Birders in Central America have long known that Nicaragua is one of the best birding locations in the world, and with tourism to the country on the upswing, birders from the rest of the world are now coming to the same conclusion. The largest country in Central America, Nicaragua is home to 763 resident and passage birds, by latest count. Because of its unique topography-the country is relatively flat compared to its mountainous neighbors to the north and south-it forms a geographical barrier of sorts, which means that many birds that originate in North America reach their southernmost point in Nicaragua, while many birds from South America reach their northernmost point in the country. There are few places in the world where you can find both a Roadrunner and a Scarlet Macaw.

Birds of Nicaragua features descriptions and illustrations of all 763 species currently identified in the country, along with information about 44 additional species that are likely to appear in the coming years. Range maps, based on years of field research, are color-coded. Other features include a richly illustrated anatomical features section, a checklist, a visual guide to vultures and raptors in flight, and a quick-find index.

Liliana Chavarría-Duriaux has spent two decades conducting bird surveys throughout the far reaches of Nicaragua. She is Cofounder of El Jaguar Reserve, where she serves as Ornithological Research Director. During the past five years, ornithologist and cartographer David C. Hille has researched the parrot populations of Nicaragua. Robert Dean is an acclaimed nature artist who has painted birds for field guides covering all seven countries in Central America.