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OUP other bird books.

The books are ordered by publication date with the most recent publications at the top.

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Birds of the Western Palearctic

Handbook of Australian, New Zealand, and Antarctic Birds

Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan

Other field guides and h/books

Oxford Ornithology Series

Avian Biology Series

Threatened Birds (India)

Images of Asia (Birds)

Ecology & Evolution Series

Biology of Habitats Series

Techniques in Ecology & Conservation

Other bird related books

Charles Darwin's Life With Birds

Clifford B. Frith

2016

"Charles Darwin's Birds is a comprehensive treatment of Darwin's work as an ornithologist. Clifford Frith discusses every ornithological topic and bird species that Darwin researched, providing a complete historical survey of his published writing on birds. Through this, we learn how Darwin became an increasingly skilled and eventually exceptional ornithologist, and how his relationships grew with contemporary scientists like John Gould. It examines how Darwin was influenced by birds, and how the major themes of his research developed through his study of them. The book also features 4 appendices, which contain brief accounts of every bird species Darwin wrote about, basic ornithological information about each of the species, and a listing of where the species appears in Darwin's work."

Nests, Eggs, & Incubation: New Ideas About Avian Reproduction

Editor: D. C. Deeming, S. J. Reynolds

2016

"Nests, Eggs, and Incubation brings together a global team of leading authorities to provide a comprehensive overview of the fascinating and diverse field of avian reproduction. Starting with a new assessment of the evolution of avian reproductive biology in light of recent research, the book goes on to cover four broad areas: the nest, the egg, incubation, and the study of avian reproduction. New research on nest structures, egg traits, and life history is incorporated, whilst contemporary methodologies such as self-contained temperature probes and citizen science are also discussed. Applied chapters describe how biological knowledge can be applied to challenges such as urbanisation and climate change. The book concludes by suggesting priorities for future research."

Important Bird Areas of Maharashtra: Priority Sites for Conservation

Asad R. Rahmani, M. Zafar-ul Islam, Raju Kasambe and Jayant Wadatkar

2014

"This volume is part of a series of books on important bird areas (IBAs) of specific states, which is an extension of Important Bird Areas in India: Priority Sites for Conservation (2004) that described 466 IBAs for India. Important Bird Areas of Maharashtra provides comprehensive information about the IBAs in the state of Maharashtra. As a part of the IBAs series, this book has up-to-date scientific information on twenty important sites which need conservation attention. Also contains information on seven additional sites that have been identified by using the global IBA criteria set by BirdLife International."

Avian Urban Ecology: Behavioural and Physiological Adaptations

Editor: Diego Gil and Henrik Brumm

2013

"As natural habitat continues to be lost and the world steadily becomes more urbanized, biologists are increasingly studying the effect this has on wildlife. Birds are particularly good model systems since their life history, behaviour, and physiology are especially influenced by directly measurable environmental factors such as light and sound pollution. It is therefore relatively easy to compare urban individuals and populations with their rural counterparts. This accessible text focuses on the behavioural and physiological mechanisms which facilitate adaptation and on the evolutionary process that ensues. It discusses topics such as acoustics, reproductive cues, disease, and artificial feeding, and includes a series of case studies illustrating cutting edge research on these areas. Avian Urban Ecology is suitable for professional avian biologists and ornithologists as well as graduate students of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. It will also be of relevance and use to a more general audience of urban ecologists and conservation biologists."

Important Bird Areas of Jammu & Kashmir

Asad R. Rahmani, M. Zafar-ul Islam, Khursheed Ahmad, Intesar Suhail, Pankaj Chandan, and Ashfaq Ahmed Zarri

2013

"This volume is part of a series of books on important bird areas (IBAs) of specific states, which is an extension of Important Bird Areas in India: Priority Sites for Conservation (2004) that described 466 IBAs for India. The third book in the series, this volume focuses on the IBAs of Jammu & Kashmir. Co-authored by six field scientists and wildlife officers, Important Bird Areas of Jammu & Kashmir is a collaborative effort of BNHS, WWF-India, RSPB, and BirdLife International. Profusely illustrated with more than 70 images showing habitats and birds and with a polygon map for each IBA, this book will help advocate for the protection of all wildlife and wild areas, as IBAs are also Key Biodiversity Areas."

The Life of David Lack: Father of Evolutionary Ecology

Ted Anderson

2013

"Most people who have taken a biology course in the past 50 years are familiar with the work of David Lack, but few remember his name. Almost all general biology texts produced during that period have a figure showing the beak size differences among the finches of the Galapagos Islands from Lack's 1947 classic, Darwin's Finches. Lack's pioneering conclusions in Darwin's Finches mark the beginning of a new scientific discipline, evolutionary ecology. Tim Birkhead, in his acclaimed book, The Wisdom of Birds, calls Lack the 'hero of modern ornithology.' Who was this influential, yet relatively unknown man? The Life of David Lack, Father of Evolutionary Ecology provides an answer to that question based on Ted Anderson's personal interviews with colleagues, family members and former students as well as material in the extensive Lack Archive at Oxford University."

