Zoology: birds (ornithology) Books
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Munias and Mannikins
Book SynopsisMunias are widespread throughout the Old World's tropical regions. In their natural habitat, they are birds of the savanna, but they have adapted to a number of different habitats, including areas inhabited by humans. They range in size from the Java sparrow (which is about the size of a common starling) to the diminutive Madagascar mannikin. Their striking plumage makes them popular as cagebirds and they breed readily in captivity. This book covers 43 species of munias and mannikins. The author has recently described one new species and ten new subspecies to science.
£66.64
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Rails: A Guide to Rails, Crakes, Gallinules and
Book SynopsisThis is a guide to rails, a relatively homogenous family of birds spread throughout the world. Most species are solitary and somewhat secretive, and therefore high on the wanted lists of many birders, but the moorhens and coots are generally common and familiar birds of wetlands. A number of species are flightless and confined to small islands, and several are extinct as a result of man and introduced predators.
£98.36
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Swifts: A Guide to the Swifts and Treeswifts of
Book SynopsisThis work collates late-1990s research findings from the field of ornithology to provide a thoroughly modern overview of swift identification and distribution. This edition has revised artwork and maps, and much new textual material.
£45.00
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Wrens, Dippers and Thrashers
Book SynopsisThis is the first comprehensive guide to these closely related families. The book covers all 75 wrens, 34 thrashers and 5 dippers, almost all of which are New World species. The wrens (Troglodytidae) in particular display great diversity, occupying almost every kind of habitat in the Americas. The family probably originates in Central America where the greatest number of species is to be found. The thrashers (Mimidae) include the mockingbirds, catbirds and tremblers. The dippers (Cinclidae) are river specialists although, unusually, they exhibit no obvious features for an aquatic existence.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Introduction Explanation of the Species Accounts Classification and Relationships Conservation Issues Topography Colour Plates Systematic Selection Bibliography Regional Maps
£62.11
Reardon Publishing POMPEY WAS A PENGUIN: Hardback with Dust Jacket
Book SynopsisPOMPEY returned to his home in the Antarctic in August after an absence of one-and-a-half years. He was one of about twelve thousand Gentoo penguins which lived on three islands, North Island, Middle Island and South Island. This book is a simple account of Pompey's life during the following nine months. He goes swimming among the ice-foes; he fishes for shrimps; he escapes from his arch-enemy, the Leopard Seal; and he meets the charming Jenny who becomes his wife. Together they make a nest and rear two fine, fluffy chicks. It is an accurate description of the life of a Gentoo penguin, made interesting by Mr. Bagshawe's wide knowledge of penguin habits and the conditions in which they live. Before the time comes for the baby penguins to swim away from home, Pompey and Jenny and many of their neighbours have become intimate friends. ]oan Kiddell-Monroe's pictures are accurate and quite outstanding. They help to make a really exceptional book.Trade Review‘Pompey was a Penguin’ by Thomas Wyatt Bagshawe and Illustrated by Joan Kiddell-Monroe is a simple tale beautifully told in a timeless manner. The storyline tells the tale of a penguin’s life from a penguins perspective and introduces other Antarctic creatures along the way. The book accurately describes the behaviour pattern of the Antarctic wildlife in a simple but accurate manner and in this respect is both educational and informative as well as being supported by some delightful artwork. The structure and the grammar used throughout the book is very descriptive and is ‘of it’s time’ but in a very positive and effective way. This book not just about telling a story and learning about the behaviour patterns of Antarctic creatures but also reminding us of what a rich heritage the English language gives us. To sum up, this book is a very enjoyable read for people of all ages but I found it a delightful book to read to a school at which I’m a chair of Governor’s. Reviewed by Steve Wroe (ex British Antarctic Survey)
£29.99
Reardon Publishing Is a Coincidence of Coincidences just a
Book SynopsisThe discovery of a bird painting by Edward Wilson, who died with Scott on their return from the South Pole, hit the headlines in 2017. The bird was a dead treecreeper, an insignificant inhabitant of European woodland. Why was it there? Deluxe Edition
£37.80
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Woodland Management for Birds: A Guide to
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£14.20
Langford Press Eagle Days
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£18.00
Langford Press On the Rocks
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£19.00
Pelagic Publishing Barn Owl Conservation Handbook: A comprehensive
Book SynopsisA comprehensive handbook covering all aspects of the conservation of Barn Owls. Written by the Barn Owl Trust, this book includes in-depth information on Barn Owl survey techniques, relevant ecology, Barn Owls and the law, mortality, habitat management, use of nest boxes and barn Owl rehabilitation. Essential reading for ecologists, planners, land managers and ornithologists.Trade ReviewHere you will find guidance on all aspects of Barn Owl conservation, from the care of injured birds, the creation and conservation of suitable habitat for their maintenance and successful breeding, to thorny questions about the impact of major roads and secondary poisoning by rodenticides. It would be easy to write a book about Barn Owls that would be a classic in the genre of conservation gloom and doom. Barn Owls are under pressure from multiple sources which are well analysed and described here. But rather than throwing up our hands, we are invited by this guide to take a very positive approach. -- Graham Martin, Emeritus Professor Centre for Ornithology, School of Biosciences, University of BirminghamThe most complete and concise catalogue of techniques, methods and practices used to protect the Barn Owl, both in captivity and in the wild ... Anyone who has any interest and any capacity to assist in Barn Owl conservation should own this important book. -- Chris PackhamOverall, the Barn Owl Conservation Handbook provides an accessible, well-illustrated guide to the practicalities of Barn Owl fieldwork that will doubtless be of interest and use to the key target audience, namely those professionals and volunteers involved in surveying, developing and managing sites for the species. -- David Leech * IBIS *This substantial book aims to be comprehensive, an indispensable guide for ecologists, surveyors, land managers and ornithologists. At almost 400 detailed pages, it is remarkably thorough. Its nine chapters cover ecology, legal aspects, surveys, habitat creation and management, accommodation for barn owls, mortality, planning issues and injury and rehabilitation. It is full of case studies and practical examples of barn owl conservation in action. For me this is one of the most winning aspects of this book: it keeps the practicalities of barn owl conservation in view at all times. -- James Robertson * Natur Cymru *The Barn Owl Trust has produced an excellent guide for anyone involved in the conservation of barn owls. ... For me the most important chapter is 'Casualty assessment, short-term care and the principles of rehabilitation'. Its 30 pages show, step by step, the procedures for dealing with an injured barn owl, with very clear photographs of each step. -- Nigel Middleton * The Peregrine *How I wish this book had been on my shelves when I first began my study of Barn Owls 47 years ago. If it had been, countless hours of lost sleep and many millions of midge bites could have been avoided, for it answers virtually every question a Barn Owl researcher needs to ask. It is a magnificent work and must have taken a herculean effort to put together and verify the mass of data held within its 395 pages. -- Tony WarburtonTable of ContentsIntroduction; Ecology; Legal issues; Surveys; Habitat; Nestboxes; Mortality; Planning; Rehabilitation.
