• How are birds so good at flying and
navigating? • Why are birds so like mammals– and yet
so very different? • Did birds descend from
dinosaurs, and if so, does that mean birds are
dinosaurs? • How do they court each other and fend
off rivals? • What' s being communicated in
birdsong? • Can we ever know how birds think? In
this fascinating exploration of the avian class, Colin
Tudge considers the creatures of the air. From their
evolutionary roots to their flying, feeding, fighting,
mating, nesting, and communicating, Tudge provocatively
ponders what birds actually do–as well as why they do it
and how. With the same curiosity, passion, and insight
he brought to redwoods, pines, and palm trees in his
widely acclaimed book The Tree, Tudge here
studies sparrows, parrots, and even the Monkey-eating
Eagle to better understand their world–and our
own. There is far more to a bird's existence than
gliding gracefully on air currents or chirping sweetly
from fence posts–the stakes are life and death. By
observing and explaining the complex strategy that comes
into play with everything from migration to social
interaction to the timing of giving birth to young,
Tudge reveals how birds are uniquely equipped
biologically to succeed and survive. And he offers an
impassioned plea for humans to learn to coexist with
birds without continuing to endanger their
survival. Complete with an "annotated cast list" of
all the known birds in the world– plus gorgeous
illustrations–The Bird is a comprehensive and
delightfully accessible guide for everyone from
dedicated birders to casual birdwatchers that celebrates
and illuminates the remarkable lives of
birds. From the Hardcover edition.
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