I’m looking for a good bird identification book for Germany. I’d like something comprehensive – not just songbirds or “140 familiar birds” or whatever.
German language slightly preferred so I can learn the local names, but English would be OK too.
I’d like something with good illustrations since my kids like to use it.
As a reference point, In the US we used a Peterson’s Field Guide which had [nice illustrations, good descriptions and a map of their ranges](https://www.butterfly-ridge.com/merch/peterson-field-guide-to-birds-of-eastern-and-central-north-america). My kids have pulled out the Petereson’s guide to ID some local birds, but of course it’s not doing them much good.
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The publisher Kosmos usually has good books, I think this one would be a good starting point with 440 birds (softcover). You can have a look at the layout if you click on “Leseprobe”. It seems like it would check all your criteria.
https://www.kosmos.de/de/welcher-vogel-ist-das_1107965_9783440164518
Or for something more comprehensive (hardcover)
https://www.kosmos.de/de/die-vogel-europas_1176061_9783440176061
There is the app “Merlin”. I am not a super big bird fan but I managed to identify a lot of birds with it with the sound app / there is also a picture app on it, but haven’t used it yet.
Not the answer to the question you’ve asked but maybe a nice addition for a bird-loving family:
Get the board game “Flügelschlag” and the “Europa-Erweiterung” and have some indoor family-bird-fun when the weather is bad. It’s called wingspan in English and I love it with passion.