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University of California Press:
Other bird related books
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This page lists books published by University of California Press that are about, or partly about, birds that are not part of the California Natural History Guides series.


University of California Press pages

California Nat. Hist. Guides

Other bird related books


 

Parrots of the Wild: A Natural History of the World's Most Captivating Birds

Catherine A. Toft, Timothy F. Wright

University Of California Press

2015

"Parrots of the Wild explores recent scientific discoveries and what they reveal about the lives of wild parrots, which are among the most intelligent and rarest of birds. Catherine A. Toft and Tim Wright discuss the evolutionary history of parrots and how this history affects perceptual and cognitive abilities, diet and foraging patterns, and mating and social behavior. The authors also discuss conservation status and the various ways different populations are adapting to a world that is rapidly changing. The book focuses on general patterns across the 350-odd species of parrots, as well as what can be learned from interesting exceptions to these generalities. A synthetic account of the diversity and ecology of wild parrots, this book distills knowledge from the authors' own research and from their review of more than 2,400 published scientific studies. The book is enhanced by an array of illustrations, including nearly ninety color photos of wild parrots represented in their natural habitats."

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A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert

Editor: Mark Alan Dimmitt, Patricia Wentworth Comus, Linda M Brewer

University Of California Press

2nd edition

2015

"With a Natural History of the Sonoran Desert, this book takes readers deep into its vast expanse, looking closely at the relationships of plants and animals with the land and people, through time and across landscapes. In accessible language, more than forty scientists and/or naturalists examine the region's biodiversity, geology, weather, plants, and animals (from invertebrates to fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals), as well as potential threats to the species and habitats. The text is supplemented throughout with anecdotes, essays, photographs, maps, diagrams, and 450 finely rendered drawings. This new edition adds chapters on the Sky Islands, Sea of Cortez, desert pollinators, and conservation issues. Taxonomic nomenclature has been updated and new color plates and figures have been added. This comprehensive natural history, like the original edition, will surely become an invaluable companion for nature enthusiasts, birdwatchers, hikers, students, naturalists, and anyone interested in the desert Southwest."

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Suisun Marsh: Ecological History and Possible Futures

Editor: Peter B. Moyle, Amber D. Manfree, Peggy L. Fiedler

University Of California Press

2014

"One of California's most remarkable wetlands, Suisun Marsh is the largest tidal marsh on the West Coast and a major feature of the San Francisco Estuary. This productive and unique habitat supports endemic species, is a nursery for native fishes, and is a vital link for migratory waterfowl. The 6,000-year-old marsh has been affected by human activity, and humans will continue to have significant impacts on the marsh as the sea level rises and cultural values shift in the century ahead. This study includes in-depth information about the ecological and human history of Suisun Marsh, its abiotic and biotic characteristics, agents of ecological change, and alternative futures facing this ecosystem."

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Birds of the Sierra Nevada: Their Natural History, Status, and Distribution

Edward C Beedy and Edward R Pandolfino

Illustrations: Keith Hansen

University of California Press

2013

"This beautifully illustrated and user-friendly book presents the most up-to-date information available about the natural histories of birds of the Sierra Nevada, the origins of their names, the habitats they prefer, how they communicate and interact with one another, their relative abundance, and where they occur within the region. Each species account features original illustrations by Keith Hansen. In addition to characterizing individual species, Birds of the Sierra Nevada also describes ecological zones and bird habitats, recent trends in populations and ranges, conservation efforts, and more than 160 rare species. It also includes a glossary of terms, detailed maps, and an extensive bibliography with over 500 citations."

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The Hudson Primer: The Ecology of an Iconic River

David L. Strayer

University of California Press

2012

"This succinct book gives an intimate view of the day-to-day functioning of a remarkable river that has figured prominently in history and culture - the Hudson, a main artery connecting New York, America, and the world. Writing for a wide audience, David Strayer distills the large body of scientific information about the river into a non-technical overview of its ecology. Strayer describes the geography and geology of the Hudson and its basin, the properties of water and its movements in the river, water chemistry, and the river's plants and animals. He then takes a more detailed look at the Hudson's ecosystems and each of its major habitats. Strayer also discusses important management challenges facing the river today, including pollution, habitat destruction, overfishing, invasive species, and ecological restoration."