The Evolution of Parental Care

Editor: Nick J. Royle, Per T. Smiseth, and Mathias Kölliker

2012

"Parental care includes a wide variety of traits that enhance offspring development and survival. It is taxonomically widespread and is central to the maintenance of biodiversity through its close association with other phenomena such as sexual selection, life-history evolution, sex allocation, sociality, cooperation and conflict, growth and development, genetic architecture, and phenotypic plasticity. This novel book provides a fresh perspective on the study of the evolution of parental care based on contributions from some of the top researchers in the field. It provides evidence that the dynamic nature of family interactions, and particularly the potential for co-evolution among family members, has contributed to the great diversity of forms of parental care and life-histories across as well as within taxa."

Threatened Birds of India: Their Conservation Requirements

Asad R. Rahmani

2012

"This book is an extension of the BNHS's IBA programme to identify the most threatened and near threatened bird species in India and to recommend measures for their long-term protection. It discusses trade in threatened birds in India, status of pesticide contamination in birds in India, dams and threatened birds in the Brahmaputra floodplains, India's tiger reserves and threatened bird species, threats and opportunities of Avian conservation in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, management and conservation perspectives for Avian species in the Terai region, and taxonomy, distribution, and conservation status of strophocincla laughingthrushes of Western Ghats. Covering Critically Endangered (like Himalayan quail or mountain quail, pink-headed duck, white-bellied heron, etc.), Endangered (green peafowl, red-breasted goose, white-headed duck, etc.), Vulnerable (Nicobar megapode, marbled duck, Kashmir flycatcher, etc.), and Near Threatened (Japanese quail, Nicobar pigeon, Andaman hawk-owl, etc.) species, this volume will help in expanding the scope of conservation in India beyond tiger conservation to make it more inclusive."

In the Field, Among the Feathered: A History of Birders and Their Guides

Thomas R. Dunlap

2012

"In the Field, Among the Feathered tells the history of field guides to birds in America from the Victorian era to the present, relating changes in the guides to shifts in science, the craft of field identification, and new technologies for the mass reproduction of images. Drawing on his experience as a passionate birder and on a wealth of archival research, Thomas Dunlap shows how the twin pursuits of recreation and conservation have inspired birders and how field guides have served as the preferred method of informal education about nature for well over a century. The book begins with the first generation of late 19th-century birdwatchers who built the hobby when opera glasses were often the best available optics and bird identification was sketchy at best. As America became increasingly urban, birding became more attractive, and with Roger Tory Peterson's first field guide in 1934, birding grew in both popularity and accuracy. By the 1960s recreational birders were attaining new levels of expertise, even as the environmental movement made birding's other pole, conservation, a matter of human health and planetary survival. Dunlap concludes by showing how recreation and conservation have reached a new balance in the last 40 years, as scientists have increasingly turned to amateurs, whose expertise had been honed by the new guides, to gather the data they need to support habitat preservation."

Seabird Islands: Ecology, Invasion, and Restoration

Editor: Christa PH Mulder, Wendy B Anderson, David R Towns and Peter J Bellingham

2011

"Islands with large colonies of seabirds are found throughout the globe. Seabird islands provide nesting and roosting sites for birds that forage at sea, deposit marine nutrients on land, and physically alter these islands. Habitats for numerous endemic and endangered animal and plant species, seabird islands are therefore biodiversity hotspots with high priority for conservation. Successful campaigns to eradicate predators (e.g., rats and cats) from seabird islands have been conducted worldwide. However, removal of predators will not necessarily lead to natural recovery of seabirds or other native species. Restoration of island ecosystems requires social acceptance of eradications, knowledge of how island food webs function, and a long-term commitment to measuring and assisting the recovery process. This book, written collaboratively by and for ecologists and resource managers, provides the first large-scale cross-system compilation, comparison, and synthesis of the ecology of seabird island systems."

Birds of the Great Andamanese: Names, Classification and Culture

Satish Pande and Anvita Abbi

2011

"The first work on Great Andamanese ethno-ornithology, it looks into semantics, linguistics, cultural history, and ornithology. Starting with a brief history of ornithology, the book moves on to describe the birdlife of Andamans, indigenous place names of Andamanese Islands, the language and people, among other things. The main part of the book is taken up by species description complemented by photographs of over 100 Andaman bird species. From the methodology of data collection and ethnobiology and nomenclature of birds to how living things are perceived by traditional societies, the nomenclature of avian taxa, and ethno-ornithological classification by Great Andamanese - the range of issues addressed is breathtaking. Interesting details and information related to bird calls and their significance, sound-size symbolism, birds in omen and augury, and bird colour and symbolism add a special flavour to the reading. Importantly, the book also dwells on the threats to wild flora and fauna of Andaman Islands and provides recommendations for conservation."

Birds of India: A Literary Anthology

Abdul Jamil Urfi

2011

"Birds of India: A Literary Anthology takes a new look at natural history writings in India, and brings together for the first time extracts from ancient, medieval, as well as later-day works. Highlighting the role of birds in human life-from religion to entertainment, mythology to science, superstition to wisdom-the collection brings to light the richness and diversity of the literature available on the subject."

