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
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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
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