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Shorebird Ecology, Conservation, and Management

Mark A. Colwell

University of California Press

2010

"Shorebirds are model organisms for illustrating the principles of ecology and excellent subjects for research. Their mating systems are as diverse as any avian group, their migrations push the limits of endurance, and their foraging is easily studied in the open habitats of estuaries and freshwater wetlands. This comprehensive text explores the ecology, conservation, and management of these fascinating birds. Beginning chapters examine phylogenetic relationships between shorebirds and other birds, and cover shorebird morphology, anatomy, and physiology. A section on breeding biology looks in detail at their reproductive biology. Because shorebirds spend much of their time away from breeding areas, a substantial section on non-breeding biology covers migration, foraging ecology, and social behavior. The text also covers shorebird demography, population size, and management issues related to habitat, predators, and human disturbances. Throughout, it emphasizes applying scientific knowledge to the conservation of shorebird populations, many of which are unfortunately in decline."

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Wild Seattle: A Celebration of the Natural Areas in and Around the City

Terry Donnelly, Mary Liz Austin, Timothy Egan

University of California Press

2004

"Explores the natural treasures to be found within a 90-minute drive from downtown Seattle. Separate chapters in the book showcase "wild in the city" retreats such as Schmitz and Discovery Parks; the scenic islands of Puget Sound; the Olympic Peninsula, including the eastern side of Olympic National Park and the Kitsap Peninsula; Mount Rainier and its environs, from Mount Rainier National Park to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge; and the magnificent North Cascades, including Cascade Pass, the Skagit, and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. In each chapter, the photo gallery gathers both glorious panoramas and intimate close-ups, revealing the incredible diversity of flora and fauna to be found in each area."

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Birds of the Salton Sea: Status, Biogeography, and Ecology

Michael A Patten, Philip Unitt, Guy Mcgaskie

University of California Press

2003

"The Salton Sea, California's largest inland lake, supports a huge bird population that is among the most concentrated and most diverse in the world. Sadly this environment is close to collapse from several environmental threats. This book describes the more than 450 species and sub-species."

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Mesozoic Birds: Above the Heads of Dinosaurs

Editors: Luis M Chiappe and Lawrence M Witmer

University Of California Press

2002

"Our knowledge of the origin and early evolution of birds has exploded since the late 1980s. In the 1990s alone, scientists became aware of approximately three times more species of early birds than were previously known, marking the first 85 million years of avian development as a period of remarkable species diversity. Assembling work by an international group of scientists, this text provides a wide-ranging source on early avian evolution. It provides a comprehensive examination of the known fossil record and is also a guide to the fast-paced developments in research. The text covers a wide range of topics, including discussions of avian origins, the fossil record of feathers and footprints, bone histology, and locomotor evolution. Controversial taxa such as Protoavis, Caudipteryx, and Mononykus receive special treatment. But the heart of the volume presents the anatomy, relationships, and paleobiology of the Mesozoic aviary. The book features descriptions and illustrations of taxa that previously have received only brief notice, such as the alvarezsaurid Shuvuuia; the enantiornithines Sinornis; Eoalulvis, Vorona, and Patagopteryx; and the hesperornithiform Enaliornis."

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Kea: Bird Of Paradox: The Evolution And Behaviour Of A New Zealand Parrot

Judy Diamond and Alan Bond

University of California Press

1999

"The kea, a crow-sized parrot that lives in the rugged mountains of New Zealand, is considered by some a playful comic and by others a vicious killer. Its true character is a mystery that biologists have debated for more than a century. Judy Diamond and Alan Bond have written a comprehensive account of the kea's contradictory nature, and their conclusions cast new light on the origins of behavioral flexibility and the problem of species survival in human environments everywhere. New Zealand's geological remoteness has made the country home to a bizarre assemblage of plants and animals that are wholly unlike anything found elsewhere. Keas are native only to the South Island, breeding high in the rigorous, unforgiving environment of the Southern Alps. Bold, curious, and ingeniously destructive, keas have a complex social system that includes extensive play behavior. Like coyotes, crows, and humans, keas are 'open-program' animals with an unusual ability to learn and to create new solutions to whatever problems they encounter. Diamond and Bond present the kea's story from historical and contemporary perspectives and include observations from their years of field work. A comparison of the kea's behavior and ecology with that of its closest relative, the kaka of New Zealand's lowland rain forests, yields insights into the origins of the kea's extraordinary adaptability. The authors conclude that the kea's high level of sociality is a key factor in the flexible lifestyle that probably evolved in response to the alpine habitat's unreliable food resources and has allowed the bird to survive the extermination of much of its original ecosystem."