Wytham Woods: Oxford's Ecological Laboratory

Editor: Peter Savill, Christopher Perrins, Keith Kirby, and Nigel Fisher

2011

"For the first time, this book tells the Wytham story in a way that is accessible to both scientist and general reader alike. It provides a fascinating overview of what the Woods are like, their history, composition (both plant and animal), and how their wildlife has changed over time. This iconic location has been the subject of a series of continuous ecological research programmes dating back to the 1920s, a level of continuity of research effort that is extremely rare. Hence there is a strong emphasis on the significance of the scientific research that has been done there and how this has contributed to ecological thinking elsewhere."

Animal Migration: A Synthesis

Editor: E.J. Milner-Gulland, John M. Fryxell, Anthony R.E. Sinclair

2011

"Despite the wealth of natural historical research conducted on migration over decades, there is still a dearth of hypothesis-driven studies that fully integrate theory and empirical analyses to understand the causes and consequences of migration, and a taxonomic bias towards birds in much migration research. This book takes a comparative, integrated view of animal migration, linking evolution with ecology and management, theory with empirical research, and embracing all the major migratory taxa (including human pastoralists). The scope extends beyond the target organism to consider the ecosystem-level dynamics of migration. The emphasis is on exciting new research avenues that are now opening up, whether due to advances in our understanding of migration as a biological phenomenon or through the availability of a range of new technologies."

Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Birds

J. Eduardo P. W. Bicudo, William A. Buttemer, Mark A. Chappell, James T. Pearson, and Claus Bech

2010

"Birds have colonized almost every terrestrial habitat on the planet - from the poles to the tropics, and from deserts to high mountain tops. Ecological and Environmental Physiology of Birds focuses on our current understanding of the unique physiological characteristics of birds that are of particular interest to ornithologists, but also have a wider biological relevance. An introductory chapter covers the basic avian body plan and their still-enigmatic evolutionary history. The focus then shifts to a consideration of the essential components of that most fundamental of avian attributes: the ability to fly. The emphasis here is on feather evolution and development, flight energetics and aerodynamics, migration, and as a counterpoint, the curious secondary evolution of flightlessness that has occurred in several lineages. This sets the stage for subsequent chapters, which present specific physiological topics within a strongly ecological and environmental framework."

Effects Of Climate Change On Birds

Editor: Anders Pape Møller, Wolfgang Fiedler and Peter Berthold

2010

"Climate change affects all living organisms; it has done so in the past and will do so in the future. However, current climate change is exceptional both in terms of the rate of change and the impact of multiple types of global change on individuals, populations, species, and ecosystems. Effects of Climate Change on Birds provides an exhaustive and up-to-date synthesis of the science of climate change as it relates to birds. Compared with any other class of animals, birds provide more long-term data and extensive time series (some dating back more than 100 years), a more geographically and taxonomically diverse source of information, and a longer tradition of extensive research. In fact this research record exceeds what is available in all other organisms combined."

Latin Names of Indian Birds: Explained

Satish A. Pande

2010

"This book explains the Latin names of all birds of the Indian Subcontinent. The Introductory section on science and philosophy of bird nomenclature describes several aspects like toponyms, eponyms, descriptive and other epithets, as well as the role of International Commission for Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). Information about all taxon-authors of birds of the Indian Subcontinent is provided in a separate section. The book also provides information on the conservation and endemic status and distribution of all birds. With four separate indexes of common names, generic names, specific names of birds, and of taxon-authors, this volume includes 18 lithographs by John Gould, Elizabeth Gould, and Henry Richter, 15 specially commissioned portraits of Taxon-authors, 309 bird sketches, and 8 black and white photographs of prominent ornithological personalities."

The History of British Birds

Derek Yalden and Umberto Albarella

2009

"The History of British Birds reviews our knowledge of avifaunal history over the last 15,000 years, setting it in its wider historical and European context. The authors, one an ornithologist the other an archaeologist, integrate a wealth of archaeological data to illuminate and enliven the story, indicating the extent to which climatic, agricultural, and social changes have affected the avifauna. They discuss its present balance, as well as predicting possible future changes."

Ducks, Geese and Swans of India: Their Status and Distribution

Asad R Rahmani and Zafar-ul M Islam

2009

"Ducks, Geese and Swans of India describes 42 species of ducks, geese, and swans found in India. Written by experts in the field, this book discusses the distribution, population size, migratory movement, habitat and ecology, and conservation status of these birds. The descriptions are illustrated with colour images of specimens and maps showing the distribution of these birds across the Indian subcontinent. The book comes equipped with a companion CD. It will interest ornithologists, birdwatchers, conservationists, as well as general readers interested in the flora and fauna of the Indian subcontinent."

The Encyclopedia of Birds

Editor: Christopher Perrins

2009

"he Encyclopedia of Birds is the definitive single-volume guide to the birds of the world. Written by a team of renowned biologists and conservationists, it offers accessible coverage of every family - their form and function, distribution, diet, social behaviour, and breeding biology - giving special attention to environmental 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, as well as beautifully detailed illustrations depicting representative species in each family. In addition 'Factfile' panels throughout the book, with distribution maps and scale drawings, put key data at the reader's fingertips, ensuring that this comprehensive reference work will appeal to amateur birdwatchers and student and professional ornithologists alike."

