Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens

Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens PDF Author: Ian Rowley
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780198546900
Category : Maluridae
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
The brilliantly coloured Fairy-wrens and enigmatic Grasswrens form a group of birds (Family Maluridae) that occur only in Australia and New Guinea. They are small -- the largest weigh no more than 40 grams, while the smallest emu-wrens are only 5 -6 grams -- and feed mainly on the ground or inlow vegetation. Most males are brightly coloured, while the female plumage is duller. They have a fascinating social organization, with resident social groups consisting of long-lasting social pairs and their progeny, retained long after independence. All members of the group help to raise theyoung. Social pairing, however, does not preclude promiscuity, and most males seek matings outside the group. Although their cocked tails and general appearance reminded early Australian settlers of wrens back home, and the English name has persisted, Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens are not closelyrelated to wrens (Troglodytidae). In the first eight chapters, the authors look at the family as a whole, describing their taxonomy, evolution, biology, behaviour, and conservation. These chapters are include black-and-white drawings showing typical behaviour, as well summary graphs and tables. Then follow the twenty-five speciesaccounts, each one giving comprehensive information on the bird in its natural state. Distribution maps and sonograms are included. All species are fully illustrated in colour, in superb plates by Peter Marsack especially commissioned for this volume.

Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens

Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens PDF Author: Ian Rowley
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 9780198546900
Category : Maluridae
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book Here

Book Description
The brilliantly coloured Fairy-wrens and enigmatic Grasswrens form a group of birds (Family Maluridae) that occur only in Australia and New Guinea. They are small -- the largest weigh no more than 40 grams, while the smallest emu-wrens are only 5 -6 grams -- and feed mainly on the ground or inlow vegetation. Most males are brightly coloured, while the female plumage is duller. They have a fascinating social organization, with resident social groups consisting of long-lasting social pairs and their progeny, retained long after independence. All members of the group help to raise theyoung. Social pairing, however, does not preclude promiscuity, and most males seek matings outside the group. Although their cocked tails and general appearance reminded early Australian settlers of wrens back home, and the English name has persisted, Fairy-wrens and Grasswrens are not closelyrelated to wrens (Troglodytidae). In the first eight chapters, the authors look at the family as a whole, describing their taxonomy, evolution, biology, behaviour, and conservation. These chapters are include black-and-white drawings showing typical behaviour, as well summary graphs and tables. Then follow the twenty-five speciesaccounts, each one giving comprehensive information on the bird in its natural state. Distribution maps and sonograms are included. All species are fully illustrated in colour, in superb plates by Peter Marsack especially commissioned for this volume.

Cooperative Breeding in Vertebrates

Cooperative Breeding in Vertebrates PDF Author: Walter D. Koenig
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107043433
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 403

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Book Description
Brings together long-term studies of cooperation in vertebrates that challenge our understanding of the evolution of social behavior.

Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines

Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines PDF Author: R Schodde
Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
ISBN: 0643102930
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 887

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Book Description
Recent classifications of Australian birds have been limited to lists of "species" which are inadequate as biodiversity indicators. The Directory of Australian Birds: Passerines fills a huge gap in ornithological knowledge by separating out and listing not only 340 species of song-birds but also the 720 distinct regional forms. Covering about half the national bird fauna, the Directory provides science and the community with baseline information about what bird it is and where it lives in an Australia-wide context. Identity is taken down to the level of distinct regional population. No other compendium on Australian birds does this.

Birds of the World

Birds of the World PDF Author: Les Beletsky
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 9780801884290
Category : Birds
Languages : en
Pages : 540

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Book Description
This stunning collection of art and text captures the grace, beauty, and flamboyance of the world's birds. It features more than 1,600 original paintings from 11 of the world's leading bird artists.

A Bird Atlas of Kenya

A Bird Atlas of Kenya PDF Author: Adrian Lewis
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351470116
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 664

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Book Description
Kenya, a country only the size of Texas, has one of the richest avifaunas in Africa. This atlas is an explanatory overview of Kenya's 1065 species, essential both to the birdwatcher as a means of finding birds and interpreting the significance of field observations, and to the ornithologist as a standard reference work.