£39.99
Pelagic Publishing Bird Conservation: Global evidence for the
Book SynopsisThis book brings together scientific evidence and experience relevant to the practical conservation of wild birds. The authors worked with an international group of bird experts and conservationists to develop a global list of interventions that could benefit wild birds. For each intervention, the book summarises studies captured by the Conservation Evidence project, where that intervention has been tested and its effects on birds quantified. The result is a thorough guide to what is known, or not known, about the effectiveness of bird conservation actions throughout the world. The preparation of this synopsis was funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and Arcadia.Trade ReviewOverall, this is an outstanding book (and an excellent concept) that will make a significant contribution to evidence-based bird conservation, and I hope there will be many future editions allowing conservation practitioners to be right up to date with current scientific research. -- Robert Sheldon * IBIS *Too much past conservation has been a nice fluffy exercise which has regularly failed to deliver. Given the current crisis in wildlife declines we need to sharpen our game and for this we need to use the best available evidence. This volume and it associated publications will help us to do this. -- Mick Green * ECOS *Table of Contents1. About this book 2. Habitat protection 3. Education and awareness raising 4. Threat: Residential and commercial development 5. Threat: Agriculture 6. Threat: Energy production and mining 7. Threat: Transportation and service corridors 8. Threat: Biological resource use 9. Threat: Human intrusions and disturbance 10. Threat: Natural system modifi cations 11. Habitat restoration and creation 12. Threat: Invasive alien and other problematic species 13. Threat: Pollution 14. Threat: Climate change, extreme weather and geological events 15. General responses to small/declining populations 16. Captive breeding, rearing and releases (ex situ conservation) Index
£33.24
Pelagic Publishing Bird Monitoring Methods: A manual of techniques
Book SynopsisFirst published by the RSPB in 1998, this book is a practical guide to surveying and monitoring techniques for use in the breeding season - in assessing breeding success as well as population levels - and during the winter. It gives instructions for more than 120 UK bird species, mainly those of conservation concern. Methods used in the UK's main national bird monitoring schemes are also outlined with advice on how to participate in them. In addition, the publication provides advice on the reliability of the methods, sampling, statistics and species protection. An essential reference for all involved in bird monitoring programmes. This is a reprint edition of 1901930033 published in 1998.
£42.75
Pelagic Publishing Fighting for Birds: 25 years in nature
Book SynopsisDevoted to birds and wildlife since childhood, Mark’s early scientific research at Oxford, Aberdeen and the RSPB provided a solid background for his management, ambassadorial, and political lobbying activities which were to follow – and his larger than life, yet quietly humane personality has provided the final tools in his own, unique, nature conservationists’ toolbox. In this book, Mark mixes a great many stories from his professional life at the RSPB with personal anecdotes and passionate arguments on past and present issues in bird and nature conservation. He shows us something of the many scientists whose work paves the way for conservation action, places domestic conservation into an international context, takes us behind the scenes to glimpse the politicians who have worked with him, or against him, along the way. Mark leaves us armed with practical tips and a guiding philosophy to take wildlife conservation though the troubled years that lie ahead. A personal, philosophical and political history of 25 years of bird conservation, this book provides an instructive and amusing read for all those who would like a glimpse into the birds and wildlife conservation world – what the issues are, what must be done, how it can be done, and the challenges, highs and lows involved.Trade ReviewI couldn’t put it down. It is a damned good read packed with interesting information and insider insights into some of the classic conservation battles of the period. All students of conservation should read it. -- John Bowers * ECOS *... the other 13 chapters which are the meat of the book, and should be required reading for anyone with aspirations to be an advocate for conservation, and especially for anyone who has any influence on environmental policy. Also of course, anyone interested in conservation and the environment will get a lot of information and some forthright views both on the issues themselves and on how they should be tackled in the corridors of power where it matters. -- Peter Lack * IBIS *Table of Contents1. Early years 2. Flow Country days 3. In the pink – roseate terns 4. Counting, cubes and curves 5. Is it ever right to be nasty to birds? 6. Special places 7. Hope for farmland birds 8. Reintroductions: putting something back 9. Nature reserves 10. Climate 11. The raptor haters 12. Trying to change the 13. Advocacy in practice 14. Snippets 15. Whither the RSPB? 16. The tangled bank 17. What we need to do to win Index
£12.34
Pelagic Publishing Fighting for Birds: 25 years in nature
Book SynopsisDevoted to birds and wildlife since childhood, Mark’s early scientific research at Oxford, Aberdeen and the RSPB provided a solid background for his management, ambassadorial, and political lobbying activities which were to follow – and his larger than life, yet quietly humane personality has provided the final tools in his own, unique, nature conservationists’ toolbox. In this book, Mark mixes a great many stories from his professional life at the RSPB with personal anecdotes and passionate arguments on past and present issues in bird and nature conservation. He shows us something of the many scientists whose work paves the way for conservation action, places domestic conservation into an international context, takes us behind the scenes to glimpse the politicians who have worked with him, or against him, along the way. Mark leaves us armed with practical tips and a guiding philosophy to take wildlife conservation though the troubled years that lie ahead. A personal, philosophical and political history of 25 