Bird Behavior

by J.D. Macdonald, Derek Goodwin, Helmut E. Alder

An increasing number of people want to explore the bird world and learn a lot more about birds than just their names. To them, the nature of the contents of an egg is just as important as the features that distinguish a song sparrow from an English sparrow. The purpose of this book is to introduce the reader, in simple language, to some of the main features of the life of birds--their courtship, nest building, care of baby birds, bathing and preening, social life, adaptation to their habitat, and migration and orientation, as well as to their physical structure, internal anatomy, and feather structure.How does a bird breathe? Does it have ears? How do feathers get their colors? Why can't ostriches fly? Why does the bird of paradise have coarse legs? Why does a loggerhead shrike impale insects on a thorn? Can birds navigate by the sun or stars? These are but a few of the thousands of questions answered for the interested reader in this authoritative, beautifully illustrated volume. Many of the examples are taken from the rich personal experiences of the authors.As for the book's range, it covers many well-known and interesting species from the familiar robin and common starling to the regal peacock and the humorous penguin--birds that inhabit bleak mountaintops, forests and woodlands, and muddy marshes, along with city and backyard birds. Knowing about bird behavior will add to the pleasure of your next camping trip, drive through the forest, or walk in the park. This stimulating introduction to bird behavior with its many photographs and diagrams will prove an irreplaceable companion.A special feature of the book is its plain, everyday language, which avoids the jargon in which scientific concepts are so often couched. It is nevertheless completely reliable from the point of view of ornithology and the study of bird behavior and introduces the reader to concepts often found only in scientific literature.

Hardcover

Published January 1, 1962