The Pocket Book of Bird Anatomy

Author: Marianne Taylor
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472976916
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 396

Book Description
What is a bird? To answer that, we must understand how birds are different from all other living things and how they fit into the diversity of life on Earth. This excellent RSPB guide to bird anatomy looks at the avian body, system by system, how it evolved, and how it functions. Chapters explore traits that are unique to birds, including their remarkable one-way breathing cycle, their trimmed-down skeleton, how feathers permit flight, provide weather-proofing and add beauty, and the avian bill – a lightweight replacement for both teeth and food-handling forelimbs. Each chapter tackles a particular body system and includes detailed anatomical illustrations, from cells and organs to skeletons and muscles, to show how birds' anatomical adaptations enable all their physical feats and fascinating behaviour. Feature spreads offer more in-depth analysis on topics like birdsong, temperature control, ornamentation, unusual diets, social behaviour, nocturnal adaptations, mutation and natural selection. Featuring more than 300 diagrams and colour photos, this fascinating new book also looks at the human impact on the avian world and reveals how behaviour and anatomy work together to produce these vibrant living beings that delight and inspire us so much.

The Unfeathered Bird

Author: Katrina van Grouw
Publisher: Princeton University Press
ISBN: 0691151342
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 304

Book Description
There is more to a bird than simply feathers. And just because birds evolved from a single flying ancestor doesn't mean they are structurally the same. With 385 stunning drawings depicting 200 species, The Unfeathered bird is a richly illustrated book on bird anatomy that offers refreshingly original insights into what goes on beneath the feathered surface.

The Pocket Book of Insect Anatomy

Author: Marianne Taylor
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1472976894
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 226

Book Description
Insects live alongside us in great profusion – sometimes even in intimate proximity. Their importance to the ecosystems of our world, and to our own survival, cannot be overstated. But it can be challenging to relate to them as fellow living beings when their bodies' structure and function are so dramatically different from our own. This excellent RSPB guide to insect anatomy aims to demystify the way that insects live, from the fine detail of their internal processes to the way they co-exist with all other forms of life. Insects exhibit dizzying diversity across their millions of species. Among them are mighty hunters, voracious plant defoliators, deep divers, high-fliers, master builders and devoted parents. Within the vast nests of honey-bees, ants and termites, we see them come together to form a huge, complex, multifaceted living machine. All this variation and potential has come about through evolved modification of a simple but perfectly elegant body plan. Each chapter of this book tackles a particular body system or aspect of insect biology, from respiration to digestion, movement to metamorphosis. Using a step-by-step approach, the book breaks down structures and processes and explores the myriad ways these are expressed in different insect groups. Separate pages delve into particular aspects of insect biology and ecology, such as how their colours are formed and the biology behind their remarkable migratory behaviour. Featuring numerous diagrams and more than 200 colour photos, this user-friendly guide is perfect for anyone interested in learning more about these extraordinary animals that – in terms of numbers, if not size – dominate our planet today.

How Birds Work: An Illustrated Guide to the Wonders of Form and Function - from Bones to Beak (How Nature Works)

Author: Marianne Taylor
Publisher: The Experiment, LLC
ISBN: 161519648X
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 347

Book Description
Engineered by evolution to thrive in the wild A tiny textbook to learn on your own How Birds Work goes beyond the typical field guide to show us not only what birds look like but why. Why do many owls have asymmetrical ear openings? (Hint: It helps them pinpoint prey; see page 40.) And why does the Grey Heron rest on one leg at a time? (Hint: Not because it’s tired; see page 66!) Birds boast a spectacular array of adaptations suited to their incredibly diverse diets and habitats. In this in-depth handbook, discover the ways they’re even more astounding than you know—inside and out. Detailed analysis and illustrations illuminate: Skeleton Muscles Circulation Digestion Respiration Reproduction Feathers Colors and Patterns And much, much more!

Everything You Need to Know About Birds

Author: DK
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 1465452923
Category : Juvenile Nonfiction
Languages : en
Pages : 82

Book Description
Have you ever wondered how birds fly or what's inside an egg? You can find out the answers to these questions and more in Everything You Need to Know About Birds! From the nocturnal owls to the flightless penguins, learn about the different evolution and habitats of birds from around the world. Discover how almost everything about a bird's anatomy is designed for flight, yet how its skeleton is also similar to that of a human. Everything You Need to Know About Birds is a fact-filled, highly visual guide to different types of birds all across the world. Packed with information on habitats, breeding habits, as well as oddities, shocking trivia, and anatomy, this information is presented through close-ups, engaging text, and innovative, high-quality design, making it perfect for in-depth research or a quick dip for fast facts.

A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching

Author: Rosemary Mosco
Publisher: Hachette UK
ISBN: 1523515570
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 249

Book Description
Part field guide, part history, part ornithology primer, and altogether fun. Fact: Pigeons are amazing, and until recently, humans adored them. We’ve kept them as pets, held pigeon beauty contests, raced them, used them to carry messages over battlefields, harvested their poop to fertilize our crops—and cooked them in gourmet dishes. Now, with The Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching, readers can rediscover the wonder. Equal parts illustrated field guide and quirky history, it covers behavior: Why they coo; how they flock; how they preen, kiss, and mate (monogamously); and how they raise their young (on chunky pigeon milk). Anatomy and identification, from Birmingham Roller to the American Giant Runt to the Scandaroon. Birder issues, like what to do if you find a baby pigeon stranded in the park. And our lively shared story together, including all the things we’ve taught them—Ping-Pong, for example. “Rats with wings?” Think again. Pigeons coo, peck and nest all over the world, yet most of us treat them with indifference or disdain. So Rosemary Mosco, a bird-lover, science communicator, writer, and cartoonist (and co-author of The Atlas Obscura Explorer’s Guide for the World’s Most Adventurous Kid) is here to give the pigeon's image a makeover, and to help every town- and city-dweller get closer to nature by discovering the joys of birding through pigeon-watching.