years of bird conservation, this book provides an instructive and amusing read for all those who would like a glimpse into the birds and wildlife conservation world – what the issues are, what must be done, how it can be done, and the challenges, highs and lows involved.Trade ReviewI couldn’t put it down. It is a damned good read packed with interesting information and insider insights into some of the classic conservation battles of the period. All students of conservation should read it. -- John Bowers * ECOS *... the other 13 chapters which are the meat of the book, and should be required reading for anyone with aspirations to be an advocate for conservation, and especially for anyone who has any influence on environmental policy. Also of course, anyone interested in conservation and the environment will get a lot of information and some forthright views both on the issues themselves and on how they should be tackled in the corridors of power where it matters. -- Peter Lack * IBIS *Table of Contents1. Early years 2. Flow Country days 3. In the pink – roseate terns 4. Counting, cubes and curves 5. Is it ever right to be nasty to birds? 6. Special places 7. Hope for farmland birds 8. Reintroductions: putting something back 9. Nature reserves 10. Climate 11. The raptor haters 12. Trying to change the 13. Advocacy in practice 14. Snippets 15. Whither the RSPB? 16. The tangled bank 17. What we need to do to win Index
£18.99
Pelagic Publishing Shrewdunnit: The Nature Files
Book SynopsisConor Mark Jameson has spent most of his life exploring the natural environment and communicating his enthusiasm for it to family, friends and, more recently, readers of a range of newspapers and magazines. Shrewdunnit brings together the best of these dispatches, alongside unpublished essays, in a poetic and evocative journal that inspires and delights. Jameson’s prose is fresh and in places irreverent, with a hint of mischief and a dash of wit. From his back door to the peaks of New Zealand and the swamp forests of the Peruvian Amazon, he carries on the biogumentary style he perfected in his earlier books showing – never telling – how to bring nature and conservation home. He may just have invented a genre. Praise for Silent Spring Revisited “A vividly told, beautifully written account of the environmentalist movement of the last fifty years and his own involvement in it ... the author takes his place among the pre-eminent nature writers of our times. His clear, vivid writing skillfully weaves political and cultural history, personal observation and passionate advocacy for the conservation of our diminishing wildlife to create a book that will endure in the annals of natural history." Marie Winn “If Nick Hornby loved nature, he might write a book like this.” Martin Harper, RSPB Director of Conservation “A lively read... what makes Jameson’s work especially enjoyable is the personal slant...” Matt Merritt, Editor, Birdwatching “A fine writer, who brings together an artist’s sensibility with a conservationist’s sense of reality... a vital read.” John Fanshawe, Birdwatch Praise for Looking for the Goshawk “Conor’s cultured writing and enthusiasm for the natural world and the people, like him, who care about it, will carry you along through the chapters.” Mark Avery "Equally stirring as his Silent Spring Revisited... a passionate detective story... descriptive, at times poetic prose..." Peter Goodfellow, Devon Birds Trade ReviewShrewdunnit is done in an old form, one currently neglected, perhaps as old- fashioned, in the US, and still done very well in England-- a year's observations, mostly of one place (although he is a thoroughly modern naturalist and also goes abroad); a phenology, a record, a series of sketches light and serious. Such a book stands or falls by two things: how well the writer knows his chosen place, and how well he writes, how originally he he can see. Conor succeeds on both counts. -- Stephen Bodio * Querencia (blog) *"It's a great read, and it's hard to get through it without at least once promising yourself to live a little bit more deliberately, and attentively. Truly inspirational." -- Matt Merritt * Birdwatching Magazine *"blends environmental knowledge with gentle humour.... while these diary pieces are packed with information, their pace is leisured and their tone deceptively simple... There is a quirkiness to his wildlife passions. This warm-hearted book also displays a gift for fine writing... underscores why his RSPB column is so popular." -- Mark Cocker * Countryfile, June 2014 *
£12.60
Pelagic Publishing Urban Peregrines
Book SynopsisThe Peregrine, the fastest bird in the world, has made a remarkable recovery over the past 30 years. As the species re-establishes itself around the world it is becoming a familiar sight in towns and cities. This beautifully illustrated book is the first in-depth focus on the lives of Peregrines in towns and cities. In words and stunning photographs, Ed Drewitt reveals the latest information on Peregrine behavior including how they are adapting to, and taking advantage of, the urban environment. The book is also a how-to-guide, with information on finding peregrines, studying their diet, ringing individuals for research, putting up nest boxes and enabling people to learn more about them through public viewing points or web cameras. Ed also discusses what makes a Peregrine urban, their contemporary relationship with people, and helps dispel some myths and reveal some truths about this agile predator.Trade ReviewA fascinating insight into the life of our top urban predator. -- Stephen MossPeregrines! The biggest urban conservation story to hit our cities is gloriously revealed in this wonderful book. -- Mike DilgerTable of ContentsPreface 1. The Peregrine 2. What is an Urban Peregrine? 3. How to Spot a Peregrine 4. A Year in the Life of an Urban Peregrine 5. Food and Feeding 6. How to Study Peregrines 7. Ringing Urban Peregrines 8. Myths about Peregrines 9. Changing Threats and the Future of the Urban Peregrine 10. People and Peregrines 11. Where Next? Further reading Index
£23.74
Bristol Books CIC Robin Prytherch
Book SynopsisRobin Prytherch's passion as an ornithologist was for buzzards and he devoted much of his life to studying them and delighted in finding new and interesting things about them. This book brings together a collection of Robin's buzzard-themed Christmas cards which offer a personalised account of his endeavours to understand the lives of buzzards.