Visual Celebration of Borneo's Wildlife

Visual Celebration of Borneo's Wildlife PDF Author: Fanny Lai
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 1462919073
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 464

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Book Description
This Borneo wildlife pictorial offers nature lovers, visitors to Borneo and armchair explorers an unparalleled introduction to this mysterious treasure island. Illustrated with more than 350 images, taken by Bjorn Olesen and other wildlife photographers, A Visual Celebration of Borneo's Wildlife is a photographic tribute to the most spectacular wildlife species on the second-largest tropical island on Earth. It displays nature's beauty, revealing many private moments of the astonishing biodiversity of Borneo, where nature runs riot. Based on the latest research, it is filled with captivating little-known facts about the wildlife that modern-day travelers may come across when visiting this enchanting island. It also describes the top 16 wildlife locations in Borneo, with a comprehensive list of recommended reading, websites and blogs provided. Also included is a foreword by HRH Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands, President of Fauna & Flora International. **All of the authors' royalties will be donated to Fauna & Flora International for nature conservation work in Southeast Asia.**

Australian Bird Names

Australian Bird Names PDF Author: Ian Fraser
Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
ISBN: 1486311644
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 366

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Book Description
This second edition of Australian Bird Names is a completely updated checklist of Australian birds and the meanings behind their common and scientific names, which may be useful, useless or downright misleading! For each species, the authors examine the many-and-varied common names and full scientific name, with derivation, translation and a guide to pronunciation. Stories behind the name are included, as well as relevant aspects of biology, conservation and history. Original descriptions, translated by the authors, have been sourced for many species. As well as being a book about names, this is a book about the history of the ever-developing understanding of birds, about the people who contributed to this understanding and, most of all, about the birds themselves. This second edition has been revised to follow current taxonomy and understanding of the relationships between families, genera and species. It contains new taxa, updated text and new vagrants and will be interesting reading for anyone with a love of birds, words or the history of Australian biology and bird-watching.

Animal Signals

Animal Signals PDF Author: Yngve Espmark
Publisher: Tapir Academic Press
ISBN: 9788251915458
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 504

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Book Description
How can we explain the peacock's beautiful tail decorations, or the wonderful song of the nightingale? Why are some smells nice and others nasty? How do animals signal their intentions and qualities to potential partners? How do offspring tell parents about their needs? Are signals tuned to the environment, and to the mental abilities of receivers? Essential for understanding how animals cope with their ecological and social environment, the study of animal signals is one of the most active research areas in evolutionary biology. Understanding the signalling systems of nature has wide-ranging relevance including biological conservation and human communication. Written by international scientists, this is a comprehensive overview of the fascinating diversity of animal signals and signalling functions. Combining reviews and research, the book is aimed at both students and professional scientists.

The Birds World

The Birds World PDF Author: Nicolae Sfetcu
Publisher: MultiMedia Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Pets
Languages : en
Pages : 1478

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Book Description
Birds are among the most extensively studied of all animal groups. Hundreds of academic journals and thousands of scientists are devoted to bird research, while amateur enthusiasts (called birdwatchers or, more commonly, birders) probably number in the millions. Birds are categorised as a biological class, Aves. The earliest known species of this class is Archaeopteryx lithographica, from the Late Jurassic period. According to the most recent consensus, Aves and a sister group, the order Crocodilia, together form a group of unnamed rank, the Archosauria. Phylogenetically, Aves is usually defined as all descendants of the most recent common ancestor of modern birds (or of a specific modern bird species like Passer domesticus), and Archaeopteryx. Modern phylogenies place birds in the dinosaur clade Theropoda. Modern birds are divided into two superorders, the Paleognathae (mostly flightless birds like ostriches), and the wildly diverse Neognathae, containing all other birds.

The Mallee

The Mallee PDF Author:
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780646822440
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description