Illustrated Encyclopedia of Birds [antikvár]

Section One Biology of Birds Birds are not only one of the most successful groups in the animal kingdom but they hold a special position in our awareness of the natural world. They are often the most obvious living creatures in a landscape (their apparent confidence borne of an ability to fly to safety) and their bright colours and melodic songs have long been admired by man. Yet it is only recently that we have begun to fully appreciate just how intricate their lives are. The 8000 or so species of birds have evolved over millions of years and have adapted to many different modes of life. If one was to take a single feature which places the birds apart from all other animals it would be the development of feathers. These complex and delicate structures not only make flight possible but also serve many other functions, notably providing insulation from cold or wet and furnishing attractive or eye-catching plumages for .use in courtship and territorial rituals. As an introduction to birds, the first part of this book covers every aspect of their biology and behaviour from the skeleton and feathers to courtship and migration. The second part describes the various habitats of the world and the types of bird found in each, and the third part of the book provides a comprehensive directory of bird families of the world, from ostriches to crows, and illustrates the amazing diversity of these fascinating creatures.