£11.40
Saraband The Blackbird Diaries: A Year with Wildlife
Book SynopsisLakeland Book of the Year 2018, Bookends Prize for Art and Literature, WINNER. With its enchanting song, striking orange bill and endearing willingness to share our living space, the blackbird is one of our best-loved birds. And, in common with all our garden wildlife, it plays a critical role in Britain's fragile and precious biodiversity. In The Blackbird Diaries, Karen Lloyd shares her deep-rooted knowledge and affection for the flora and fauna of these isles. And she issues a clarion call for the conservation of endangered habitats and species - most notably the curlew, Europe's largest wading bird. Over the four seasons, Karen intimately chronicles the drama of the natural world as it all unfolds in her garden and in the limestone hills and valleys of Cumbria's South Lakeland. What emerges is a celebration of landscapes that rarely feature in nature writing. But more than that, at a time of critical species loss, she offers rare insights into the lives of animals that may be common but are no less remarkable.Trade Review"Sure to delight readers and fans of British wildlife... Like all good nature writing books, Lloyd's prose is to be savoured. Not raced through and devoured like the latest crime thriller, but to be absorbed, enjoyed and reflected upon." Megan Shersby, BBC Countryfile magazine; "A writer of rare talent... Lloyd quietly and unassumingly shares her observations of nature, drawing you into a world made rich with the company of birds. Nothing is beyond her eye - from wavering flocks of lapwing, or the mad arcs of swifts to the majesty of sea eagles, the evening sunlight caught crystalline in their eyes." Miriam Darlington, BBC Wildlife; "A charming and informative account... [Lloyd] has a keen eye and a quiet, understated way of describing her neighbourhood that I found captivating. It brought to mind the writing of ... Kathleen Jamie ... Keenly observed." Katharine Norbury, Caught by the River
£11.69
Sacristy Press Sacred Ibis: The Ornithology of Canon Henry Baker
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£48.00
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalist's Guide To Birds of Malaysia (3rd
Book SynopsisThis easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 bird species most commonly seen in Malaysia (including the state of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo) is perfect for resident and visitor alike. High quality photographs from some of Malaysia’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions, which include nomenclature, length, plumage, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers climate, vegetation, biogeography, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Malaysia encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific names as well as Malay names, its status in each state as well as its global status.
£12.34
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Field Guide to the Birds of Malaysia
Book SynopsisA fully comprehensive field guide to Malaysia's 829 bird species, including Sabah and Sarawak. The species are clearly illustrated in over 170 plates, with many variants. The main identifying features of each species are described and key facts cover size, voice, range and status, habitat, specific country and breeding.
£21.24
John Beaufoy Publishing Ltd A Naturalists Guide to the Birds of Britain and
Book SynopsisA Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of Britain & Northern Europe is an easy-to-use identification guide to 280 bird species most commonly seen in Britain and North-West Europe that is perfect for amateur naturalists.
£9.49
John Voelcker Bird Book Fund Warriors, dilettantes and businessmen: Bird
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£15.71
Kyoto University Press and Trans Pacific Press Social Organization of the Rufous Vanga: The
Book SynopsisFor a few decades, Yamagishi and his associates have studied the ecological and social behaviour of the rufous, a unique species of birds in Madagascar.In this volume, the team summarises the findings of their long-term research, with specific observations about cooperative breeding, sex ratio manipulation, foraging and helping behaviour. The authors demonstrate the implications of the study for theories of evolution, genetic inheritance and group formation.
£60.00
New Holland Publishers Birds: Deluxe Series
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£18.99
New Holland Publishers Australian Falcons
Book SynopsisMore than 50 years in the making, Australian Falcons is a beautifully illustrated volume of personal observations, interesting encounters with raptors, and detailed descriptions of behaviour that will inform and delight the reader. The late great Peter Slater needs no introduction as one of Australia's finest natural history artists, photographers and authors over a period of decades, with the renowned The Slater Field Guide to Australian Birds among his many works. For this book Peter teamed up with the equally talented and award-winning artist Sally Elmer to produce the ultimate volume on this family of scythe-winged birds of prey, including the Peregrine Falcon, which has been recorded reaching speeds of more than 300 kilometres per hour. Other chapters cover Australia's other five falcon species: Nankeen Kestrel, Brown Falcon, Australian Hobby, Grey Falcon and Black Falcon. Engaging text explains all about the lives of these enigmatic birds, while stunning photography and artworks provide a window into the hidden world of these raptors, which rarely venture close to people but capture our imaginations with their dashing flight and remarkable aerial feats.
£22.49
Exisle Publishing Getting Closer: Rediscovering Nature Through Bird
Book SynopsisGetting Closer is an illustrated discussion of photography as a way of achieving greater intimacy with the natural world. With a focus on birds, the book is directed primarily at photographers but also at birders, and people interested in the outdoors. The author offers a simple, practical path for readers to begin to rewild' themselves, introducing hands-on techniques that will enable readers to both deeply connect with their environment and become proficient wildlife photographers.
£17.99
Inhabit Media Inc Common Birds of Nunavut
Book SynopsisExplore the fascinating world of Nunavut's diverse bird populations in this richly visual, informative book. Through beautiful photographs and a broad range of information, readers will learn about the appearances, traditional uses, and behaviours of Arctic birds. With detailed information on more than 50 species, this book provides an in-depth look at Arctic birds. Far from a barren land of ice and snow, this book will introduce readers to the vibrant natural life of Nunavut through its distinct ornithology.
