Sunday, October 27, 2024

New Titles

 


 

 

1) van Duivendijk, Nils. ID Handbook of European Birds. 2024. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 1056 pages (in two volumes). Price: $

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Would you like to be able to identify any bird species in Europe, in all plumages, in every season? ID Handbook of European Birds is the resource for you. This identification handbook blends incisive descriptions with stunning high-resolution photos to provide the most comprehensive, in-depth coverage of European birds available. Never before has so much current information been brought together in one place and presented so clearly and completely. This monumental two-volume work is destined to become a standard reference to Europe’s birds.

  • Covers 733 species known to occur in Europe
  • Features more than 5,500 spectacular color photos
  • Detailed species accounts describe key identification features, molting, age, and gender
  • The high-quality photos depict the characteristics most essential for identification
  • Innovatively designed for easy, at-a-glance reference
  • An ideal resource for anyone who wants to enhance their experience in the field
  • A must for bird-watchers everywhere, from beginners to seasoned birders

RECOMMENDATION: These books are a MUST-HAVE for all serious birders in Europe!   

 


 

2) Ayyash, Amar. The Gull Guide: North America. 2024. Princeton University Press. Flexibound: 518 pages. Price: $

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The definitive photographic guide to North American gulls.

     Gull identification can be challenging for even the most seasoned birder. While these birds are common to coasts, lakes, and rivers, they exhibit remarkable plumage changes related to age, which is sometimes complicated by similarities between species and a readiness to hybridize. This book provides an invaluable identification guide to all regularly occurring gull species and subspecies throughout North America. It is packed with the very latest research on field identification, updated taxonomy, current distribution trends, color maps, and helpful notes on natural history, aging, and molt. The Gull Guide integrates the essential elements that are critical to understanding gulls, setting an entirely new standard for identifying and enjoying these marvelous birds.

  • Features more than 1,800 superb color photos
  • Covers 36 gull species as well as 7 of the most commonly encountered hybrid gulls
  • Gives equal attention to rarities from Asia, Europe, and South America
  • Describes the key characteristics of all age groups, from juvenile through adult plumages
  • Innovative photo collages give side-by-side comparisons, enabling readers to distinguish between similar species and avoid common pitfalls associated with gull identification
  • Comes with a one-of-a-kind “cheat sheet” describing key features of select Larus species
  • A must for the bookshelf of every birder and ornithologist
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the gulls of the region!
 

 
3) Ellis, David H. et al.(editors). The Golden Eagle Around the World. 2024. Hancock House. Hardbound: 918 pages. Price: $99.95 U.S.
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Unlike all other monographs on the Golden Eagle, each of which had a regional focus on the study area of the author, this book represents the most wide-ranging compilation of Golden Eagle research ever.
      With over 175 authors reporting on more than 2000 combined field seasons, representing every biome where the species is found, this book marks one of the greatest attempts to describe the biology of any circumpolar species. Having more than 920 pages, over 1,500 illustrations, many never previously published, this work represents a truly global achievement. It merits a place in the library of every ornithologist and raptor enthusiast.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the Golden Eagle! The only drawback to this book is a lack of a subject index. 

 

 
4) Kirkconnell, Arturo and Orlando H. Garrido. Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba (Second Edition). 2024. Comstock/Cornell. Paperback: 243 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: This fully updated second edition of Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba offers a comprehensive and user-friendly guide to the identification of the more than 370 recorded species and 29 extant endemic species in the country. It incorporates changes to the composition of the avifauna of Cuba while remaining an accessible introduction to Cuban birds―including the irresistible Cuban Tody, the dazzling Cuban Trogon, and the diminutive Bee Hummingbird―the smallest species of bird in the world.

• All new design features 95 color plates and more than 700 images, depicting male, female and, when relevant, juvenile plumages.
• Species accounts include range maps, detailed descriptions, distinguishing characteristics, a list of habitats where the bird is found, behaviors, and vocalizations.
• Winter and breeding plumages are included for migratory species―extremely useful for identifying the large number of birds that migrate south from North America.

     A definitive guide from the country's best birders, Arturo Kirkconnell and Orlando H. Garrido, Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba presents a wealth of knowledge accumulated over a lifetime of work.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone birding Cuba! 

 





5) Wroza, Stanislas. Identifying Migratory Birds by Sound in Britain and Europe. 2024. Helm. Paperback: 240 pages. Price: $

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Identify migratory birds with this book, containing detailed text on flight and contact calls, annotated sonograms and QR codes to the calls themselves.

