florida and the Caribbean : a Guide to the Common Marine Invertebrates of the Atlantic from Bermuda to the West Indies and of the Gulf of Mexico. Banyan Books, Inc. Includes coverage of Trinidad & Tobago. ASIN 0912458755.

Worth, C. Brooke. 1967. A Naturalist in Trinidad. J. B. Lippincott, Philadelphia. Out of print but sometimes available in used book stores. Another wonderful book composed of short chapters with titles like Monkeys, Small Mammals, Bird Netting, the Arima Valley, Hummingbirds, etc. I have several extra copies to share if you'd like to borrow one.

General Nature | Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Butterflies | Fishes/Coral | Mammals | Plants | Shells | History

Amphibians and Reptiles

Boos, Hans E. A. 2001. The Snakes of Trinidad & Tobago. Texas A & M University Press, College Station, Texas. ISBN 1585441163. Hans Boos managed the Emperor Valley Zoo in Port-of-Spain and assisted with expeditions studying birds, reptiles and amphibians. In this book he covers more than 60 species of snakes found in Trinidad & Tobago. The culmination of thirty years studying the snakes of these islands, this book provides in depth information.

Murphy, John C. 1997. Amphibians and Reptiles of Trinidad & Tobago. Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 089464971X. The classic work on this area.

Murray, Tom. Trinidad & Tobago Reptiles & Amphibians. http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/trinidad_tobago_reptiles. Excellent images of many species.

White, Graham and Adrian Hailey. 2006. The establishment of Anolis wattsi as a naturalized exotic lizard in Trinidad. Applied Herpetology 3:11-26. Good images of many varieties of anoles in Trinidad. http://www.ahailey.f9.co.uk/anolis.htm

General Nature | Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Butterflies | Fishes/Coral | Mammals | Plants | Shells | History

Birds

Barrow, Russell. 1994. Birds of Trinidad & Tobago; A Photographic Atlas. Media & Editorial Projects Ltd., 6 Prospect Avenue, Maraval, Trinidad, W.I. The first of its kind, a remarkable combination of exquisite photographs and lucid descriptions. ISBN 9768050098 (hardcover) and 976805008X (paperback).

Dinsmore, J.J. 1972. Avifauna of Little Tobago Island. Quart. J. Fla. Acad. Sci. 35(1):55-71. What can an ornithologist see in several months spent alone on a tiny tropical island? Dinsmore herein describes such an experience.

ffrench, Richard. 1991. A Guide to the Birds of Trinidad & Tobago, 2nd edition. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. Although now considerably out of date, this book is more than a field guide. It contains background information on Trinidad and its ecology as well as a great deal of detailed information on the various bird species. ISBN 0801497922.

Hilty, Steven L. 2005. Birds of Tropical America: A Watcher's Introduction to Behavior, Breeding and Diversity. University of Texas Press. A wide-ranging exploration of some of the most interesting sites in the Neotropics. Intriguing investigations of fascinating bird behavior. Written by one of the Neotropics' foremost students of ornithology. ISBN 0292706731.

Kenefick, Martyn, Robin Restall, and Floyd Hayes. 2008. Field Guide to the Birds of Trinidad and Tobago. This is the field guide used currently by birders for Trinidad & Tobago. Covers all species seen in the last century, even those seen only once, and includes multiple illustrations of many species. Clearly the best book of its kind for birding in T&T. ISBN 978-0300135572.

Murphy, William L. 2004. The Prion Birdwatcher's Guide to Trinidad and Tobago. A birdwatcher's perspective. See description on my home page. ISBN 978-1871104110.

Snow, David. 1982. The Cotingas. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. An examination of the unusual assortment of species, including the Bellbirds, that are lumped in the avian order Cotingidae. While writing this book, David Snow and his wife lived about three miles down the valley from the Asa Wright Nature Centre. ASIN 0801414903.

Snow, David. 1985. The Web of Adaptation: Bird Studies in the American Tropics. If you only read one book before your visit, read this one. It's composed of many short chapters, each one covering a particular facet of tropical birds. ASIN 0801493161.

General Nature | Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Butterflies | Fishes/Coral | Mammals | Plants | Shells | History

Butterflies

Fishes/Coral

Chaplin, Charles C. G. 1972. Fishwatcher's Guide to West Atlantic Coral Reefs. Harrowood Books, Valley Forge, PA. Waterproof so you can take it with you under the sea. Out of print but available through used book dealers. ISBN 0915180081.

Colin, Patrick I. and Patrick L. Colin. 1978. Caribbean Reef Invertebrates and Plants : A Field Guide to the Invertebrates and Plants Occurring on Coral Reefs of the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Florida. T.F.H. Publications. Good source of information to prepare you for snorkeling or scuba diving around Trinidad & Tobago. ASIN 0876664605.

