Created for a broad public, from novice birders to expert ornithologists and anyone interested in the spectacular diversity of birds, this book has something for everyone.- Presents every taxon accepted as a species by any of the four major world lists: 11,524 in total.- 20,865 illustrations covering sexual dimorphism, morphs and many distinctive subspecies.- 11,558 distribution maps, with notes on altitudinal ranges.- All 3313 one-country endemic species marked.- IUCN/BirdLife International conservation status given.- Taxonomic treatment by the four major world lists indicated and compared for each species.- Nomenclatural discrepancies explained.- All English and scientific names from eBird included.- QR codes for instant access to videos, photos and sound recordings, species-by-species.- Checkboxes for personal record-keeping.- All species known to have become extinct since the year 1500 presented separately in their own appendix.- A 37-page world atlas of colour reference maps, with relevant details of interest to birders and ornithologists.- The easiest and most enjoyable way to browse through all the birds of the world.

    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:SkeletonMusclesCirculationDigestionRespirationReproductionFeathersColors and PatternsAnd much, much more!

    Immersed in his squabbling family, birdwatching in the wetlands on their abandoned ranch, and falling in love with a local biologist, he makes discoveries that force him to contend with the environmental cataclysm of his turn-of-millennium present—even as he confronts the Cold War era ideologies and political violence that have shaped his family’s past.

    In When Birds are Near, fresh new voices as well as seasoned authors offer tales of perseverance, adventure, and fun; whether taking us on a journey down Highway 1 to see a rare Condor, fighting the destruction of our grasslands, or simply watching the feeder from a kitchen window.But these essays are more than just field notes. They expand as the authors reflect on love, loss, and family, engaging a broad array of emotions from wonder to humor.As Rob Nixon writes in his essay, "Spotted Owls": "Sometimes the best bird experiences are defined less by a rare sighting than by a quality of presence, some sense of overall occasion that sets in motion memories of a particular landscape, a particular light, a particular choral effect, a particular hiking partner." Or, as poet Elizabeth Bradfield remarks, "We resonate with certain animals, I believe, because they are a physical embodiment of an answer we are seeking. A sense of ourselves in the world that is nearly inexpressible."When Birds are Near gives us the chance to walk alongside these avid appreciators of birds and reflect on our own interactions with our winged companions.