£15.11
Smithsonian Books Trogons and Quetzals of the World
Book SynopsisOf all birdgroups, none is more closely associated with the world's tropical forests than trogons and quetzals. With shimmering golden-green feathers and long ornamental tail coverts, Central America's resplendent quetzal often has been called the world's most beautiful bird. Other New World as well as African trogonids also are iridescent and brightly pigmented, while red or reddish brown hues predominate in Asian species. Since deforestation and fires have ravaged many of the reclusive group's prime habitats, ornithologists and conservationists may soon be unable to study many of the world's trogonids in their native environments. Beautifully illustrated with color plates and line drawings, this comprehensive review of trogons and quetzals -- the first to be published in more than 150 years -- covers all thirty-nine extant species. The book includes detailed species accounts, range maps, and identification keys as well as a chapter that discusses comparative biology in terms of evolution, anatomy and morphology, behavior, ecology, breeding biology, and populations. Forty hand-colored plates -- most by the renowned nineteenth-century illustrator John Gould -- depict adults of both sexes; nineteen line drawings by author Paul Johnsgard illustrate behavior and anatomy. The book also includes more than three hundred bibliographic references. Despite their beauty and renown among birders, little has been previously published about the biology of many trogon and quetzal species. This up-to-date survey will serve as a valuable reference for ornithologists, conservationists, aviculturalists, and birdwatchers worldwide.
£40.46
Smithsonian Books The Hummingbirds of North America, Second Edition
Book SynopsisSwift and iridescent, hummingbirds are found only in the New World, and encompass an amazing variety of specializations. No other family of birds can lay claim to so many superlatives, including smallest size, most rapid wingbeat, and most specialized plumages. While many species can be attracted to feeding stations and backyard flower gardens, others can be found only in the wild.Paul A. Johnsgard's Hummingbirds of North America is the only book devoted to the identification, distribution, and biology -- both individual and comparative -- of all hummingbirds that breed in North America. First published in 1983, this acclaimed volume now has been revised and expanded to include twenty-five Mexican species, such as the long-billed starthroat and the fork-tailed emeralds, thereby more than doubling the species coverage of the original edition. Full species-by-species accounts survey the evolutionary history, anatomical and physiological specializations, and comparative ecology, behavior, and reproductive biology of this largest family of nonpasserine birds. Individual accounts are complemented by 24 full-color paintings.Including updated range maps, identification keys, and a bibliography that has been broadened to include literature on the little-known Mexican species, the book is both accessible to amateur birders and an authoritative volume for ornithologists.
£33.24
Scribe Publications Enchantment by Birds
Book Synopsis
£17.09
Blair The Book of Flaco
Book SynopsisThe story of Flaco, the Eurasian eagle-owl who escaped from Central Park Zoo and captured the hearts and imaginations of millions of followers around the world, with 32 pages of stunning color photographs.This is a parable of freedom, wildness, and our urban ecosystems. Flaco has been dubbed “the world’s most famous bird.” From the night in February of 2023 when vandals cut a hole in his cage until his death a year later in a courtyard on the Upper West Side, his is a story full of adventure and unexpected turns.Nature writer David Gessner chronicles the year-long odyssey of Flaco and the human drama that followed the owl who captured the imaginations of New Yorkers and people around the world. Though he’d spent his life in a cage, Flaco learned to survive in New York City by eating rats, squirrels, and birds. He was an immigrant coming from elsewhere to make it in the big city. Central Park, the island of green in an urban sea, was his new home territory.Flaco’s urban adventure brought controversy, pitting those who felt he should be returned to the safety of the zoo against those who created the “Free Flaco” movement. The birding world was fractured over the ethics of the online sharing of his location that brought scores of enthusiasts to view him each day. And his end—with a grim necropsy revealing Flaco had suffered a viral infection from eating pigeons and had multiple rodenticides in his system—serves as a Rachel Carson-esque warning about the harm we’ve done to our urban environments, inspiring the passage of long-sought legislation protecting urban birds and regulations meant to reduce the use of rodenticides in New York City.
£19.96
Simon & Schuster Why Peacocks?: An Unlikely Search for Meaning in
Book SynopsisAn acclaimed journalist seeks to understand the mysterious allure of peacocks—and in the process discovers unexpected and valuable life lessons. 2022 Carnegie Medal for Excellence Longlist SelectionWhen Sean Flynn’s neighbor in North Carolina texted “Any chance you guys want a peacock? No kidding!” he stared bewilderedly at his phone. He had never considered whether he wanted a peacock. But as an award-winning magazine writer, this kind of mystery intrigued him. So he, his wife, and their two young sons became the owners of not one but three charming yet fickle birds: Carl, Ethel, and Mr. Pickle. In Why Peacocks?, Flynn chronicles his hilarious and heartwarming first year as a peacock owner, from struggling to build a pen to assisting the local bird doctor in surgery to triumphantly watching a peahen lay her first egg. He also examines the history of peacocks, from their appearance in the Garden of Eden to their befuddling Charles Darwin to their bewitching the likes of Flannery O’Connor and Martha Stewart. And fueled by a reporter’s curiosity, he travels across the globe to learn more about the birds firsthand, with stops including a Scottish castle where peacocks have resided for centuries, a southern California community tormented by a serial killer of peacocks, and a Kansas City airport hotel hosting an annual gathering of true peafowl aficionados. At turns comically absurd and deeply poignant, Why Peacocks? blends lively, insightful memoir and illuminating science journalism to answer the title’s question. More than that, it offers surprising lessons about love, grief, fatherhood, and family.
