Nests, Eggs, And Nestlings Of North American Birds

by Baicich, Paul J.

• ISBN13: 9780691122953
• ISBN10: 0691122954
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-23
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, Second Editionprovides a thorough, species-by-species guide to the breeding biology of the birds of North America. Some 670 breeding species are described in full, covering the birds of a vast area, from the Arctic to the southern boundary of the continental United States. The main text presents complete basic information on the breeding cycle of each species, summarized in a natural sequence: nest habitat, nest-site, nest construction, breeding season, eggs, incubation and nesting and nestling period. More than 700 color and line illustrations provide valuable information on the identification of the nests, eggs, and nestlings of 597 species. The book covers perhaps the most fascinating aspects of North American bird life, their reproduction and the care of their young, essential elements in the survival of any species. The book summarizes all that is known of this crucial part of a bird's life cycle, and by omission, points to what is yet unknown and may yet be discovered by the scientific ornithologist and birder alike. If your fascination in the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American birds centers on identifying them in the field, you will find this book essential. If conservation is also a concern, you will appreciate the value of understanding the breeding requirements and biology of even the most common of species. This book will prove invaluable whatever your interest in North American birds. Key Features: Describes nests, eggs, and nestlings and gives basic biological information on nesting and breeding biology Includes up-to-date coverage of all breeding species found in North America, including Alaska and Canada in one comprehensive volume Contains more than 700 color and line illustrations of nests, eggs, and nestlings Species List by Family: Loons: Gaviidae. Grebes: Podicipedidae. Shearwaters: Procellariidae. Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae. Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae. Pelicans: Pelecanidae. Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae. Darters: Anhingidae. Frigatebirds: Fregatidae. Bitterns and Herons: Ardeidae. Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiomithidae. Storks: Ciconiidae. Swans, Geese, and Ducks: Anatidae. American Vultures: Catharidae. Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Allies: Accipitridae. Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae. Guans: Cracidae. Partridges, Grouse, Turkey, and Quail: Phasianidae. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae. Limpkins: Aramidae. Cranes: Gruidae. Plovers: Charadriidae. Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae. Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae. Jacanas: Jacanidae. Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies: Scolopacidae. Jaegers, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae. Auks, Murres, and Puffins: Alcidae. Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae. Parakeets and Parrots: Psittacidae. Cuckoos, Roadrunner, and Anis: Cuculidae. Barn Owls: Tytonidae. Typical Owls: Strigidae. Goatsuckers: Caprimulgidae. Swifts: Apodidae. Hummingbirds: Trochilidae. Trogons: Trogonidae. Kingfishers: Alcedinidae. Woodpeckers: Picidae. Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae. Larks: Alaudidae. Swallows: Hirundinidae. Jays, Magpies, and Crows: Corvidae. Titmica: Paridae. Verdin: Remizidae. Bushtits: Aegithalidae. Nutcatchers: Sittidae. Creepers: Certhiidae. Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae. Wrens: Troglodytidae. Dippers: Cinclidae. Old World Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Old World Flycatchers, Thrushes and Wrentit: Uscicapidae. Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Mimidae. Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae. Waxwings Bombycillidae. Silky-Flycatchers: Ptilogonatidae. Shrikes: Laniidae. Starlings: Stumidae. Vireos: Vireonidae. Wood-Warblers, Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbreaks, Sparrows, Buntins, Blackbirds, and Allies: Emberizidae. Fringinlline and Carueline Finches and Allies: Fringillidae. Old World Sparrows: Passeridae.

Table of Contents

'Please begin here'	p. 9
How to use this book	p. 13
Introduction	p. 15
Identification keys	p. 33
Loons: Gaviidae	p. 45
Grebes: Podicipedidae	p. 48
Shearwaters: Procellariidae	p. 53
Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae	p. 53
Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae	p. 55
Pelicans: Pelecanidae	p. 56
Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae	p. 56
Darters: Anhingidae	p. 59
Frigatebirds: Fregatidae	p. 59
Bitterns and Herons: Ardeidae	p. 60
Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiornithidae	p. 67
Storks: Ciconiidae	p. 69
Swans, Geese, and Ducks: Anatidae	p. 70
American Vultures: Cathartidae	p. 89
Kites, Hawks, Eagles, and Allies: Accipitridae	p. 90
Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae	p. 102
Guans: Cracidae	p. 105
Partridges, Grouse, Turkey, and Quail: Phasianidae	p. 105
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae	p. 116
Limpkins: Aramidae	p. 120
Cranes: Gruidae	p. 120
Plovers: Charadriidae	p. 122
Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae	p. 128
Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae	p. 129
Jacanas: Jacanidae	p. 130
Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies: Scolopacidae	p. 131
Jaegers, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae	p. 149
Auks, Murres, and Puffins: Alcidae	p. 169
Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae	p. 175
Parakeets and Parrots: Psittacidae	p. 179
Cuckoos, Roadrunner, and Anis: Cuculidae	p. 180
Barn Owls: Tytonidae	p. 183
Typical Owls: Strigidae	p. 184
Goatsuckers: Caprimulgidae	p. 191
Swifts: Apodidae	p. 194
Hummingbirds: Trochilidae	p. 196
Trogons: Trogonidae	p. 202
Kingfishers: Alcedinidae	p. 203
Woodpeckers: Picidae	p. 204
Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae	p. 210
Larks: Alaudidae	p. 222
Swallows: Hirundinidae	p. 223
Jays, Magpies, and Crows: Corvidae	p. 227
Titmice: Paridae	p. 234
Verdin: Remizidae	p. 237
Bushtits: Aegithalidae	p. 238
Nuthatches: Sittidae	p. 239
Creepers: Certhiidae	p. 241
Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae	p. 241
Wrens: Troglodytidae	p. 242
Dippers: Cinclidae	p. 248
Old World Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Old World Flycatchers, Thrushes, and Wrentit: Muscicapidae	p. 248
Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Mimidae	p. 258
Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae	p. 262
Waxwings: Bombycillidae	p. 264
Silky-flycatchers: Ptilogonatidae	p. 264
Shrikes: Laniidae	p. 265
Starlings: Sturnidae	p. 265
Vireos: Vireonidae	p. 266
Wood-Warblers, Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Sparrows, Buntings, Blackbirds, and Allies: Emberizidae	p. 271
Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies: Fringillidae	p. 320
Old World Sparrows: Passeridae	p. 326
A selected bibliography	p. 328
Index of common and scientific names	p. 332
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.