     Every spring and autumn, millions of birds fly over us to en route to their summer or winter quarters, with these migratory flights occurring both day and night. A profusion of sounds fills the air, making it possible to put a name to these fleeting silhouettes - because the best way to identify these migrants is by their calls. Often neglected in traditional identification guides, these calls are described in this book with precision. Annotated sonograms make it possible to visualize, identify and better memorize the flight and contact calls of British and European migratory species.

* Describes 450 species, with detailed text, photographs and sonograms.
* Features essential criteria for effective identification of calls in the field.
* Covers migratory behaviour and where and when to encounter each species.
* Contains QR codes linking to more than 1,000 downloadable sounds to listen to at home or on your smartphone.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for all serious birders in Europe!   


Chris, Cynthia. Cuckoo. 2024. Reaktion Books. Paperback: 163 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The cuckoo is peculiar for inspiring such divergent ideas: a symbol of foolishness to both Aristophanes and Cocoa Puffs, a reliable harbinger of spring and the hours of a cuckoo clock, and the source of innumerable innuendos inspired by a habit of laying eggs in others’ nests. In this short, entertaining book, Cynthia Chris explores both the natural and cultural history of the cuckoo as well as the many stories told throughout the centuries about this fascinating bird.
RECOMMENDATION: A well illustrated introduction to the cuckoo. 
 

7) Nicholls, Will and Paul Sterry (editors). Bird Photographer of the Year: Collection 9. 2024.  Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 256 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY:The Bird Photographer of the Year is a competition that celebrates the artistry of bird photography from around the world, and this beautiful, large-format book showcases the best images from the contest—some of the most stunning bird photographs ever taken. A gorgeous record of avian beauty and diversity across the globe, the book demonstrates the dedication and passion of bird photographers and the incredible quality of today’s digital imaging systems.

     The book features the best of tens of thousands of images from the ninth year of the competition, including the winning and short-listed pictures. It presents a vast variety of photos by experienced professionals and enthusiastic amateurs, reflecting the huge diversity of bird and nature lovers, which is vital for ensuring the conservation and survival of birds. A portion of the profits from this book goes to Birds on the Brink, a charity that supports bird conservation around the world.

     Filled with unforgettable images of a kind that simply weren’t possible before the creation of digital photography, this book will delight anyone who loves birds or great photography.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in bird photography. 

 


 

8) The Featherguide (editor). Atlas of Feathers for Western Palearctic Birds, Volume 1: Introduction.  2024. Featherguide Publishers. Hardbound: 597 pages. Price: 63.99 GBP (about $83.00 U.S.).

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: The Atlas of Feathers for Western Palearctic Birds is a collective project of the Feather Research Group, founded in 1972 by Wilfried Hansen. This monumental work, depicting the feathers of nearly all bird species recorded in the Western Palearctic, has been in the making for over 20 years. More than 150,000 feathers have been scanned for this encyclopedia, both in private feather collections and in many natural history museums. These scans, digitally composed into beautiful pterylographies, reveal hidden details of all major plumages. The Atlas of Feathers for Western Palearctic Birds will consist of a 2-volume concise edition and a 10-volume full edition.

     The Introductory Volume to the Atlas of Feathers for Western Palearctic Birds opens the 10-volume full edition. It looks beyond the geographic limits of the Western Palearctic and gives a global overview of feather characteristics. One of the most interesting topics of ornithology is the origin and evolution of feather emarginations. According to current scientific knowledge, feather emarginations were not present yet in Mesozoic birds.

     This volume features the first-ever survey and quantification of feather emarginations (recesses or notches in the margins) in all living bird species of the world as well as many recently extinct species. The most extensive scientific study on emarginations to date was published in the Journal of Morphology and quantified the emarginations of 135 bird species. In spite of scientific peer review, three out of these 135 species were classified wrongly, either as being emarginated when they were not, or vice versa. This showed the need for a clear definition of what constitutes an emargination, and the need for more extensive peer review. The Feather Research Group invites the public at large to participate in this peer review as citizen scientists. The links to the scans of feathers and photographs of live birds that were used for evaluation will be made available on a separate website, where anyone will be able to help the editorial team verify and correct the results.

     One of the surprising results is the amount of phenotypic plasticity that is found in many species regarding the number and extent of emarginations. A more detailed search by more people is likely to reveal a much greater extent of phenotypic plasticity in many more species. Another surprising finding is the existence of emarginations in adult males of certain hummingbird species. Hummingbirds, just as the related family of Swifts, do not normally have emarginations, as they make no aerodynamic sense for the way they fly. Possibly their presence in males indicates ornamental or acoustic roles during courtship display rather than any aerodynamic purpose, though this hypothesis would require further research on the behaviour of these species.

