Field Guide to the Birds of East Asia

Author: Mark Brazil
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472975928
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 532

Book Description
This is the first single volume guide ever devoted to the eastern Asian avifauna. The eastern Asian region, centring especially on the major islands off the continental coast (including Japan and Taiwan) and the immediately adjacent areas of the Asian continent from Kamchatka in the north and including the Korean Peninsula are an important centre of endemism. Birds endemic to this region include representatives of many of the major families, from the world's largest eagle - Steller's Sea Eagle - to the tiny Formosan Firecrest. The east Asian continental coast and the offshore islands also form one of the world's major international bird migration routes, especially for waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, while the east Asian continental mainland itself is home to a wide range of species little known to western ornithologists such as Scaly-sided Merganser, Oriental Stork and Mugimaki Flycatcher. The guide features the most up-to-date text available, which, in conjunction with extensive colour plates throughout, facilitates the field identification of all of the species known from the region. Colour distribution maps enhance the text by providing a visual analysis of the summer, winter and migratory ranges of all species.

A Field Guide to the Birds of China

Author: John Ramsay MacKinnon
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 9780198549406
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 870

Book Description
China is one of the largest countries in the world, covering 7% of the earth's land surface, and encompassing a hugely diverse range of habitats. As a result it boasts a rich and diverse avifauna, including some of the most spectacular and fascinating birds to be found anywhere in the world. This is the first truly comprehensive, taxonomically modern, and fully illustrated field guide to the Chinese birds. Over 1300 species are illustrated in 128 colour paintings, and fully described in the text. Colour distribution maps are provided for all illustrated species. The authors have both lived and worked in the region for many years, and have extensive experience of writing and illustrating bird guides. This important book will be a landmark in field guide publishing.

A Naturalist's Guide to the Birds of China

Author: Ding Li Yong
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781909612235
Category : Birds
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
This easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 bird species most representative of Southeast China covers Hunan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, and Shanghai. High quality photographs from the region's top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions which include nomenclature, size, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers geography and climate, vegetation, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Southeast China encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific name, IUCN status as at 2011.

Riddle of the Feathered Dragons

Author: Alan Feduccia
Publisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300165692
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 631

Book Description
"Inspired by the spectacular discoveries of the past two decades from the Age of Reptiles in China, Riddle of the Feathered Dragons explores how these miraculous fossils have transformed the contentious arena of bird and dinosaur evolution. Aside from being the most comprehensive discussion of these avian and associated discoveries, the author delves into the world of investigative journalism to expose the darker side of the world of fossil birds and dinosaurs. The book exposes the massive unfounded speculation that has characterized the field of vertebrate paleontology and published extensively in the world's most prestigious journals, including everything from supposed dinosaur protein to so-called feathered dinosaurs. The book questions the validity of the foundational tenets of the now "unquestionable orthodoxy" of bird and dinosaur evolution, including bird origins, feathered dinosaurs, flight origin from the ground-up and hot-blooded dinosaurs and their proteins. It exposes how speculation has gone far beyond the ability of the currently available evidence to yield answers. The author concludes that birds are best defined by a more traditional definition of the possession of feathers and avian flight architecture, that the so-called "feathered dinosaurs" are most likely derived avians, and that flight clearly originated from the trees-down, from ancestors that antedated the dinosaurs, rather than a direct linear descent"--

Birds of Stone

Author: Luis M. Chiappe
Publisher: JHU Press
ISBN: 1421420252
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 303

Book Description
Captivating photographs of the world’s most detailed bird fossils illuminate the early diversity of avifauna. When fossils of birds from China’s Jehol region first appeared in scientific circles, the world took notice. These Mesozoic masterpieces are between 120 and 131 million years old and reveal incredible details that capture the diversity of ancient bird life. Paleontologists all over the world began to collaborate with Chinese colleagues as new and wondrous fossil-related discoveries became regular events. The pages of National Geographic and major scientific journals described the intricate views of feathers as well as food still visible in the guts of these ancient birds. Now, for the first time, a sweeping collection of the most interesting of Jehol’s avian fossils is on display in this beautiful book. Birds of Stone makes visible the unexpected avian diversity that blanketed the earth just a short time (geologically speaking) after a dinosaur lineage gave rise to the first birds. Our visual journey through these fossils is guided by Luis M. Chiappe, a world expert on early birds, and Meng Qingjin, a leading figure in China's natural history museum community. Together, they help us understand the "meaning" of each fossil by providing straightforward narratives that accompany the full-page photographs of the Jehol discoveries. Anyone interested in the history of life—from paleontologists to inquisitive birders—will find Birds of Stone an irresistible feast for the eyes and mind.