Avian Anatomy

Author: Horst Erich König
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781910455609
Category : Anatomia veterinària
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
Bringing together annotated images and anatomical terms, this reference book is a unique combination of a practical, clinically oriented textbook and pictorial atlas of avian anatomy. Containing very high quality photographs, including histological and radiographic images, and schematic diagrams, this edition focuses on ornamental birds and poultry. Among the various species examined are chickens, ducks, and geese, as well as budgerigars, psitaccines and many others. Wild bird species, such as the common buzzard and falcon, are included. Raptors are featured in a dedicated new chapter. Translated from Anatomie der Voegel, first published by Schattauer, this edition of Avian Anatomy is an ideal book for veterinary practitioners and students. *** "...a wealth of knowledge. Aside from anatomy, the book contains 7 chapters that are dedicated to clinically relevant topics, such as diagnostic imaging techniques, restraint and handling, and medication techniques. This book is an excellent reference for avian veterinarians, poultry specialists, veterinary students, and others interested in enhancing their knowledge of avian anatomy." --Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol. 252, No. 6, March 15, 2018[Subject: Veterinary Medicine, Avian Health]

Birds of the Eastern Caribbean

Author: Peter G. H. Evans
Publisher: MacMillan Caribbean
ISBN:
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 176

Book Description
Dealing with the natural history of birds, " Birds of the Eastern Caribbean" provides an up-to-date review of over 300 species to be found in the islands. For each species, the key features are identified, followed by notes on status, distribution, habitat, breeding biology, diet and behaviour. Photographs of many species are illustrated in colour for the first time. The guide includes helpful hints on bird-watching and bird photography. There is a useful bibliography, list of best bird-watching sites and an island by island check list of species recently observed, all included to help the visitor get the best out of bird-watching in the islands.

Vertebrate Palaeontology

Author: Michael J. Benton
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1394195087
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 692

Book Description
All-new edition of the world’s leading vertebrate palaeontology textbook, now addressing key evolutionary transitions and ecological drivers for vertebrate evolution Richly illustrated with colour illustrations of the key species and cladograms of all major vertebrate taxa, Vertebrate Palaeontology provides a complete account of the evolution of vertebrates, including macroevolutionary trends and drivers that have shaped their organs and body plans, key transitions such as terrestrialization, endothermy, flight and impacts of mass extinctions on biodiversity and ecological drivers behind the origin of chordates and vertebrates, their limbs, jaws, feathers, and hairs. This revised and updated fifth edition features numerous recent examples of breakthrough discoveries in line with the current macroevolutionary approach in palaeontology research, such as the evolutionary drivers that have shaped vertebrate development. Didactical features have been enhanced and include new functional and developmental feature spreads, key questions, and extensive references to useful websites. Written by a leading academic in the field, Vertebrate Palaeontology discusses topics such as: Palaeozoic fishes, including Cambrian vertebrates, placoderms (‘armour-plated monsters’), Pan-Chondrichthyes such as sharks and rays, and Osteichthyes (‘bony fishes’) The first tetrapods, covering problems of life on land, diversity of Carboniferous tetrapods and temnospondyls and reptiliomorphs following the Carboniferous Mesozoic reptiles, such as Testudinata (turtles), Crocodylomorpha, Pterosauria, Dinosauria, great sea dragons and Lepidosauria (lizards and snakes) Mammals of the southern and northern hemispheres, covering Xenarthra (sloths, anteaters), Afrotheria (African mammals), Laurasiatheria (bats, ungulates, carnivores), and Euarchontoglires (rodents, primates) A highly comprehensive and completely up-to-date reference on vertebrate evolution, Vertebrate Palaeontology is an ideal learning aid for palaeontology courses in biology and geology departments. The text is also highly valuable to enthusiasts who want to experience the flavour of how modern research in the field is conducted.

Passions for Birds

Author: Sean Nixon
Publisher: McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP
ISBN: 0228010470
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 200

Book Description
Whether as sources of joy and pleasure to be fed, counted, and watched, as objects of sport to be hunted and killed, or as food to be harvested, wild birds evoke strong feelings. Sean Nixon traces the transformation of these human passions for wild birds from the early twentieth century through the 1970s, detailing humans’ close encounters with wild birds in Britain and the wider North Atlantic world. Drawing on a rich range of written sources, Passions for Birds reveals how emotional, subjective, and material attachments to wild birds were forged through a period of pronounced social and cultural change. Nixon demonstrates how, for all their differences, new traditions in birdwatching and conservation, field sports, and bird harvesting mobilized remarkably similar feelings towards birds. Striking similarities also emerged in the material forms that each of these practices used to bring birds closer to people – hides and traps, nets and ropes, and binoculars. Wide ranging in scope, Passions for Birds sheds new light on the ways in which wild birds helped shape humans throughout the twentieth century, as well as how birds themselves became burdened with multiple cultural meanings and social anxieties over time.