Birder's Handbook: Birder's Handbook [Paperback]

This is the most complete and authoritative reference book about the birds of North America—up to date and in field-guide format.
The Birder's Handbookis the first of its kind: a portable library of fascinating information not included in your identification guide. For each of the 646 species of birds that breed in North America,The Birder's Handbookwill tell you at a glance:
* Where the bird nests, and which sex(es) build(s) the nest;
* How many eggs the bird lays, what they look like, which patent incubates and for how long, and how the young are cared for;
* Food preferences and foraging habits.
You will also find information about displays and mating, wintering, conservation status, and much more. In addition,The Birder's Handbookcontains some 250 short essays covering all aspects of avian natural history.Paul R. Ehrlich is Bing Professor of Population Studies and Professor of Biology at Stanford University, and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He is the author of over 400 scientific articles and more than 20 books, including The Population Bomb, Extinction, and The Machinery of Nature.

David S. Dobkin is the author ofThe Birder's Handbook.

Darryl Wheye is the author of The Birder's Handbook. 
Contents

Introduction

How to Use this Book

Right-hand Pages -- Essays

Left-hand Pages -- Species Treatments

Treatment Heading

Summary Line

Treatment Paragraph

Dealing with Uncertainty

Key to Summary Lines

Nest Location

Nest Type

Who Builds the Nest

Eggs

Mating system

Incubating Sex

Length of Incubation

Development at Hatching

Time from Hatching to Fledging

Who Tends the Young

Diet During Breeding

Foraging Techniques

Interpreting the Treatment Paragraphs