The Survival World of Birds

Why are humming birds found only in the Americas? Why are the Barn Owl and Osprey found on virtually every continent? What accounts for the high level of endemism at both family and special levels in Australia? Why have some birds prospered and proliferated, while others enjoy only the tiniest population? What led to the extinction of such birds as the Tuamotu kingfisher, the Dodo or the Laughing Owl? Why did the Bowerbirds evolve such elaborate behaviour and Birds of Paradise such spectacular plumage? To what extent does ecological change affect individual birds? Can threatened species be helped towards survival? In this far ranging survey of the birds, John Gooders explains the differences and similarities between the bird faunas of the different continents. From the world's most abundant bird, Wilson's Petrel, to the rarest, Spix's Macaw, this lavishly illustrated volume surveys the 8700 bird species that presently inhabit the planet. The book features concise, scientific descriptions of all aspects of birdlife, from evolution and techniques of flight to feeding habits, migration patterns, bird language, and patterns of adaptation - with particular reference to endangered species; descriptions of how each geographic region has produced its own unique range of species; more than 250 colour photographs from the unrivaled picture collection of Anglia Television's award-winning "Survival" series.