Silent Fields: The long decline of a nation's wildlife

Roger Lovegrove

2008

"Since time immemorial mankind has taken it upon himself to wage war against nature - against those species of birds and mammals which he believes conflict with his livelihood. This remarkable book is about that war of attrition against the native mammals and birds of England and Wales from the middle ages to the present day. There is widespread knowledge about the huge declines in popular species such as song birds, farmland birds, otters, and pine martens, however, there is less understanding about the deep-rooted causes of these losses, or about the complex relationship between mankind and these species."

Built By Animals: The Natural History Of Animal Architecture

Mike Hansell

2007

"From termite mounds that in relative terms are three times as tall as a skyscraper, to the elaborate nests of social birds and the deadly traps of spiders, the constructions of the animal world can amaze and at times humble our own engineering and technology. But how do creatures with such small brains build these complex structures? What drives them to do it? Which skills are innate and which learned? Mike Hansell looks at the extraordinary structures that animals build - whether homes, traps, or courtship displays - and reveals the biology behind their behaviour. He shows how small-brained animals achieve complex feats in a small-brained way, by repeating many simple actions and using highly evolved self-secreted materials. On the other hand, the building feats or tool use of large-brained animals, such as humans or chimps, require significantly more complex and costly behaviour. We look at wasp's nests, leaf-cutting ants, caddisflies and amoebae, and even the extraordinary bower bird, who seduces his mate with a decorated pile of twigs, baubles, feathers and berries. Hansell explores how animal structures evolved over time, how insect societies emerge, how animals can alter their wider habitat, and even whether some animals have an aesthetic sense."

Conservation and Biology of Small Populations: The Song Sparrows of Mandarte Island

James N.M. Smith, Lukas F. Keller, Amy B. Marr & Peter Arcese

2006

"This book explores the factors affecting the survival of small populations. As the human impact on Earth expands, populations of many wild species are being squeezed into smaller and smaller habitats. As a consequence, they face an increasing threat of extinction. National and international conservation groups rush to add these populations, species and sub-species to their existing endangered and threatened lists. In nations with strong conservation laws, listing often triggers elaborate plans to rescue declining populations and restore their habitats. The authors review these theoretical ideas, the existing data, and explore the question: how well do small and isolated populations actually perform. Their case study group is the song sparrows of Mandarte Island, British Columbia. This population is small enough and isolated enough so that all individuals can be uniquely marked and their survival and reproduction monitored over many generations. This is one of the strongest long-term ecological studies of a contained vertebrate population, now in its 31st year."

Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World

Eugene M. McCarthy

2006

"With more than 5,000 works cited, "Handbook of Avian Hybrids of the World" is the greatest compendium of information ever published on hybridization in birds. Worldwide in scope, it provides information on all reported avian crosses, not only those occurring in captivity, but also in a natural setting (approximately 4,000 crosses are covered). This book is a basic reference, intended both for the serious birder and the professional biologist. McCarthy's work fills a need for reference material that takes into account the last half century of data. It will be of interest to workers in a wide variety of fields, ranging from animal behavior to genetics, ecology, zoology, and systematics. In fact, it will make fascinating reading for anyone interested in birds and the natural world."

The Biology of the Ubiquitous House Sparrow: From Genes to Populations

Ted R. Anderson

2006

"Is the House Sparrow a contemporary 'canary in the mine'? Other topics of broad interest include the reproductive and flock-foraging strategies of sparrows, and sexual selection and the function of the male badge in the species. Anderson also explores the role of the House Sparrow in disease transmission to humans and their domesticated animals."

Important Bird Areas in India: Priority sites for conservation

Editors: M. Zafar-ul Islam & Asad R. Rahmani

2005

"Important Bird Areas in India is the result of five years' exhaustive work by the BNHS and a large number of people. The data, which form the core of the book, have been collected by more than 1000 people: many hundreds of professional and amateur ornithologists, birdwatchers, conservationists, forest officials and others interested in birds, and BNHS and a large number of people. It is the most detailed publication ever produced on the subject of birds or conservation and it uncovers, analyses and assesses all the evidence, presenting it together with all the sources. The study gives a detailed analysis of sites that have been identified for bird conservation in India on the basis of globally accepted criteria. Each bird area is introduced with maps, analysis, and avifauna section with tables of threatened species present and brief description of threatened birds, which have important habitats in the relevant states. It uncovers, analyses and assesses all the evidence, presenting it together with all the sources. The study shows that out of 465 important bird areas in India, 191 wildlife sanctuaries have been identified as IBAs, 52 are national parks, 23 are tiger reserves, while 198 are not officially protected."

Bird Ecology and Conservation: A handbook of techniques

Editors: William J. Sutherland, Ian Newton & Rhys Green

2004

"In this intensely practical handbook, a team of leading ornithologists describes a wide range of standard methods rhat can be applied to the study of avian ecology and conservation. Topics covered range from surveys, tracking and handling to breeding biology, foraging behaviour and migration. Chapters on conservation techniques describe how to assess species over-exploitation, the methods available for the intensive conservation of endangered species, and the principles involved in the maintenance and restoration of habitats. This comprehensive synthesis will be essential reading for graduate students and researchers as well as a valuable resource for environmental consultants and professional conservationists worldwide."

