ATLAS OF BIRDS: Diversity, Behaviour and Conservation

Most scientists now believe that birds represent the only living relative of the dinosaurs. The key to their variety has been the feather and that they have evolved into a dazzling range of forms and functions. Recent fossil evidence unearthed in China suggests that feathers evolved in theropods before birds. The book is a stunning and authoritative full colour atlas of the world's birds grouped by continent, important bird areas, game birds to grebes, stalks to cranes, sea birds and shore birds, birds of prey, pigeons to cuckoos, owls to hummingbirds, kingfishers to mouse birds, taking to the air, land and water, egg to adult, living together and on the move, finding food, sense and sensitivity, showing off and their flyways and different journeys. Then the book looks at birds and people, on the menu, in culture, conflicts and birds for pleasure and finally birds under threat and extinction, with infrastructure and pollution, alien invasion and warming up. The book illuminates the conservation status around the world and full colour maps show where birds are found by country and terrain and in amazing global flyaway chart shows bird migration, while classification is explained using maps for each order and the many key families. From deforestation and climate change to invasive species and the caged-bird trade, here are bird groups most affected such as island endemics highlighted, and maps and data for everything from poultry farming to bird watching. Packed with sumptuous colour photos, original diagrams and imaginative graphics. 144pp, large softback. 21.6 x 27.7cm.