Helm Identification Guides

• Taxonomic, dealing with a particular family of birds on a worldwide scale—most early Helm Guides were this type, as well as many more-recent ones, although some later books deal with identification of such groups on a regional scale only
• Geographic, including all bird species in an area

Works with a taxonomic scope

1980s

• Seabirds - an identification guide by Peter Harrison
• Shorebirds - an identification guide to the waders of the world by John Marchant, A. J. Prater and Peter Hayman
• Wildfowl - an identification guide to the ducks, geese and swans of the world by Steve Madge and Hilary Burn
• A Handbook to the Swallows and Martins of the World by Angela Turner, illustrated by Chris Rose

  1990–1994

• Kingfishers, Bee-eaters and Rollers - A Handbook by C. Hilary Fry and Kathie Fry, illustrated by Alan Harris
• Finches and Sparrows by Peter Clement, illustrated by Alan Harris and John Davis
• Crows and Jays - A Guide to the Crows, Jays and Magpies of the World by Steve Madge, illustrated by Hilary Burn
• New World Warblers by Jon Curson, illustrated by David Quinn and David Beadle

  1995–1999

• Woodpeckers by Hans Winkler, translated by David Christie, illustrated by David Nurney 'Pica'
• Buntings and Sparrows - A Guide to the Buntings and North American Sparrows by Urban Olsson and Jon Curson, illustrated by Clive Byers 'Pica'
• Terns of Europe and North America by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans Larsson 'nW'
• Swifts - A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of the World by Phil Chantler, illustrated by Gerald Driessens 'Pica'
• Tits, Nuthatches & Treecreepers by Simon Harrap, illustrated by David Quinn
• Munias and Mannikins by Robin L. Restall
• Pittas, Broadbills and Asities by Frank Lambert, illustrated by Martin Woodcock 'Pica'
• Warblers of Europe, Asia and North Africa by Kevin Baker 'nW'
• Skuas and Jaegers - a guide to the skuas and jaegers of the world by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans Larsson 'Pica'
• Shrikes - A Guide to the Shrikes of the World, by Norbert Lefranc, illustrated by Tim Worfolk 'Pica'
• Nightjars - A Guide to Nightjars and related Nightbirds by Nigel Cleere, illustrated by Dave Nurney 'Pica'
• Parrots - A Guide to the Parrots of the World by Tony Juniper and Mike Parr, illustrated by Kim Franklin, Robin Restall, Dan Powell, David Johnston and Carl D'Silva 'Pica'
• Rails - a guide to the rails, crakes, gallinules and coots of the world by Barry Taylor, illustrated by Ber van Perlo 'Pica'
• Starlings and Mynas by Chris Feare and Adrian Craig, illustrated by Barry Croucher, Chris Shields and Kamol Komolphalin
• Owls - a Guide to the Owls of the World by Claus König & Friedhelm Weick and Jan-Hendrik Becking 'Pica'
• New World Blackbirds - the Icterids by Alvaro Jaramillo and Peter Burke
• Tanagers by Morton L. Isler and Phyllis R. Isler softcover

  2000–2009

• Thrushes by Peter Clement, illustrated by Ren Hathway
• Shrikes and Bush-shrikes by Tony Harris, illustrated by Kim Franklin
• Raptors of the World by James Ferguson-Lees and David Christie, illustrated by Kim Franklin, David Mead and Philip Burton
• Pigeons and Doves by David Gibbs, illustrated by Eustace Barnes and John Cox
• Sylvia Warblers - identification, taxonomy and phylogeny of the genus Sylvia, by Hadoram Shirihai, Gabriel Gargallo and Andreas J. Helbig, illustrated by Alan Harris, photographic editor David Cottridge
• Sunbirds - A Guide to the Sunbirds, Flowerpeckers, Spiderhunters and Sugarbirds of the World by Robert A. Cheke and Clive F. Mann, illustrated by Richard Allen
• Wrens, Dippers and Thrashers by David Brewer, illustrated by Barry Kent MacKay
• Stonechats - A Guide to the Genus Saxicola by Ewan Urquhart, illustrated by Adam Bowley
• Pheasants, Partridges and Grouse - a guide to the Pheasants, Partridges, Quails, Grouse, Guineafowl, Buttonquails and Sandgrouse of the World by Steve Madge and Phil MacGowan
• Pipits and Wagtails of Europe, Asia and North America, by Per Alstrom & Krister Mild, illustrated by Bill Zetterstrom 'nW'
• Gulls of Europe, Asia and North America by Klaus Malling Olsen, illustrated by Hans Larsson 'nW'

  2010–2019

• Reed and Bush Warblers by Peter Kennerley and David Pearson, illustrated by Brian Small
• Cotingas and Manakins by Graeme Green and Guy Kirwan
• Cuckoos of the World by Johannes Erritzøe, Clive F. Mann, Frederik P. Brammer and Richard A. Fuller, illustrated by Richard Allen, Jan Wilczur, Martin Woodcock and Tim Worfolk
• Robins and Chats by Peter Clement, and Chris Rose
• Wildfowl of Europe, Asia and North America by Sebastien Reeber 'nW'
• Flight Identification of Raptors of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East by Dick Forsman 'nW'
• Antpittas and Gnateaters by Harold F. Greeney and David Beadle
• African Raptors by William S. Clark and Rob Davies 'nW'

  2020–current

• Birds of Paradise and Bowerbirds by Phil Gregory and Richard Allen