HBW

HBW is the abbreviation for Handbook of the Birds of the World, a major reference work on the birds of the world. Produced by Lynx Edicions of Barcelona in collaboration with BirdLife International, the project began in the early 1990s and produced a multi-volume print series intended to document all described bird species. The HBW project brings together ornithologists from around the world to compile comprehensive species accounts that cover taxonomy, identification, distribution, habitat, behavior, breeding, diet, and conservation.

Each species entry in HBW provides standardized information, often accompanied by distribution maps and illustrations or photographs that depict plumage variation and key field marks. The work aims to serve as a lasting reference for researchers, museums, educators, and conservation practitioners, and it has influenced subsequent field guides, checklists, and conservation planning by establishing consistent nomenclature and data presentation.

In addition to the print series, HBW Alive is the online companion platform that offers continuously updated access to species accounts, multimedia resources, and interactive maps. HBW Alive integrates taxonomic updates and conservation status information and provides a dynamic resource for researchers and students seeking current avifaunal data.

Overall, HBW stands as one of the most comprehensive scholarly resources on birds, consolidating taxonomic and natural history information for nearly all described species and supporting ongoing research, education, and conservation efforts in ornithology.