What Is a Bird: An Exploration of Anatomy, Physiology, Behavior, and Ecology
By (Author) Tony D. Williams
Contributions by Scott McWilliams
Contributions by Julia A. Clarke
Contributions by Elizabeth MacDougall-Shackleton
Contributions by Scott MacDougall-Shackleton
Contributions by Frances Bonier
Contributions by Chad Eliason
Contributions by Tony D. Williams
Princeton University Press
Princeton University Press
15th February 2021
United States
Tertiary Education
Non Fiction
Zoology: birds (ornithology)
Conservation of wildlife and habitats
The Earth: natural history: general interest
Reference works
598
Hardback
368
Width 216mm, Height 279mm
There are some 10,000 bird species in existence today, occupying every continent and virtually every habitat on Earth. The variety of bird species is truly astounding, from the tiny bee hummingbird to the large flightless ostrich, making birds one of the most diverse and successful animal groups on the planet. Taking you inside the extraordinary world of birds, What Is a Bird explores all aspects of these remarkable creatures, providing an up-close look at their morphology, unique internal anatomy and physiology, fascinating and varied behaviour, and ecology. It features hundreds of colour illustrations and draws on a broad range of examples, from the familiar backyard sparrow to the most exotic birds of paradise.
A must-have book for birders and armchair naturalists, What Is a Bird is a celebration of the rich complexity of bird life.
"This welcoming compendium is part coffee-table book and part deep dive into the science of ornithologythe team of biologist-authors, edited by biology professor Williams, elucidates all things bird."---Andrea Gawrylewski, Scientific American
"A fascinating encyclopaedic look at bird life, this lavishly illustrated book written by scientists explores everything from their anatomy and morphology to behavioural patterns of ecology. In fact, anything you have ever wondered about the avian world is nestled in these pages. . . . Birds, beaks and feathers never looked so wondrous."---Elizabeth Fitzherbert,, The Lady
"This is a book which quite literally tells you everything you wanted to know about birds. . . . The photos are breathtaking, and the way the information is passed on to you, as potentially a beginner from an experienced field worker, is excellent."---John Miles, Birdwatching Magazine
"Dipping into the book, youll discover fascinating facts about a wide range of topics . . . soon you may find yourself reading straight through and learning a great deal about ornithology."---Flora Taylor, American Scientist
"Whether you are a veteran ornithologist, a fledgling student of birds, a newly hatched bird watcher or an enthusiastic citizen scientist, this must-read book has something to offer you. . . . But beyond that, this book may help more people to better understand birds and motivate them to actively support avian conservation efforts so our children and grandchildren can be inspired by their beauty and diversity just as we are."---Devorah Bennu, Forbes
"This is a must-have for birders and naturalists."---Elizabeth Konkel, Seattle Book Review
"This is a top book."---Chris Packham, Self-Isolating Bird Club
"This is a sumptuously one might almost say seductively produced and illustrated compendium of birds."---Tim Birkhead, British Birds
"This is an impressive work from every standpoint, . . . The pictures alone make it worthwhile!"---David Gascoigne, Travels with Birds
"It doesnt really feel like a book it feels more like a museum. Its as if you walk through the different rooms, see the exhibits, and read a bit about it without feeling any pressure. It feels relaxing and absorbing."---Mihai Andrei, ZME Science
"[A] large, sumptuously illustrated book . . . . its all here from down to digestion, migration to magnetic sense everything you need, want to know or love about birds."---Bo Beolens, Fat Birder
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What Is a Bird canbe usedbothas adefinitive textbook in college-level classrooms, as a reference on a
career scientists bookshelf, or as a beautiful gift for that young, eager, precollege child in the family
who has their eyes set on watching and, hopefully, studying birds as they grow up.
Tony D. Williams is professor of biological sciences at Simon Fraser University and a fellow of the American Ornithological Society. He is the author of Physiological Adaptations for Breeding in Birds (Princeton) and The Penguins. Scott McWilliams is professor of wildlife ecology and physiology at the University of Rhode Island. Julia A. Clarke is the John A. Wilson Professor in Vertebrate Paleontology at the University of Texas at Austin. Elizabeth MacDougall-Shackleton is professor of biology at Western University in Ontario. Scott MacDougall-Shackleton is chair of the Department of Psychology at Western University in Ontario. Frances Bonier is a field biologist with a research focus on the ways animals respond to diverse challenges, including parasites, urbanization, and climate change. Chad Eliason is a postdoctoral fellow at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.