Greenberg, Idaz. 1977. Guide to Coral and Fishes of Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Seahawk Press. A fairly comprehensive volume that will enable you to identify almost all the underwater life around Trinidad & Tobago.

Humann, Paul. 1995. Snorkeling Guide to Marine Life: Florida Caribbean Bahamas. A compact guide illustrating all the fishes, corals, invertebrates and plants you are most likely to encounter in less than 15 feet of water in the Caribbean. Humann's photographs are among the best for identification -- and its handy size makes it perfect to take along in the boat or to the beach. ISBN 1878-34810-8.

Humann, Paul. 2002. Reef Fish Identification: Florida, Caribbean, Bahamas. 3rd edition. New World Publications, Inc. According to my scuba-diving friends, the best book on this subject available today. ISBN 1878348302.

Kaplan, Eugene H. 1982. Field Guide to Coral Reefs of the Caribbean and Florida: A Guide to the Common Invertebrates and Fishes of Bermuda, the Bahamas, Southern Florida, etc. The most recent book dealing with the underwater life in the vicinity of Trinidad & Tobago. ASIN 0395316618.

Kenny, Julian S. 1995. Views from the Bridge: A Memoir on the Freshwater Fishes of Trinidad. Published by Julian S. Kenny. ISBN976-8136-74-X. 98 pp., paper. Distribution and ecology of Trinidad freshwater fish. Includes distributional maps, discussion of distributional patterns, species accounts, photographs of 36 of the 48 freshwater species, and an account of attempts to fish farm in Trinidad. Can be ordered from Rapid Environmental Assessments. Ltd., 74 Ana Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad. Fax: (809) 622-8809 or (809) 622-5466. Prices: US$20 ($15 + $5 airmail postage); UK Sterling 14 (10 + 4 airmail postage); TT$93 (90 + 3 local postage).

Laydoo, Richard S. 1991. A Guide to the Coral Reefs of Tobago. Trinidad Institute of Marine Affairs and the Asa Wright Nature Centre, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ISBN 976-8104-0-15.

Lieske, Ewald and Robert Myers. 1999. Coral Reef Fishes; Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific Ocean, Including the Red Sea. Princeton University Press. A handy guide to all fishes likely to be observed by anyone visiting or diving on the coral reefs of the Caribbean.

Ramjohn, David D. 1999. Checklist of Coastal and Marine Fishes of Trinidad & Tobago. Fisheries Information Series No. 8, Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Marine Resources, St. Clair Circle, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago. Accurately lists the common and scientific names and likelihood of occurrence of essentially all species of coastal and marine fish in the Trinidad & Tobago area.

Robins, C. Richard and G. Carleton Ray. 1986. A Field Guide to Atlantic Coast Fishes of North America (Peterson Field Guide Series, 32). Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston. Almost all the marine gamefish in North America can be found off Trinidad & Tobago. ASIN 0395318521.

General Nature | Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Butterflies | Fishes/Coral | Mammals | Plants | Shells | History

Mammals

Emmons, Louise H. 1997. Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: A Field Guide, 2nd ed. University of Chicago Press. Completely revised and updated. Treats 226 species.

Emmons, Louise H., Bret M. Whitney, and David L. Ross, Jr. 1997. Sounds of Neotropical Rainforest Mammals: An Audio Field Guide. University of Chicago Press (distributed for the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology). Two compact discs (105 minutes) and accompanying booklet presents 109 species of mammals including 54 primates and 55 others, most never before published. ISBN 0-938027-40-9

General Nature | Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Butterflies | Fishes/Coral | Mammals | Plants | Shells | History

Plants

Beard, J. S. 1944. The natural vegetation of the island of Tobago, British West Indies. Ecol. Monographs 14:135-163. A thorough treatment of the four types of forests found on Tobago as well as descriptions of the vegetation in bygone eras.

Bourne, M. J., G. W. Lennox, and S. A. Seddon. 1988. Fruits and Vegetables of the Caribbean. MacMillan Publishers Ltd., London. Having this book with you may be the only way you'll be able to associate a plant name with that luscious taste you're enjoying! ISBN 0333453115.

Dennis, R.W.G. Fungus flora of Venezuela and adjacent countries. ASIN 0112410006.

Duncan, E. J. 1993. A Guide to the Wild Flowers of Trinidad & Tobago. Asa Wright Nature Centre, Arima, Trinidad. A splendid photographic guide to some of the most conspicuous wildflowers of these islands. Arranged by flower color.