A Guide to the Mammals of China

Author: Andrew T. Smith
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 1400834112
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 571

Book Description
China's stunning diversity of natural habitats--from parched deserts to lush tropical forests--is home to more than 10 percent of the world's mammal species. A Guide to the Mammals of China is the most comprehensive guide to all 556 species of mammals found in China. It is the only single-volume reference of its kind to fully describe the physical characteristics, geographic distribution, natural history, and conservation status of every species. An up-to-date distribution map accompanies each species account, and color plates illustrate a majority of species. Written by a team of leading specialists, including Professor Wang Sung who provides a history of Chinese mammalogy, A Guide to the Mammals of China is the ideal reference for researchers and a delight for anyone interested in China's rich mammal fauna. The definitive, comprehensive, up-to-date guide to all of China's 556 mammal species High-quality color plates accompany the detailed text Each species account comes with a distribution map Organized taxonomically for easy reference Includes an extensive bibliography

Birds of China

Author: Liu Yang
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691237522
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 673

Book Description
"The avifauna of China include a total of close to 1,500 species, of which 60 are endemic. More than 100 species are globally threatened. This new field guide, published in China by Chinese National Geography, treats all species, illustrating every one using 4,000 individual images. Each species has identification text and a distribution map. It is, in every way, a modern-style field guide and will fill a void for birders within and outside China"--

Guide to the Birds of China

Author: John MacKinnon
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0192893661
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 556

Book Description
China covers about 7% of the earth's land surface and encompasses a hugely diverse range of habitats. As a result, it boasts a rich and diverse avifauna, including some of the most spectacular and fascinating birds to be found anywhere in the world. Building on the enormous popularity and reputation of the original A Field Guide to the Birds of China (2000), John MacKinnon's fully updated and refreshed work remains a truly comprehensive, taxonomically modern, fully illustrated, and authoritative field guide. 1484 bird species are richly illustrated in 164 annotated colour plates, which are closely integrated with up-to-date colour distribution maps, QR codes providing easy access to birdcalls, IUCN Red List status indicators and new, concise descriptions. These descriptions feature key observations as well as conveying crucial changes to species distributions resulting from climate change and landscape transformation. Guide to the Birds of China will appeal to an international and growing audience of professional and amateur ornithologists and birding enthusiasts, academic researchers and students, wildlife photographers, and conservationists.

Birds of China

Author: John MacKinnon
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472932129
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 146

Book Description
An authoritative, portable photographic guide to the birds of China. A compact, easy-to-use bird identification guide for any nature watcher on a visit to China, one of the world's top destinations for watching birds. A total of 252 species is described here in detail, from the majestic Black-crowned Night Heron to the striking Large Niltava. All of these birds are clearly illustrated in a collection of specially commissioned colour photographs. With almost 300 full-colour photographs, easy-to-use thumbnail family silhouettes, a regional distribution map and handy tips on the best birding localities. Illustrated with clear colour photography and brief but authoritative descriptions the Pocket Photo Guides highlight the species of birds and animals from each region that the traveller is most likely to see, as well as those that are genuinely endemic (only to be seen in that country or region) or special rarities. The genuine pocket size allow the books to be carried around on trips and excursions and will take up minimal rucksack and suitcase space.

Guide to the Wildlife of Southwest China

Author: William McShea
Publisher: Smithsonian Institution
ISBN: 1944466142
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 464

Book Description
Guide to the Wildlife of Southwest China allows readers to enter the fascinating world of Southwest China, a biodiverse hot spot teeming with interesting wildlife. This field guide, designed to inform nature reserve staff, students of natural history, and casual wildlife tourists alike, presents one hundred and thirty species along with detailed descriptions, a range map, and full color photographs..