Birds of Field and Shore: Grassland and Shoreline Birds of Eastern North America by
"This is one of the most invaluable bird guides to be published in quite some time." --Booklist "Presented in a readable, easy to follow narrative . . . a well-researched look at the birds and their lives." --Eirik Blom, Bird Watcher's Digest Birds of Field and Shore describes how 42 common grassland and shoreline birds nest, mate, and rear their broods in spring; how they feed in summer; whether, how, and where they migrate in fall; and how they survive in winter. This seasonal approach, together with an emphasis on ecological niches, distinguishes Eastman's books from other field guides. Precise illustration complements informative text, making Birds of Field and Shore an appealing and educational guide for birders of any skill level. Entries are arranged in taxonomic order based on DNA testing. Selected bibliography and index are included.
Feeder Birds of Eastern North America: Getting to Know Easy-to-attract Backyard Visitors by
Bird-watchers know there is a list of species that regularly and dependably come to dine at backyard bird feeders. This perfect guide introduces 30 North American birds most likely to appear at your feeder, including sparrows, finches, chickadees, woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, and cardinals. Concise text and beautiful color photos and drawings help you identify these common visitors, both male and female Each account offers details about the birds' fascinating lives in the wild AUTHOR: Sandy Allison is a writer and editor who lives in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. 40 colour photographs and 20 drawings
Hawks and Owls of Eastern North America by
Provides an introduction to our native birds of prey, describing their identifying characteristics, their behaviors, their habitats, and what is being done to protect them.
Identifying Birds of Prey: Quick Reference Guide for Eastern North America by
An engaging quick-reference guide to the basics of identifying hawks, eagles, falcons, vultures, and kites in flight. Includes color photos and simplified outlines showing key features of each species, as well as range maps and comparison spreads Perfect for the beginning hawk watcher or for any outdoors-lover who wants to know more about daytime birds of prey
Petrels, Albatrosses, and Storm-Petrels of North America by
A complete illustrated guide to these enigmatic seabirds Petrels, albatrosses, and storm-petrels are among the most beautiful yet least known of all the world's birds, living their lives at sea far from the sight of most people. Largely colored in shades of gray, black, and white, these enigmatic and fast-flying seabirds can be hard to differentiate, particularly from a moving boat. Useful worldwide, not just in North America, this photographic guide is based on unrivaled field experience and combines insightful text and hundreds of full-color images to help you identify these remarkable birds. The first book of its kind, this guide features an introduction that explains ocean habitats and the latest developments in taxonomy. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features such as flight manner, plumage variation related to age and molt, seasonal occurrence patterns, and migration routes. Species accounts are arranged into groups helpful for field identification, and an overview of unique identification challenges is provided for each group. The guide also includes distribution maps for regularly occurring species as well as a bibliography, glossary, and appendixes. The first state-of-the-art photographic guide to these enigmatic seabirds Includes hundreds of full-color photos throughout Features detailed species accounts that describe flight, plumage, distribution, and more Provides overviews of ocean habitats, taxonomy, and conservation Offers tips on how to observe and identify birds at sea
Boreal Birds of North America: A Hemispheric View of Their Conservation Links and Significance (Studies in Avian Biology) by
Reaching from interior Alaska across Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, North America's boreal forest is the largest wilderness area left on the planet. It is critical habitat for billions of birds; more than 300 species regularly breed there. After the breeding season, many boreal birds migrate to seasonal habitats across the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This volume brings together new research on boreal bird biology and conservation. It highlights the importance of the region to the global avifauna and to the connectivity between the boreal forest and ecoregions throughout the Americas. The contributions showcase a unique set of perspectives on the migration, wintering ecology, and conservation of bird communities that are tied to the boreal forest in ways that may not have been previously considered.
New Encyclopedia of Birds by
The New Encyclopedia of Birds is the definitive New Encyclopedia of Birdse birds of the world. Entries prepared by a team of renowned biologists and by Christopher M. Perrins, stematic account of every family, covering their form and function, distribution, diet, social ISBN: 0-19-852506-0ding biology. With one-eighth of all bird GBP35.00s now under threat, special attention is given to GBP26.25nmental and conservation issues. The Encyclopedia's clear, readable text is supplemented by a wealth of photographs showing the wide diversity of birds in their natural habitat. In addition, beautifully Dear Contributor, d line artworks depict representative species in each family and highlight characteristic The New Encyclopedia of Birds has recently been published, and as a thank you for your valued help with this project we would like to offer you a 25 per cent discount on the published price. distribution maps and scale drawings, put key data at the reader's fingertips. A fully revised and updated successor to the same editor's acclaimed Encyclopedia of Birds (1990), this comprehensive reference work will appeal both to the amateur birdwatcher and to the student of ornithology
Rare Birds of North America by
The first comprehensive illustrated guide to North America's vagrant birds Rare Birds of North America is the first comprehensive illustrated guide to the vagrant birds that occur throughout the United States and Canada. Featuring 275 stunning color plates, this book covers 262 species originating from three very different regions--the Old World, the New World tropics, and the world's oceans. It explains the causes of avian vagrancy and breaks down patterns of occurrence by region and season, enabling readers to see where, when, and why each species occurs in North America. Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, taxonomy, age, sex, distribution, and status. Rare Birds of North America provides unparalleled insights into vagrancy and avian migration, and will enrich the birding experience of anyone interested in finding and observing rare birds. Covers 262 species of vagrant birds found in the United States and Canada Features 275 stunning color plates that depict every species Explains patterns of occurrence by region and season Provides an invaluable overview of vagrancy patterns and migration Includes detailed species accounts and cutting-edge identification tips
The Secret Perfume of Birds: uncovering the science of avian scent by
The puzzling lack of evidence for the peculiar but widespread belief that birds have no sense of smell irked evolutionary biologist Danielle Whittaker. Exploring the science behind the myth led her on an unexpected quest investigating mysteries from how juncos win a fight to why cowbirds smell like cookies. In The Secret Perfume of Birds?part science, part intellectual history, and part memoir?Whittaker blends humor, clear writing, and a compelling narrative to describe how scent is important not just for birds but for all animals, including humans. Whittaker engagingly describes how emerging research has uncovered birds' ability to produce complex chemical signals that influence their behavior, including where they build nests, when they pick a fight, and why they fly away. Mate choice, or sexual selection?a still enigmatic aspect of many animals' lives?appears to be particularly influenced by smell. Whittaker's pioneering studies suggest that birds' sexy (and scary) signals are produced by symbiotic bacteria that manufacture scents in the oil that birds stroke on their feathers when preening. From tangerine-scented auklets to her beloved juncos, redolent of moss, birds from across the world feature in Whittaker's stories, but she also examines the smelly chemicals of all kinds of creatures, from iguanas and bees to monkeys and humans. Readers will enjoy a rare opportunity to witness the twisting roads scientific research can take, especially the challenging, hilarious, and occasionally dangerous realities of ornithology in the wild. The Secret Perfume of Birds will interest anyone looking to learn more about birds, about how animals and humans use our senses, and about why it can sometimes take a rebel scientist to change what we think we know for sure about the world?and ourselves.