Best books for Taiwan nature.

I’m often asked, but unfortunately have to give the answer ‘No’, the question “Is there one book that covers all of Taiwan’s animals?”

For a good introduction I recommend the series of small pocket field guides published by the Wild Bird Society and the Butterfly society that cover Birds http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/100-common-birds-of-taiwan.html, Butterflies http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/common-taiwan-butterflies.html, Beetles http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/taiwan-beetles.html , Reptiles http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/taiwan-reptiles.html , Frogs http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/taiwan-frogs.html Dragonflies http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/taiwan-dragonflies.html, Crabs http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/taiwan-crabs-pocketguide.html , Trees http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/common-trees-of-taiwan.html , and flowers http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/taiwan-flowers.html . Only the bird one is English-only, the others are in Chinese but have very informative pictures and English/Scientific names.  For Mammals I like http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/a-field-guide-to-mammals-in-taiwan.html

Birders in Taipei may like the English-language Birdwatcher’s Guide to the the Taipei Region http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/birds/birdwatcher-s-guide-to-the-taipei-region.html region. See Amazon for the bulky but excellent Birds of East Asia.

If I had to choose one book for plants (of all sorts) commonly seen in Taiwan I would choose A Field Guide to Plants in Rural Community. http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/a-field-guide-to-plants-in-rural-community.html Many other more specialized guides.

If needing a guide to a good range of Taiwan insects it is hard to go wrong with these two volumes http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/butterflies/field-guide-to-taiwan-insects.html . Several good books for butterflies, the most comptrehensive coverage is in Butterflies of Taiwan. http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/butterflies/butterflies-of-taiwan.html

And lastly for an inspiring introduction to Taiwan natural world, it is a delight to watch the DVD Typhoon Island. http://www.booksfromtaiwan.com/index.php/mammals/typhoon-island-dvd.html