Hargreaves, Dorothy and Bob Hargreaves. 1965. Tropical Trees Found in the Caribbean, South America, Mexico. Hargreaves Company, Inc., Kailua, Hawaii 96734. Out of print but occasionally available through used-book dealers. ISBN 0910690057.

Hargreaves, Dorothy and Bob Hargreaves. 1960. Tropical Blossoms of the Caribbean. Hargreaves Company, Inc., Kailua, Hawaii 96734. As with the previous citation, out of print but occasionally available through used-book dealers. ASIN 0910690030.

Kenny, Julian. 1988. Native Orchids of the Eastern Caribbean (Caribbean Pocket Natural History Series). American Orchid Society. ISBN 0333473302.

Lotschert, William and Gerhard Beese. 1989. Collins Guide to Tropical Plants: A Descriptive Guide to 323 Ornamental and Economic Plants. Collins & Son, London. A comprehensive identification guide to all major orders of tropical plants. ASIN 0002191121.

Mahabir, Noor Kumar. Medicinal and Edible Plants Used by East Indians of Trinidad & Tobago. ASIN 9768001739.

Seddon, S. A. and G. W. Lennox. 1980. Trees of the Caribbean. Macmillan Education Ltd., London. A photographic guide to some of the more easily identified and widespread trees of the Caribbean. ISBN 0333287932.

General Nature | Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Butterflies | Fishes/Coral | Mammals | Plants | Shells | History

Shells

History

Dann, John C. (ed.). 1986. The Nagle Journal : A Diary of the Life of Jacob Nagle, Sailor, from the Year 1775 to 1841. ASIN 1555842232.

De Boissierre, Ralph. 1982. Crown Jewel. Moving narrative of a charismatic black activist and his attempts to unify blacks in Trinidad for social progress. Allison & Busby. ISBN 0805280995.

Dodge, Steven C. 1991. Christopher Columbus and the First Voyages to the New World. Chelsea House Publ. An overview of the discovery of Trinidad and other islands and parts of mainland North and South America. ISBN 0791012999.

Dunn, Richard S. 1973. Sugar and Slaves. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 039300692.

Forte, Maximilian. 1997. Against the Trinity : An Insurgent Imam Tells His Story : Religion, Politics and Rebellion in Trinidad & Tobago. Ahead Desktop Publishing House. ISBN 1888024119.

Ledgister, F.S.J. 1998. Class Alliances and the Liberal Authoritarian State: The Roots of Post-Colonial Democracy in Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and Surinam. Red Sea Press, Inc. ISBN 0865435464.

Lewis, Gordon K. 1984. Main Currents in Caribbean Thought: The Historical Evolution of Caribbean Society in its Ideological Aspects, 1492-1900. The Johns Hopkins Univ. Press. ASIN 0801834929.

Miller, Daniel. 1994. Modernity : An Ethnographic Approach : Dualism and Mass Consumption in Trinidad. Berg Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0854969160.

Millette, James. 1986. Society and Politics in Colonial Trinidad. Zed Books. ISBN 086232421.

Naipal, Vidiadhas Surajprasad. 1993. The Middle Passage: Impressions of Five Societies -- British, French, and Dutch -- In the West Indies and South America. Penguin USA (Paper). ISBN 0140029206.

Richardson, Bonham C. 1992. The Caribbean in the Wider World, 1492-1992: A Regional Geography (Geography of the World Economy). Cambridge Univ. Press (Paper). ISBN 0521359775 or ISBN 0521351863.

Rodger, N.A.M. The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy. W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 0393314693.

Rogozinski, Jan. 1994. A Brief History of the Caribbean; From the Arawak and the Carib to the Present. Meridian Books, New York. ISBN 0452011345.

Sale, Kirkpatrick. 1991. The Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Legacy. Penguin Books. ISBN 0452266696.

Toth, Charles W. The American Revolution and the West Indies. Kennikat. The sugar-molasses-rum triangle and its profound effect on the history of North America. ASIN 080469110X.

Walcott, D. 1989. The Arkansas Testament. Poetry. Noonday Press. ISBN 0374520992.

Williams, Eric. 1993. History of the People of Trinidad & Tobago. A & B Book Pub Dist. A classic study, written by a scholar who from 1961 until his death in 1981 served as Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. ISBN 1881316653.

Williams, E. 1983. From Columbus to Castro: The History of the Caribbean 1492 to 1969. Vintage Books. Interesting and well written essay on slavery and sugarcane and the effects of their interaction on the peoples of the Caribbean. ISBN 0394715020.

General Nature | Amphibians and Reptiles | Birds | Butterflies | Fishes/Coral | Mammals | Plants | Shells | History