£11.99
Union Internationale pour la Conservation de la Nature et de ses Ressources,Switzerland Curassows, Guans and Chachalacas: Status Survey
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£22.79
Tauraco & Aves The Birds of Ghana: An Atlas and Handbook
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£33.24
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Behavioral Ecology of Neotropical Birds
Book SynopsisThis book covers central aspects of behavioral ecology, including sexual selection, social and genetic mating systems, cooperative breeding, brood parasitism, brood reduction, migration, personalities and communication. Over the past several years, Neotropical bird species from temperate to tropical latitudes of South America have been extensively studied, yielding valuable insights into the evolutionary mechanisms that drive their behavioral traits. In this book, international experts provide a general overview of main behavioral aspects. They also present the main findings of their work, including experimental approaches to testing the most accepted behavioral theory in their model systems. In closing, they propose new theoretical frameworks and future research directions. As such, the book provides a comprehensive and updated guide for all researchers, students and professionals whose work involves the study and management of birds across the Neotropical region. Trade Review“The present book adds new information on South American species and provides wider and sometimes contrasting interpretations of several topics. It therefore represents a useful complement to the earlier volume, and should be of wide interest to students of behavioral ecology.” (F. Gary Stiles, The Quarterly Review of Biology, Vol. 95 (3), 2020)Table of ContentsPreface 1. Social mating system divergence between north and south temperate Wrens2. Understanding variation in extra-pair paternity in birds: a focus on Neotropical birds3. Cooperative and Communal Breeding4. Sexual selection and mating systems: contributions from a Neotropical passerine model5. Brood reduction in Neotropical birds: mechanisms, patterns and insights from studies in the Imperial Shag (Phalacrocorax atriceps)6. Obligate brood parasitism on Neotropical birds7. Bird migration in South America: The Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) as a case study8. Visual and acoustic communication in Neotropical birds: diversity and evolution of signals9. A reappraisal of the fruit-taking and fruit-handling behaviors of Neotropical birds10.Perspectives on the study of field hummingbird cognition in the neotropicsIndex
£113.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG The Neuroethology of Birdsong
Book SynopsisVocal signals are central for social communication across a wide range of vertebrate species; consequently, it is critical to understand the mechanisms underlying the learning, control, and evolution of vocal communication. Songbirds are at the forefront of research into such neural mechanisms. Indeed, songbirds provide a particularly important model system for this endeavor because of the many parallels between birdsong and human speech. Specifically, (1) songbirds are one of the few vertebrate species that, like humans, learn their vocal signals during development, (2) the processes of song learning and control in songbirds shares many parallels with the process of speech acquisition in humans, and (3) there exist deep homologies between the circuits for the learning, control, and processing of vocal signals across songbirds and humans. In addition, because of the diversity of songbirds and song learning strategies, songbirds offer a powerful model system to use the comparative method to reveal mechanisms underlying the evolution of song learning and production. Taken together, research on songbirds can not only reveal general principles underlying vertebrate vocal communication but can also provide insight into potential mechanisms underlying the learning, control, and processing of speech. This volume will cover a range of topics in birdsong spanning multiple level of analysis. Chapters will be authored by the world’s leading experts on birdsong and will provide comprehensive reviews of the processes underlying song learning, of the neural circuits for song learning and control as well as for the extraction and processing of song information, of the selection pressures underlying song evolution, and of genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying the learning and evolution of song. The primary goals of this volume are to provide comprehensive, integrative, and comparative perspectives on birdsong and to underscore the importance of birdsong to biomedical research, evolutionary biology, and behavioral, systems, and computational neuroscience.The target audience of this volume will be graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and established academics and neuroscientists who are interested in mechanisms of communication from an integrative and comparative perspective. The volume is intended to function as a high-profile and contemporary reference on current work related to the learning, control, processing, and evolution of birdsong. This volume will have broad appeal to comparative and sensory biologists, neurophysiologists, and behavioral, systems, and cognitive neuroscientists who attend meetings such as the Society for Neuroscience, the International Society for Neuroethology, and the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology. Because of the relevance of birdsong research to understanding human speech, it is likely that the volume will also be of interest to speech researchers and clinicians researching communication, motor, and sensory processing disorders.Table of ContentsPROPOSED CHAPTERS (with proposed senior authors) 1. Approaching birdsong from multiple levels of analysis - Jon T. Sakata and Sarah C. Woolley This chapter will provide a broad overview of birdsong research from multiple levels of analysis. We will adopt Tinbergen’s landmark framework to provide summaries of research into the mechanisms, development, evolutionary history, and adaptive significance of birdsong (e.g., the importance of song performance to reproductive success). This introductory chapter will highlight key concepts to be discussed in greater depth in subsequent chapters and will emphasize the complementarity of birdsong research to broader research on vocal communication in vertebrates. 2. History of birdsong research - Jonathan Prather and Donald Kroodsma This chapter will present a historical overview of the field of birdsong. The authors will review the works of researchers who paved the way for the modern era of birdsong (e.g., Thorpe, Marler, Nottebohm, Konishi), highlight the importance of the comparative approach, outline central questions in birdsong, and discuss novel methodologies to answer classic questions. 375 3. Bridging birdsong and speech - Jon T. Sakata and Patricia Kuhl Songbirds are one of the few vertebrate species that, like humans, are not born with their vocal communication signals but must learn the structure of their species-typical vocalizations during development. Further, the process of song learning in songbird^1200 times). The chapter will discuss such diverse topics such as critical periods, sensory refinement across development, social reinforcement and contingency, learning in a social context, sensorimotor learning, reinforcement models for sensory and sensorimotor learning, species constraints on song learning, and entrainment. 