Contents: Bibby: Bird diversity survey methods; Gregory, Gibbons and Donald: Bird census and survey techniques; Green: Breeding biology; Gosler: Birds in the hand; Nichols, Kendall and Runge: Estimating survival and movement; Kenward: Radio-tagging; Akesson and Hedenstrom: Migration; Cooper: Information from dead and dying birds; Dawson: Techniques in physiology and genetics; Sutherland: Diet and foraging behaviour; Sutherland and Green: Habitat assessment; Jones: Conservation management of endangered birds; Runge, Kendall and Nichols: Exploitation; Ausden: Habitat Management."

Birds of Delhi

Ranjit Lal

2004

"This book introduces the reader to various birding areas in ans around the city, and highlights the birdlife found there . An entire chapter is devoted to bird activity during the different seasons of the year, and the main section of the book profiles around 150 species of birds, given a brief physical description of each, with their habits and favoured habitats, and status-whether these are residents, migrants, local migrants, rare, common etc."

The New Encyclopedia of Birds

Editor: Christopher M. Perrins

2003

"The New Encyclopedia of Birds is the definitive single-volume guide to the birds of the world. Entries prepared by a team of renowned biologists and conservationists give a systematic account of every family, covering their form and function, distribution, diet, social behaviour, and breeding biology. With one-eighth of all bird species now under threat, special attention is given to environmental 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 detailed colour and line artworks depict representative species in each family and highlight characteristic behaviours. 'Factfile' panels throughout the book, with 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."

Niko's Nature: The Life of Niko Tinbergen and his Science of Animal Behaviour

Hans Kruuk

2003

"This first full-length biography of Niko Tinbergen, lavishly illustrated with many of Niko's own drawings, describes his background in Holland, a naturalists' paradise, and the beginnings of his investigations into the behaviour of birds, fish, and insects. Hans Kruuk also explores is Niko's relationship with his colleague and co-Nobelist Konrad Lorenz. These were two men full of contrasts: Niko a charming, self-effacing field man and experimenter; Konrad a flamboyant and egocentric German, always full of new ideas. Niko's Nature goes on to follow Niko's progress in Oxford after the Second World War, where he became the world authority on the behaviour of animals in the wild: his inspiring book The Study of Instinct remains an all-time classic. As a scientist Niko will always be known for the four fundamentally different ways in which he asked the question 'why does an animal do this?' These questions, about physiology, development, evolution, and function, became known as 'Tinbergen's four whys'. But Niko's successes came at a price - severe and devastating depressions that were to plague him throughout his career. In this fascinating and engaging story, Niko's long-time friend and student Hans Kruuk argues that his impact as a scientist and naturalist was in large part due to his skills as a communicator, photographer, and film-maker. Niko's Nature is an intimate and insightful portrait of an extraordinary figure."

The Book of Indian Birds

Salim Ali

Thirteenth edition

2003

350 page guide to Indian birds with 68 colour plates depicting 538 species. This is the first edition of the book to incorporate major revisions in taxonomy.

Petronia: Fifty Years of Post-Independence Ornithology in India

J.C. Daniels and Gavatri W. Ugra

2003

"Co-published with the Bombay Natural History Society, this commemorative volume in honor of Ali who had been involved with the history society since he was a child comprises 24 articles on ornithology by his friends, colleagues, and students."

Birds of the Indus

Mubashir Hasan

2003

"The Indus valley is home to birds of the South Asian subcontinent, East Africa, Europe and much of the rest of Asia. According to T.J. Roberts, the region serves as a great caravan-serai for Eurasian Avifauna travellers. Ornithologists give different figures of the total number of the species of birds in the Indus valley and its adjoining lands. In this book, the author, who, though no specialist, with his passion and love for birds, has attempted to present his rare collection of photographs with a complete description of the birds, their appearance, size, habits and habitat. According to him, birds have been nature's very special gift to our planet and there was a time when man accorded special recognition to birds. Supporting this, he has taken narrated references to human cultural associations with the different species and also written the legends and traditions, particularly folklore, associated with them. The descriptions are accompanied with coloured photographs and vernacular names common to the inhabitants of the valley."

Extinct Birds

Errol Fuller

2002

"In historic times many species have been hastened to extinction through human actions, inadvertent or deliberate. In the case of the Hawaiian rail, Fuller writes in this catalogue of birds that have disappeared since 1600, the introduction of alien species such as the mongoose, domestic cat and rat is likely to blame. Rats, too, killed off the Lord Howe Island white-eye when a ship accidentally grounded there in 1918. The Carolina parakeet disappeared a few years later, owing, perhaps, to the destruction of its forest habitat and its beautiful plumage, highly prized by hunters. Mosquitoes carried on other ships felled many other island species. And so on. Curiously, Fuller writes, the usual-suspect agents of extinction-hunting or egg collecting for example - have had a smaller effect on vulnerable bird species than have changes in the environment wrought by humans and their "accompanying menagerie."