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The Wood Duck and the Mandarin: The Northern Wood Ducks

Lawton Shurtleff and Christopher Savage

University of California Press

1996

The only two species in their genus (Aix), these Northern Wood Ducks are native to different continents but have long been kept together in captivity. Now, for the first time in history, they are also flying side by side in the wild in a small area of Northern California. This rare circumstances has given Lawton L. Shurtleff and Christopher Savage the opportunity to observe the Northern Wood Ducks' close relationships and is the starting point of this informative and beautifully rendered book. The opening chapters tell how the Wood Duck and the Mandarin came to inhabit the Pacific flyway and explain their extraordinary similarities. Subsequent chapters discuss the distinctive histories of the two species and describe the birds throughout the seasons in their native flyways. The Mandarins' place in Asian art and literature is the subject of chapter five. The final chapter illuminate the successful work done to protect the North American Wood Duck, which has made a remarkable recovery from near extinction, and the beginning efforts to protect the Mandarin, whose existence in East Asia is seriously threatened.

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Nature Through Tropical Windows

Alexander F. Skutch

Illustrations: Dana Gardner

University Of California Press

1984

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Birds of Southern California's Deep Canyon

Wesley W. Weathers

University of California Press

1983

276 page guide.

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Vulture Biology And Management

Editor: Sanford R. Wilbur and Jerome A. Jackson

University of California Press

1983

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Breeding Biology of the Adelie Penguin

David G. Ainley, Robert E. LeResche and William J.L. Slaten

University of California Press

1983

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A Naturalist on a Tropical Farm

Alexander F. Skutch

Illustrations: Dana Gardner

University Of California Press

1980

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Breeding Biology Of The Egyptian Plover, Pluvianus aegyptius

Thomas R Howell

Publications In Zoology, Volume 113

University of California Press

1979

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Island Biology: Illustrated by the Land Birds of Jamaica

David Lack

Studies In Ecology

University of California Press

1976

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Saint Francis: Nature Mystic: The Derivation and Significance of the Nature Stories in the Franciscan Legend

E. A. Armstrong

University of California Press

1973

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A Comparative Study Of The Behavior Of Red-Winged, Tricolored, And Yellow-Headed Blackbirds

Gordon H Orians and Gene M. Christman

Publications In Zoology Volume 81

University of California Press

1968

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Comparative Biosystematics and Life History of the Nuthatches Sitta Pygmaea and Sitta Pusilla

Robert Allen Norris

University Of California Publications In Zoology Vol 56

University of California Press

1958

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The White-Crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia Leucophrys) of the Pacific Seaboard: Environment and Annual Cycle

Barbara D Blanchard

Publications in Zoology, Volume 46, Number 1

University of California Press

1941

A 178 page study with plates and illustrations.

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The Game Birds Of California

Joseph Grinnell, Harold Child Bryant and Tracy Irwin Storer

Colour plates: Louis Agassiz Fuertes (12 plates) and Allan Brooks (4 plates)

Numerous drawings in the text

University Of California Press

1918

From the introduction:

In preparing the present volume the authors have attempted to meet the requirements of a varied public. The hunter wishes information concerning the haunts and habits of our game birds ; the naturalist wishes to have the completest possible data regarding their life histories ; the legislator who appreciates the necessity of judicious game laws wishes to have the facts that are relevant to his purpose presented in concise form; and the conservationist desires that information which will assist him in his efforts to perpetuate our bird life for the ultimate benefit of the greatest number of people. Whether the needs of these various classes have been adequately met in the following pages remains to be proved, but it may at least be stated here that none of them has been overlooked. To each of the four categories of persons above mentioned, this book is offered as a working manual.
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A Study Of The Structure Of Feathers, With Reference To Their Taxonomic Significance

Asa C. Chandler

University Of California Press

1916

From the introduction: "Although as a class birds have received more attention from nearly all classes of zoologists than any other group of vertebrate animals, their natural classification presents a great many problems difficult of solution, and no satisfactory phylogenetic arrangement has yet been devised for them. It was with the hope of throwing light on some of the dark places in the taxonomy of birds that the writer attempted the work, the results of which are presented in this paper, since it was believed that the comparative morphology of feathers would almost certainly be of some taxonomic value in establishing the relationships of various groups of birds. Since feathers are external and in constant contact with the environment, they would naturally be expected to be among the first structures of the body to feel the influence of environmental changes and shocks, and would still be as liable to change by hybridization, orthogenesis or any other method of evolution, as any of the other structures."

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Last updated January 2017