4. Neural mechanisms of vocal learning - Mimi Kao and Michael S. Brainard This chapter will provide a comprehensive review of the neural mechanisms underlying vocal learning, theoretical models of vocal learning, and empirical tests of these models. The authors will provide detailed descriptions of the contributions of neurons in the canonical ‘song system’ and auditory processing circuits to vocal learning and plasticity. In addition, this chapter will review recent advances into our understanding of how neuromodulatory inputs into song and auditory circuits (e.g., from the ventral tegmental area, locus coeruleus, and nucleus basalis) shape the process of vocal learning. This chapter will also review shared and distinct mechanisms underlying sensory vs. sensorimotor learning as well as recent advances into the contribution of brain areas outside the canonical song system to song learning. 5. Neural mechanisms of song control - Michael Long and Tim Gardner This chapter will review the exciting new advances in our understanding of how neurons in the song system control song production. The chapter will provide an overview of theoretical models of song control and empirical support for such models and will discuss sensorimotor integration, efference copy, and feedback signals. The authors will also summarize recent technological advances to probe neural function, including optogenetics, miniaturized Peltier devices, and micro-imaging techniques. 6. Songbirds as models to understanding basal ganglia function - Arthur Leblois and David Perkel Area X is a basal ganglia structure that is critical for song learning and control and that resembles basal ganglia structures in mammals. This chapter will review the microcircuitry within Area X, the homologies between Area X and mammalian basal ganglia circuits, and the function of Area X neuronal circuits to juvenile song learning and to adult song control and plasticity. In addition, the authors will discuss how midbrain circuitry influences Area X function and, relatedly, how songbirds can help us understand the neural processes underlying Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. 7. Auditory processing for social decision-making - Sarah C. Woolley and Sarah M.N. Woolley Both male and female songbirds heavily rely on auditory information from conspecifics to make important social decisions; for example, female songbirds select their mates based on the quality of his song. This chapter will review the advances in understanding mechanisms of auditory processing for social decision-making. The authors will synthesize neurophysiological, cellular, and neuroimaging data to present an integrative framework for understanding sensory processing for social decision-making. 8. Regulation and modulation of auditory processing - Luke Remage-Healey and Yoko Yazaki-Sugiyama The processing of ethologically relevant stimuli is modulated by a variety of factors including behavioral state (awake vs. sleeping vs. anesthetized; singing vs. quiescent), developmental history, and species. This chapter will review how such factors influence auditory responses in songbirds and discuss the neural and endocrine mechanisms (e.g., norepinephrine, acetylcholine, sex steroid hormones) that could underlie such modulation of auditory responses. 9. Computational approaches to understanding the processing and production of birdsong - Frederic Theunissen and Kamal Sen Computational approaches have yielded important insights into how the nervous system encodes and decodes information. Such approaches have allowed birdsong researchers to uncover, for example, the complexity of receptive fields in the songbird brain as well as the hierarchical nature of sensory processing. This chapter will provide a comparative and in-depth overview of computational approaches to understanding both the processing and production of birdsong. 10. Genetic architectures underlying vocal learning and control - Sarah London and Constance Scharff Understanding how genes regulate complex behaviors like birdsong is a fundamental pursuit in behavioral neuroscience. Indeed, because of the numerous similarities in vocal learning processes between songbirds and humans, revealing the genes that influence vocal learning in songbirds can provide profound insight into the genes that could underlie variation in vocal learning in humans, including genes underlying developmental and communicative disorders. This chapter will provide a comprehensive review of the genes that have been found to influence song learning in songbirds, in particular in the zebra finch, with a focus on genes that have similarly been implicated in speech acquisition in humans (e.g., foxp2, cntnap2). 11. Cognitive contributions to song perception and production - Tim Gentner The songs of a variety of songbirds, including European starlings and Bengalese finches, have complex acoustic and syntactic structures and live in communities with complex social structures. Consequently, these songbirds offer a powerful opportunity to reveal the cognitive mechanisms underlying the processing and production of complex vocalizations. In addition, cognitive processes such as habituation and individual recognition regulate the processing and production of song in a wide range of songbird species. This chapter will review the exciting advances in our understanding of how avian brains process complex auditory signals. 12. Functional significance of vocal performance - Jeff Podos Because females decide to mate with individual males based, in part, on the the quality of their song, it is critical to understand the features of song that represent “song quality”. This chapter will review the various features of song considered to represent song quality, including repertoire size, complexity, and difficulty of performance, as well as the empirical support for the importance of these features to reproductive success. Further, the chapter will provide an overview of the peripheral and neurobiological control of these features in order to reveal potential substrates that selection acts upon. 13. Comparative studies of songbirds to reveal molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of song learning - Kazuhiro Wada, Kazuo Okanoya, and Erich Jarvis Vocal learning has evolved independently in three clades of birds – songbirds, parrots, and hummingbirds. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these evolutionary events remain elusive. With the utilization of high-throughput technologies to rapidly sequence genomes and analyze gene expression, we have recently gained deeper insight into the molecular underpinnings of song learning evolution. This chapter will provide an overview of approaches to study the evolution of song learning in birds and a review of the recent literature on candidate genes and molecules for vocal learning. The authors will also provide an outlook on the future of advances in the field, including the integration of evo-devo approaches and behavioral genetics to the study of song evolution.