The Birds of Northern Melanesia: Speciation, Dispersal and Biogeography

Ernst Mayr & Jared M. Diamond

2002

"Ernst Mayr is one of the principal architects of the 'neo-Darwinian synthesis', which has been the dominant perspective in 20th century evolutionary biology. Jared Diamond is one of the most wide-ranging minds in biology, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for "Guns, Germs, and Steel". Mayr and Diamond decided in 1970 to collaborate on an authoritative monograph presenting their data and interpretations of the evolution of the birds of the Solomon and Bismark Islands. Mayr's numerous expeditions to do fieldwork in this area, beginning in 1929 and continuing through 1976, form the core of his scientific work. Diamond has made four expeditions to the region since 1970 to fill in gaps in the data."

Contents: Introduction; Part 1: Northern Melanesia's Physical and Biological Environment; Geology and Geological History; Climate; Habitats and Vegetation; Terrestrial Vertebrates Other Than Birds; Part 2: Human History and Impacts; Human History; Ornithological Exploration of Northern Melanesia; Exterminations of Bird Populations; Part 3: The Northern Melanesian Avifauna; Family Composition; Determinants of Island Species Number; Level of Endemism, Habitat Preference, and Abundance of Each Species; Overwater Dispersal Ability of Each Species; Distributional Ecology; Part 4: Colonization Routes; Proximate Origins of Northern Melanesian Populations; Upstream Colonization and Fuanal Dominance; Ultimate Origins of Northern Melanesian Populations; Part 5: Taxonomic Analysis: Differences Among Species; The Problem of Speciation; Stages of Geographical Speciation Among the Birds of Northern Melanesia; Absence of Geographic Variation; Geographic Variation: Subspecies; Geographic Variation: Megasubspecies; Geographic Variation: Allospecies; Completed Speciation; Hybridization; Endemic Species and Genera; Part 6: Geographic Analysis: Differences Among Islands; Endemism Index; Pairwise Differentiation Index; Pairwise Nonsharing Indices: Differences in Island Species Compositions; The Establishment of Geographic Isolates; Interarchipelagal Barriers; Barriers Within the Bismarcks; Barriers Within the Solomons; Speciation on Fragmented Solomon Islands; Differential Extinction and Species Occurrences on Fragmented Pleistocene Islands; Part 7: Synthesis, Conclusions, and Prospects; Conclusions about Speciation; Species Differences, Taxon Cycles, and the Evolution of Dispersal; Promising Directions for Future Research; Maps; Appendices; Appendix 1: Systematic List: Breeding Land and Freshwater Native Birds of Northern Melanesia; Appendix 2: Nonbreeding Visitors to Northern Melanesia; Appendix 3: Introduced Bird Species in Northern Melanesia; Appendix 4: Chronologies of Ornithological Exploration; Appendix 5: Attributes of Each Bird Species; Appendix 6: Evidence of Overwater Dispersal Ability of Each Species and Allospecies in the Bismarcks and Solomons; Appendix 7: Distributions and Origins of Northern Melanesian Bird Populations; References; Index.

Host-Parasite Evolution: General Principles and Avian Models

Dale H. Clayton

1997

"This is a question-oriented volume with a solid organismal foundation that will help to bridge the gap between evolutionary ecologists and parasitologists. A range of experts have written chapters that review general concepts and provide a detailed survey of the parasites of a major group of hosts. The book concludes with extensive reviews of methods used to study bird parasites. It is a novel and valuable tool for anyone interested in understanding host-parasite interactions, particularly from an evolutionary perspective."

Contents: Chapter 1 - Introduction; Part I: General Principles; Chapter 2 - Parasite-mediated natural selection; Chapter 3 - Immune defence: genetic control; Chapter 4 - Behavioural defence; Chapter 5 - Parasite-mediated sexual selection: endocrine aspects; Chapter 6 - Parasitism and the evolution of host life history; Chapter 7 - Host-parasite processes and demographic consequences; Chapter 8 - The role of parasites in bird conservation; Chapter 9 - Community ecology of parasites and free-living animals; Chapter 10 - Comparative studies of host parasite communities; Chapter 11 - Host-parasite cospeciation: history, principles and prospects; Chapter 12 - Host-parasite cospeciation, host switching and missing the boat; Part II: Avian Models; Chapter 13 - Birds as habitat for parasites; Chapter 14 - Viruses, bacteria and fungi of birds; r s1hapter 15 - Protozoa, helminths and arthropods of birds; Chapter 16 - Avian brood parasites; Chapter 17 - Conclusion: Evolution of host-parasite interactions.

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southwestern India

R.J. Ranjit Daniels

1997

"This is an authoritative field guide on the birds of Southwestern India, which will enable bird watchers to identify birds in the region. The guide details a total of 508 species of birds, with descriptions covering size, colour, general shape, unique behaviour (if any), call and habitat. Maps, text figures, black and white and colour plates feature throughout. For easy identification in the field, a brief description of the family precedes each set of related species, and locations are illustrated for ease of reference."

Made for Each Other: A Symbiosis of Birds and Pines

Ronald M. Lanner

1996

"A beautifully written account of the symbiotic relationship between pine trees and jays; a cycle of dependency has progressed for several million years as birds have effectively planted the trees that sustain them by dispersing the seeds. This book covers a wide range of regions, focusing on the Rocky Mountains and the American Southwest, but also ranging from the Alps to Finland, and from Siberia to China. The book is written from the perspectives of evolution, ecology, and animal behaviour."

