Avian survivors : the history and biogeography of Palearctic birds / Clive Finlayson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Finlayson, Clive, 1955- author.

Series:

Poyser Monographs

Poyser monographs

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Birds--Ecology--Palearctic.

Birds.

Birds--Geographical distribution.

Climatic changes--Environmental aspects--Palearctic.

Climatic changes.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (321 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London : T. & A.D. Poyser, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Using a fresh approach that classifies birds according to their bioclimatic characteristics, Clive Finlayson views the history and distribution of Palearctic birds from a radical new angle. History and chance events play a central role in a story that has its origins before the asteroid impact that finished off the dinosaurs. In this book, Finlayson shows that the avifauna of the Palearctic long predates the glaciations of the last two million years, and had established itself gradually during the turbulent times of the Miocene and Pliocene, the lifting of Tibet and the drying of the continents having a major influence on these birds. Those that made it to the start of the glaciations were equipped to deal with whatever the climate could throw at them. They were the avian survivors, and they are still here with us today. Packed with figures and with a rich colour section, Avian Survivors tells the definitive story of the birds of the Palearctic, across space and time."--Bloomsbury Publishing.

Contents:

Cover; Contents; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Introducing the Tertiary; 2. The changing ecology of the Palearctic in the Pleistocene; 3. Origins of Palearctic birds; 4. Corvoidea - shrikes, crows and orioles; 5. Sylvioidea - hirundines, warblers and larks; 6. Paroidea - tits; 7. Muscicapoidea - chats, thrushes, flycatchers and allies; 8. Passeroidea - sparrows, finches, pipits and buntings; 9. Falcons; 10. Terrestrial non-passerines; 11. Owls; 12. Raptors; 13. Gulls, terns, auks and waders; 14. Divers, tubenoses, and waterbirds; 15. Cranes, rails, bustards and cuckoos

16. Nightjars and swifts17. Pigeons, sandgrouse, tropicbirds, flamingos and grebes; 18. Geese, swans, ducks and gamebirds; 19. Climate and the history of the birds of the Palearctic; 20. Surviving climate change - characteristics of survivors; 21. The Palearctic avifauna of yesterday, today and tomorrow; Appendix 1. Species covered in this book: bioclimatic and ecological features; Appendix 2. European Pleistocene fossil birds; References; Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 279-288) and index.

ISBN:

9786613294210

9781472597519

1472597516

9781283294218

1283294214

9781408137321

1408137321

9781408137314

1408137313

OCLC:

759167564