E-Book Overview
This guide uses an integrated photographic approach to profile the extraordinary range of birds found in the Western Palearctic region. With its comprehensive coverage, easy-to-use layout and visual impact, it should appeal to bird enthusiasts of all ages and levels of experience. The book opens with an introduction that offers a portrait of birds and their habitats. Covering evolution, anatomy and behaviour, it also describes how birds have adapted to different environments - from wetlands and rocky coasts to woodland and urban gardens. The 320 species most commonly seen in Britain and Europe have full-page coverage, comprising of a large photograph of each bird in its most frequently observed plumage with supporting images showing the most important plumage variations: adult/juvenile; male/female; and winter/summer. Additional illustrations reveal the characteristic appearance of each bird in flight, while "in situ" views portray a range of behaviours and habits. Similar-looking species and subspecies are also pictured, for comparison. In each species profile, key features are highlighted by annotation around each picture and further details of voice, nesting, feeding, migration, habitat, nomenclature, physical statistics, social grouping, behaviour, lifespan and conservation status are presented in jargon-free text. Distribution is shown in colour-coded maps. In addition to the main species, over 200 less common and peripheral birds are also illustrated and described, while a further 276 very rare and introduced species are concisely profiled.
E-Book Content
COMPLETE BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND EUROPE COMPLETE BIRDS OF BRITAIN AND EUROPE Rob Hume DORLING KINDERSLEY LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH, MELBOURNE, AND DELHI DK LONDON Senior Art Editor Ina Stradins Senior Editor Angeles Gavira Designer Kirsten Cashman DTP Designer Rajen Shah Production Elizabeth Cherry, Melanie Dowland Managing Art Editor Phil Ormerod Art Director Bryn Walls Category Publisher Jonathan Metcalf Introduction: Designers Helen Taylor, Kenny Grant; Editor Claire Musters; Picture researcher Bobbie Leah Picture Editor Chris Gomersall Illustrator Andrew Mackay DK DELHI Managing Art Editor Shuka Jain Project Designer Shefali Upadhyay Designer Pallavi Narain Design Assistance Elizabeth Thomas, Sukanto Bhattacharjya, Suresh Kumar DTP Designer Umesh Aggarwal Managing Editor Ira Pande Project Editor Atanu Raychaudhuri Editor Rimli Borooah First published in Great Britain in 2002 by Dorling Kindersley Limited 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL Copyright © 2002 Dorling Kindersley Limited A Penguin Company All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owners. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN 13: 978 0 7513 7354 7 ISBN 10: 0 7513 7354 0 Reproduced by Colourscan, Singapore Printed and bound in Portugal by Printer Portuguesa see our complete catalogue at www.dk.com CONTENTS How This Book Works 6 INTRODUCTION SPECIES GUIDE Martins and Swallows 272 Evolution 8 Divers and Grebes 55 Pipits and Wagtails 278 Anatomy 10 Petrels and Shearwaters 64 Life Cycle 12 Wrens, Dippers, Waxwings, and Accentors 288 Courtship and Mating 14 Gannets, Cormorants, and Pelicans 70 Nests and Eggs 16 Bitterns and Herons 74 Warblers and Allies 313 Plumage 18 Storks 84 Flycatchers 313 Flight 20 Flamingos 84 Tits and Allies 341 Feeding 22 Wildfowl 89 Nuthatc