Contents: Introduction; The Genius of Pines; Stone Pine Seeds and Cones; The Pine Birds; The Top-of-the-Line Pinivore; Memories; Other Arrangements; Who Needs Clark's Nutcracker?; Building Ecosystems; The Odd Couple; Pine-Nuts and People; Deviations; Origins; Is the Keystone Slipping?.

Migration: The Biology of Life on the Move

Hugh Dingle

1996

"Migration is one of the most fascinating and dramatic of all animal behaviours. Historically, study of migration has been fragmented, with ornithologists, entomologists, and marine biologists working only within their own field. This critical synthetic treatment of the subject shows how comparisons across taxa can illuminate migratory life cycles and the relation of migration to other movements. The book takes an integrated ecological perspective to focus on migration as a biological phenomenon."

Extinction Rates

Editors: John H. Lawton and Robert M. May

1995

"This book provides a more wide-ranging and data-driven treatment of present and likely future rates of extinction than any text currently available. It is directed broadly at senior undergraduates, postgraduate students and research workers in the fields of ecology, conservation biology and the environmental sciences. The authors highlight apparent differences in extinction rates among taxonomic groups and places, aiming to identify unresolved issues and important questions."

Contents: Preface; Assessing extinction rates; Extinctions in the fossil record; Constancy and change of life in the sea; Insect faunas in ice age environments: why so little extinction?; Bird extinctions in the Central Pacific; Extinctions in Mediterranean areas; Recent past and future extinctions in birds; Rates and patterns of extinction among British invertebrates; Assessing the risk of plant extinction due to pollinator and disperser failure; Population dynamic principles; Estimating extinction from molecular phylogenies; Biological models for monitoring species decline: the construction and use of databases; Classification of species and its role in conservation planning; The scale of the human enterprise and biodiversity loss.

Feral Pigeons

Richard F. Johnston

1995

This book focuses on population biology and behavioural ecology of Feral Pigeons, and includes a very thorough listing of primary references in the scholarly literature.

Contents: Part I: History and systematic biology; Introduction; Size, shape, and genetic variation in pigeon populations; Part II: Reproductive biology and diet; Breeding seasons in feral pigeons; Mate choice and pair bonding; Nestsites and nestbuilding; Eggs; Brood Reduction; Development: nestlings; Development: fledglings; Diet; Part III: Plumage and flight; Plumage polymorphism; Maintenance and molt of plumage; Flight; Part IV: Behavior; Social Behavior; Pigeon colonies; Orientation and navigation; Part V: Population studies; Reproductive success and mortality; Abundance and density; Part IV: Some environmental concerns; Heavy metals and other pollution; Aspects of the biotic environment; Control of pigeon populations; Part VII: People and pigeons.

Ecology and Management of Neotropical Migratory Birds: A Synthesis and Review of Critical Issues

Editors: Thomas E. Martin and Deborah M. Finch

1995

"An ambitious, comprehensive assessment of the current status of neotropical migratory birds in the USA, and the methods and strategies for conserving migrant populations. This book covers the full scope of the subject, with chapters reviewing and assessing the topics written as consensus documents by several of the leading workers. Contents include population trends, seasonal variations, habitat requirements during migration, impacts and effects of silviculture and agricultural practices, landscape ecology, habitat grazing effects, and single-species versus multiple-species approaches.

The Black Robin: The Saving of the World's Most Endangered Bird

David Butler & Don Merton

1993

"This book tells the story of the rare Chatham Island black robin. It will inspire all those concerned with the conservation of endangered species and demonstrates that recovery is possible even in the most extreme cases. In fact, the black robin was nearly extinct--reduced to one surviving breeding pair--when the program described here was put into effect. The innovative techniques used by the team responsible for this effort are described in detail and will allow wildlife biologists around the world to adopt similar strategies suited to their own needs. One of the book's co-authors led the black robin program, and the other was one of the scientists on the team. Written in a lively, nontechnical manner, this book will be of interest to a wide range of conservationists, wildlife biologists, and general readers."

The Oxford Dictionary of British Bird Names

W.B. Lockwood

1993

"Covering over 1,500 standard and local British common bird names, relating to some 260 species, this A-Z guide should be invaluable to birdwatchers and word buffs throughout the British Isles. Each entry provides the etymology and history of the name, complete with full documentation of dates and sources. An introduction covers the linguistic evolution and standardization of bird names."

A Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names

James A. Jobling

1991

This dictionary gives the derivation and meaning of all valid scientific bird names. Each part of the name is defined separately so that Passer domesticus, for example, will not be found as such, but both Passer and domesticus are explained in their respective alphabetical places. The usefulness of the dictionary will thus not be affected by future taxonomic revisions of generic or species names. About 8500 names are defined, including a selection of historical synonyms. Many unusual details emerge from the author's meticulous work in tracking down obscure meanings. A short but informative introduction explains the history and purposes of scientific nomenclature and the basic features of Latin in this context. It also discusses the ways in which birds have been named for their appearance, for a person or place, or some aspect of their habitat, behaviour, food, or voice, or with reference to their native-language name.

