HBW Alive

I've long wanted to own the Handbook of the Birds of the World, but was a little concerned that by starting my collection it would already be outdated given that the first volumes are over 20 years old. Even with the updates it wasn't really a satisfactory arrangement.

So this summer someone recommended using HBW alive, the online, updated version of the entire series, and I absolutely love it. I just wanted to recommend it on here. Entire plates are viewable, details in distinguishing subspecies are much more thorough than in the corresponding Mammal handbooks (as might be expected), and you can search by birds according to the countries in which you found them. Combined with links to photos, videos and audio, this is an absolutely amazing resource. Part of the site is free to access, but there are different tiers of subscription which offer more features. The site has become an invaluable resource to me, which I use more and more.

Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive | HBW Alive

 

Just as a warning to anyone who still wants to purchase the collection of books - stocks of Volume 11 have sold out and there are no more available from the publisher. Last time I searched none were available online. Stocks are low on several other volumes too.



Hix

 

I would like to echo Devilfish's comment. I use HBW Alive a lot, and I think I've been subscribed for about a year now. Over that time it keeps on improving and updating, and is an absolutely fantastic resource.

I also use HBW Alive for recording and keeping track of my wild bird sightings with their 'My Birding' feature, which I really like. When I first subscribed I just started at the basic subscription level which does not include access to 'My Birding', but after using the site for a few months and loving it, I upgraded to a full membership, and for me it was worth every penny. Best online subscription to anything I have ever bought.

 

There is this one - Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 11 - AbeBooks - but the asking price might best be described as 'absurd'...

 

I had hopes, that they will release the HMW Alive also, but asked not so long time ago and the answer was, of course negative. It was very useful tool...

 

What information was on the old site that is no in the new one? I just found out about the old one but had moved already.

 

@Chlidonias Interestingly, BOW seems to not be so useless, at least for now! Currently, all accounts of all species are free for viewing, including photos, maps, the full length of HBW Alive text and illustrations! The main differences between this and a full subscription, I think, are that the content is shorter and less detailed. E.g., compare the species accounts of Ara macao (Scarlet Macaw - Ara macao - Birds of the World), a species with only partial, ''HBW Alive'' viewable content and Corythornis cristatus (Malachite Kingfisher - Corythornis cristatus - Birds of the World), one of the currently free, ''full subscription'' accounts.

Personally, if they decide to keep this ''two-sites'' format as a constant rule, I would be more than happy, as it provides those that don't have an account (like me) with some information for the species that were available in HBW Alive after subscription! In fact, this could mean that HBW Alive is indeed released now (in a way)!

 

What's interesting to me is the two sites use different taxonomies (Birds of the World using Clements/eBird and Handbook of Birds of the World follows IOC) Since Cornell owns it all now does that mean the taxonomy will stay with Clements/eBird?

 

What bird taxonomy do you follow? Or do you just go with your own judgement?

 

HBW was a bit different from IOC. The eBird taxonomy update last year was to bring HBW and Clements more in line with each other in anticipation of the merger.

 

There was a temporary free access period when all birds were available for free for global big day, and now it has ended.
Twitter

Also people wondering what taxonomy it uses here is the FAQ response.
Taxonomy - Birds of the World

 

I realize that this stuff costs money to maintain, but it still is disappointing that virtually everything is now behind a pay wall. It used to be that Birds of the World, at least when it was BNA and NB, was entirely free and that you could access most of the basic info, including all the taxonomy, on HBW for free. Then BOW went behind a pay wall, and now with HBW merging into BOW, about the only thing you can get free are the names and see a picture. Feels more like one of the academic publishers is running this rather than a university, indeed, one that is partly a public university. If this were private enterprise, it could be investigated as an antitrust violation.

 

Did you try the Wayback Machine?