Feathered Marvels : The Natural History and Extraordinary Lives of Birds.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Sherony, Dominic F.

Contributor:

Minetor, Randi.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Birds--Popular works.

Birds.

Birds--Evolution--Popular works.

Birds--Speciation--Popular works.

Birds--Behavior--Popular works.

Birds--Habitat--Popular works.

Birds--Conservation--Popular works.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (349 pages)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Jefferson : McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers, 2024.

Summary:

"From the discovery of the fossil Archaeopteryx to more than 10,000 different documented species today, birds have become the second most diversified class of vertebrates on Earth. Birds have changed and evolved extensively since they first emerged in prehistoric times, but that diversity could dwindle and even vanish unless we take steps to conserve their habitats, ensuring that they sustain their numbers and their variety. This comprehensive natural history of birds starts in the distant past-going back to the Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene periods-in order to get a broader understanding of the birds that we see today. Chapters cover their lives, breeding, flight, migration and more, while also highlighting some especially unique bird fossils, such as the Pelagornis Sandersi, which had a wingspan of more than 20 feet. Also included are chapters on the loss of needed habitats, current decline of native birds, and what can be done to reverse it."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Cover

Acknowledgments

Preface

Introduction

Part I. Birds in the Distant Past

1. Birds in the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods

2. Birds in the Paleogene Period

Part II. The Lives of Birds

3. Adaptation and Diversity

4. How Birds Are Different

5. Breeding

6. Flight and Migration

7. Vagrancy and Dispersal

Part III. Extraordinary Birds

8. The Megafauna of the Avian World

9. Hoatzin

10. Unusual Birds

Part IV. An Overview of Birds and Their Habitats

11. The Classification of Birds

12. Perching Birds and Forest Habitats

13. Flycatchers

14. Hawaiian Honeycreepers

15. Grassland Birds

16. Nectar Feeding Birds

17. Wetland Birds

18. Seed and Fruit Eating Birds

19. Trogons

20. Oceanic Birds

21. Shorebirds

22. Birds of Prey

Part V. Birds in Our World

23. The Decline of Native Birds

24. Can We Support Environmental Conservation?

Appendix 1. Index of Latin Bird Names

Appendix 2. Glossary of Terms

References

Index.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

Other Format:

Print version: Sherony, Dominic F. Feathered Marvels

ISBN:

1-4766-5053-5

OCLC:

1419871784