£134.99
Springer Nature Switzerland AG The Call of the Cranes: Expeditions into a
Book SynopsisCranes are enigmatic birds. Only very little is known about the behaviour of these graceful dancers. The renowned naturalist and crane expert Bernhard Wessling takes us on exciting and adventurous expeditions into their hidden world and gets to the bottom of the myths surrounding these birds of happiness. With the help of a specially developed bioacoustic method, Dr. Wessling studied Eurasian, Red-Crowned, Sandhill and Whooping Cranes, all in the wild. He has researched their intelligence, social dynamics and communication and engaged in their protection. Impressively illustrated and lively narrated, this book presents his findings on their individually unique lives and relationships, their ability to adapt and solve problems, and their emotions. His observations allow us to delve deeply into the cranes' way of life and consciousness, often demonstrating the surprising similarities between humans and animals. An amazing work about the spirit of discovery, humility and respect for nature in the tradition of Alexander von Humboldt.Cranes are among the most captivating birds on this planet. Dr. Wessling knows these birds, has accumulated a lifetime of observations on them, and has thought deeply about their abilities. In this book, he seeks to overturn old ideas about how these birds live, communicate, and think. His revelations surprise and delight and shed new light on an ancient avian family. Jennifer Ackerman, author of the New York Times bestseller The Genius of Birds and The Bird WayThe Call of the Cranes is a mesmerizing, vivid, lyrical and revelatory book. It truly is a spectacular book and a treasure! Sy Montgomery, naturalist and author of 31 books (incl. the New York Times bestseller The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness)In this book, Bernhard Wessling shares his fascinating stories about cranes through patient observations and thoughtful conclusions. George Archibald, Co-Founder of the International Crane Foundation, Senior ConservationistTable of ContentsPreface (the author‘s way to nature and a preview into the book)Chapter 1: How everything started (a coincidental encounter with cranes and with the new crane protection group; first observations)Chapter 2: Compact crane knowledge: myths and facts (a little bit of basic knowledge about cranes and about the role of cranes in mythology, in very short form)Chapter 3: Problem solutions, ballet courtship and fox alarm: how do cranes communicate with each other? (surprising observations about how cranes are solving problems and how they communicate)Chapter 4: Arrival in the nature preserve after return from wintering grounds: alone or in groups? (unique experiences how cranes return from wintering into the breeding area: nobody has ever observed or expected it to be like this)Chapter 5: Breeding season: a tragic romance (a brood destroyed, a female crane missing, her partner in mourning)Chapter 6: Ruff, a white-tailed eagle and other visitors to the nature preserve: crane guards‘ amazing experiences (completely different and interesting experiences during serving as crane guards for a whole week)Chapter 7: The school of life (crane „kids“ also have to study; one of the courses is learning to fly; the author describes the process in the flight school)Chapter 8: Tracking the cranes‘ language: they are calling and talk about their lives (the author gets the idea to record crane calls and analyze their voices; he develops a suitable method and so gets to know the cranes much deeper)Chapter 9: Worldwide endeavors: Asian and American cranes are calling me (the crane research project becomes international: the author is called to introduce his method worldwide)Chapter 10: Research adventures: overhear red-crowned cranes at minus 25 °C while guarded by armed border soldiers (exciting expeditions to the red-crowned cranes on Hokkaido island of Japan, and in the demilitarized zone within sight of the border to North Korea)Chapter 11: The adventure continues: visiting the wild whooping cranes (even more adventurous expeditions to North America for doing research on wild whooping cranes, the author is asked to contribute to a very complex species recovery project)Chapter 12: We are taking off: the hard way to the migration flight school (world première: young cranes raised in isolation learn to fly and to use the old migration route from the North to the South of the U.S., and become 100% wild)Chapter 13: What can we learn about intelligence, migratory behaviour, culture development, use of tools and self-awareness in cranes? (further research on the behaviour and abilities of cranes)Chapter 14: Can cranes think strategically? Other amazing observations (the cognitive performance of cranes is higher than previously thought; the author describes evidence of "episodic memory" and strategically planned problem solving)Chapter 15: Cranes are subjects. A plea for more modesty and respect for nature. (manifold practical consequences for nature and species conservation)In a detailed appendix, readers will find, among other things, a discussion of the emotions that cranes possess (or those that cranes probably do not possess), further observations of cranes, especially from abroad, a more detailed description of the nature reserves in and near Hamburg, where Wessling began his crane conservation work and research, and in a final chapter of the appendix new observations (Wessling recently started again with call recordings and their analysis) and practical advice for readers who would like to record and analyse bird calls themselves.In addition, there are 144 notes with references to further literature as well as links to information, further photos, videos and some typical call recordings he had made on the Internet.
£23.74
Harrassowitz The Earliest Extant Bird List of Hainan: An
Book Synopsis
£58.90
BoD - Books on Demand Alle Vögel der Welt 3
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£84.68
Prestel The Birds of America
Book SynopsisThe celebrated and highly valued natural history classic, now fully reproduced for the 1st time with an introduction by world-renowned ornithologist David Allen SibleyFeaturing 435 stunning images of Audubon’s original watercolors, this is the perfect addition to any bird lover’s libraryFirst published in installments between 1827 and 1838, John James Audubon’s treasured collection of life-sized watercolors of North American birds is the standard against which all wildlife illustration is measured.With fewer than 120 surviving copies in museums and private collections, this volume was created in conjunction with the Natural History Museum in London which disbound 1 of their 2 original editions in the process for the first time. This stunning nearly 500 page, 8x12 reissue contains: 435 exquisite reproductions of hand-colored prints of the original watercolors Detailed descriptions of American birds and their natural habitats, organized alphabetically from the avocet grazing in a tidal pond to the zenaida dove perched on a flowering branch Expertly researched by an avid outdoorsman and explorer, the stunning illustrations are based on Audubon’s specimen collections from Florida to Labrador to Texas and the Dakotas Straddling the line between science and art, this book mesmerized 19th-century audiences around the world. Today it stands as a reminder of the spectacular biodiversity of the North American continent, and of the pioneer spirit that Audubon himself revered.
£45.00
Universities Press Birds: Beyond Watching
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£12.71
De Gruyter Bird Ringing Station Manual
Book SynopsisIn an attempt to standardize elements of the station routine, the book describes the procedures used in passerine and wader ringing stations. It offers a comparative analysis of versatile evaluation techniques such as measurements, orientation experiments and monitoring. The authors meticulously analyze different methods used to track birds, including catching passerines with mist-nets in land and wetland habitat, as well as the use of the Heligoland trap. The monograph, as a successful bid to establish a bird station routine that is favourable to both birds and ringers, will benefit all professional and amateur ringers.
£89.10
Alada Books, S.L. Birds of the West Indies
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£43.20
Alada Books, S.L. Birds of Vietnam. 2nd Edition
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£49.50
Alada Books, S.L. Birds of Vietnam. 2nd Edition
Book Synopsis
£49.50
Alada Books, S.L. Handbook of the Birds of the World: v. 1: Ostrich
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£141.38
Alada Books, S.L. Handbook of the Birds of the World: v. 2: New
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£141.51
