The World of Birds - Hardcover

Jonathan Elphick

4.4

20 ratings by Goodreads

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0565092375 ISBN 13: 9780565092375

Publisher: The Natural History Museum, 2014

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The World of Birds is a groundbreaking guide to every aspect of bird life and a complete survey of the world's orders and families of birds. Written by eminent natural history expert Jonathan Elphick and with special photography from award-winning wildlife photographer David Tipling, it is the ultimate companion for birders, wildlife enthusiasts and anyone wanting an accessible and accurate acccount of these amazing creatures. The book begins by examining the evolution of birds since the age of the dinosaurs. It then explores in greater detail each of the significant elements of bird life: bird biology including anatomy, physiology, the brain and senses, plumage, calls and songs; flight techniques and styles; food and feeding; bird lifestyles and social relationships; breeding, growth and development; bird geography and habitats; and migration. The second part of the book provides a comprehensive survey of the world's birds which includes an introduction to the 32 orders and a detailed account and concise fact panel for every one of the 195 families. A glossary, further reading list and two indexes ensure easy reference. With its clear, lively text and fact boxes, and sumptuous illustrations throughout - over 1,000 photographs, maps and diagrams - The World of Birds is a book everyone interested in birds should own.

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Product Description:

The first part of this extensive guide to birds, which features copious photographs, diagrams and sidebars, explains all aspects of bird life, including anatomy, breeding, flight, food, habitat, plumage and song. In the second part there is a comprehensive survey of the 32 bird orders and 195 families, each of the latter accompanied by a detailed account and fact panel (range, habitat, food, migration, etc.), plus a full glossary of terms and two exhaustive indexes.

Review:

As one might expect from Elphick, there is a platinum standard to the book s accuracy...it is also bang up to date...this is a wonderfully authoritative, but also carefully compressed, statement on all things avian. My guess is that it will be a baseline reference for years to come. --Mark Cocker, Birdwatch magazine

Weighty this book may be, but Elphick displays a light touch, his unfussy writing clarifying difficult concepts...encyclopaedic in both ambition and achievement, and a tome to be treasured. --BBC Wildlife magazine, Book of the Month

As thorough and as all-encompassing as you could hope, given the scale of the task, while also being readable and easily understood...Erudite but accessible, and looking absolutely great, you can imagine this becoming a fixture on most birders shelves. --Birdwatching magazine

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