Bird Population Studies: Relevance to Conservation and Management

Editors: Christopher M. Perrins, J.D. Lebreton, G.J.M. Hirons

1991

"There are more than 1000 species of threatened birds in the world, while many others are valued for sport and some are serious pests. All these bird populations require management of one kind or another. This volume reviews our current understanding of avian population dynamics and explores ways in which population studies can contribute to effective conservation and management. The earlier chapters review general questions such as estimation of demographic parameters, the role of mathematical modelling, and the special problems of island populations and seabird populations. The specific chapters are devoted to great tits, snow geese, white storks, puffins, flamingos, grey partridge, red grouse, common terns, herring gulls, lesser black-backed gulls, ducks, Florida scrub jays, and northern spotted owls. The emphasis throughout is on how bird populations are regulated under various constraints and conditions and on what changes we might expect under varying environmental regimes."

The Birds of Sumatra and Kalimantan

Derek Holmes and Stephen Nash

1991

"This book, the second in the series on the avifauna of Indonesia, introduces the reader to the most typical and colourful birds of the large islands of Sumatra and Kalimantan, whose dipterocarp forests of the lowlands and wetland forest of the coastal plains are particularly rich habitats. The main descriptions covering 148 species from nearly every bird family on the two islands, provide information on the plumage, behaviour, habitat, and distribution to enable the general naturalist to identify most of the birds found readily in the different habitats of the islands. Reference is also made in the text to a further 129 species to illustrate the range and variety of birds in each family."

Breeding Birds of Kashmir

R.S.P. Bates and E.H.N. Lowther

1991

A guide that covers more than 150 species to be found in the Kashmir and adjacent areas.

Quelea Quelea: Africa's Bird Pest

Editors: Richard L. Bruggers and Clive C.H. Elliott

1989

"The red-billed quelea is the world's most numerous bird and a destructive bird pest which lays waste to cereal crops - millet, rice, wheat and sorghum - in many parts of Africa. Although hundreds of millions of quelea are killed every year, the species remains as abundant as ever. This study gives an account of all aspects of quelea ecology and management, its distribution, population, migration patterns and breeding behaviour, monitoring, marking and methods of control."

The Starling

Chris Feare

1984

An in-depth study of the European Starling. The book focus on the development of the Starling from a localized, arboreal, fruit eater to a widespread, omnivorous, ground dweller. The study examines the effect of factors such as habitat choice, annual cycles, behaviour, breeding, feeding, flocking and roosting on the success of this development.

Birds of Prey of Britain and Europe

Ian Wallace

1983

"Ian Wallace draws upon "Birds of the Western Palearctic" in this guide to European raptors. It is illustrated in colour with Ian Willis' paintings. The text covers individual species and families, their behaviour and other characteristics."

Wildfowl of Britain and Europe

M. A. Ogilvie

Oxford University Press

1983

This compact book (84 pages) uses 30 colour plates from Volume one of the Birds of the Western Palearctic combined with new text to provide a shorter guide to the wildfowl of Britain and Europe. It contains details which include identification, classification, evolution, habitat, distribution, movements, food, behaviour, breeding and plumage.

Estrildid Finches of the World

D. Goodwin

1982

"In this, the third in his series on the bird groups, David Goodwin describes the estrildids, a colourful group that have long been popular as aviary birds. He deals with behaviour, biology, coloration, adaptive radiation and other aspects, describing each species in detail, and also gives information on keeping the birds. The book includes maps and diagrams, as well as colour plates by Martin Woodcock."

Population Studies Of Birds

David Lack

Oxford University Press

1966

A Study Of Bird Song

E. A. Armstrong

1963

The first extensive review of bird vocalizations. Chapter headings include: Bird Utterance as Language; The Structure and Components of Bird Song; The Development and Learning of Song; Sub-Song; Vocal Mimicry; Song Dialects and the Relationship of Vocalisation to Speciation; Territorial Song and Related Forms of Song; Song-flight and Non-Vocal Song; Song and the Annual Cycle; Female Song; Duetting and Corporate Song; The Influence of Light, Weather and Temperature on Song; Song and Adaptations to Habitat; and Bird Song as Art and Play.

An enlarged edition of this book was published in 1973.

Birds and Woods

W.B. Yapp

Oxford University Press

1962

Breeding Birds of Kashmir

R.S.P. Bates and E.H.N. Lowther

1952

Indian Hill Birds

Salim Ali

Oxford University Press

1949

Birds of the Grey Wind

E.A. Armstrong

1940

A study of the bird life in Northern Ireland.

Birds of an Indian Village

Douglas Dewar

Oxford University Press

1929

From the introduction:

"There is one pleasure which the poorest man may enjoy because it costs nothing, and that is watching the birds that live around him. Some pleasures grow stale after a time; watching birds is not one of these. The more you observe birds the more interesting they become. They cannot tell you about themselves but you can find out a great deal about them by observing them. I hope, by telling you something about the birds in my village, to induce you to watch those in your village, for they will be of the same kind. My village is an ordinary one."