Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa The Birds of the Western Palearctic Volume V: Tyrant Flycatchers to Thrushes

by Cramp, Stanley; Simmons, K. E. L.

• ISBN13: 9780198575085
• ISBN10: 0198575084
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1988-05-19
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This authoritative work of reference has been planned to take account ofthe great advances that have been made in ornithological knowledge since thepublication of the Handbook of British Birds (1938-41).This Handbook covers the whole of the Western Palearctic, which includes allEurope; the Middle East to Turkey, Iraq, and Jordan; and Africa south to about19DGN. The seven volumes, of which this is the fifth, will contain descriptionsof over 770 species of birds occurring in the Western Palearctic, of which about600 are breeding species. Each breeding species is described in full, withentries averaging about six pages of text, and sections on field characters,habitat, distribution, mortality and longevity, population (with maps showingthe breeding and wintering areas), social pattern and behaviour, breeding, food,voice, plumages, moults, measurements, weights, structure, and geographicalvariation. Regular migrants and accidental species are treated under theseheadings where relevant.This volume, the first of three covering the passerines, contains descriptionsof 114 species. Illustrations of each species are in the form of speciallycommissioned colour plates, showing the full range of normal plumage togetherwith more distant flight views. The artists for this volume are Norman Arlott,Hilary Burn, Dr P.J.K. Burton, Alan Harris, Viggo Ree, the late Laurel Tucker,and D.I.M. Wallace. Colour plates of eggs, black-and-white illustrations, andmany text-figures show such features as display postures, voice sonagrams, andannual cycles. A bibliography and indexes are included in each volume.Species included in Volume V:Flycatcher; Larks; Martins; Swallows; Pipits; Wagtails; Bulbuls; Waxwing;Hypocolius; Dipper; Wren; Catbird; Thrasher; Dunnock; Accentors; Robins;Nightingales; Rubythroat; Bluethroats; Bluetail; Redstarts; Blackstart;Whinchat; Stonechats; Ant Chat; Wheatears; Blackbird; Ring Ouzel; Fieldfare;Redwing; Veery; Thrushes.