     The family summaries for all 244 bird families of the world give further details of the avian flight apparatus, including the number of primaries, secondaries and rectrices, including unusual variations, the presence or absence of remicle and carpal remex, the prevalence of eutaxy and diastataxy, the position of the longest primary, the relative length of the outermost primary, as well as the ranges of variability in the longest alula feather, longest secondary and longest tail feather, all in per cent of the longest primary. The family summaries are followed by short summaries on genus level and then present the currently available data for each species.


RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with a very serious interest in bird feathers.

 



9) Lam, Ed. Dragonflies of North America. 2024. Princeton University Press. Flexibound: 446 pages. Price: $

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Dragonflies are large and beautiful insects, diverse in color and pattern. This premier field guide provides all the information you need to identify every male and female dragonfly found in North America, whether in the field, in the hand, or under the microscope. The extensive illustrations are the heart of the book. Close-up color portraits of each species, often several times life size, show the best possible specimens for close examination. Each sex is depicted using multiple images, with postures and viewpoints consistently maintained to aid comparison. Dragonflies of North America is the ultimate guide to these extraordinary insects.

  • Covers all 329 North American species, including distinctive subspecies and variations
  • Features nearly 1,900 highly detailed paintings and drawings, providing clarity and consistency that photographs cannot match
  • Illustrates each species with multiple views for easy identification and comparison
  • Gives an invaluable introduction to dragonfly anatomy, behavior, and life cycle
  • Offers additional guidance for the most challenging species that defy field identification, highlighting anatomical characteristics to aid identification in the hand
  • Includes a distribution map for every species
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the dragonflies of the continental United States and Canada!
 
 
 

 
 
10) Mungall, Elizabeth Cary. Exotic Animal Field Guide: Nonnative Hoofed Mammals in the United States. 2024. Texas A&M University Press. Flexibound: 337 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Since Elizabeth Cary Mungall’s original Exotic Animal Field Guide was published in 2007, the diversity and number of species of nonnative hoofed animals has surged in the United States. To better serve the growing industry of raising exotics and related conservation efforts, this revised edition of Exotic Animal Field Guide includes ten new animal species, along with a fully updated photography guide encompassing the latest technology in digital photography.

      Beautifully illustrated species accounts of deer, antelopes, sheep and goats, cattle, and other truly exotic animals such as giraffes and zebras are the highlight of this book. Also included are chapters about the history of exotics in the United States, where to see them, and hints on exotic animal ownership. Like the original field guide, each animal profile includes native range maps, information about food habits, habitat, temperament, breeding and birth seasons, fencing needs, and photographs of the animals. Updated lists of exotics-related organizations and further readings, a glossary, and a comprehensive reference section round out the text, making this new edition even more useful as a field tool for both new and experienced exotic animal owners and conservationists.

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in the exotic hoofed mammals of the region. 
 
 
 
 
 
11) Scaife, Adam. The Little Book of Weather. 2024. Princeton University Press. Hardbound: 160 pages. Price: $
 
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A charming, richly illustrated, pocket-size exploration of the world’s weather.
     Packed with surprising facts, this delightful and gorgeously designed book will beguile anyone who is curious about weather. Expertly written and beautifully illustrated throughout with color photographs and original color artwork, The Little Book of Weather is an accessible and enjoyable mini-reference about the world’s weather, with examples drawn from across the globe. It fits an astonishing amount of information in a small package, covering a wide range of topics—from weather forecasting and extreme events such as hurricanes and typhoons to the future of weather with climate change. It also includes curious facts, myths, and history—from whether animals can predict the weather to the bad weather that helped doom Napoleon and Hitler’s invasions of Russia and the Soviet Union. The result is an irresistible guide to the amazing world of weather.
  • A beautifully designed pocket-size book with a foil-stamped cloth cover
  • Features some 140 color illustrations and photos
  • Makes a perfect gift
RECOMMENDATION: This book is the eighth title in the Little Book series. It's a quick informative overview of weather.   
 

Sunday, September 29, 2024

New Titles

 


 

1) Stokes, Lillian Q. and Matthew A. Young. The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada. 2024. Little, Brown and Company. Paperback: 332 pages. Price: $

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: Learn all you need to know about identifying and attracting finches with this comprehensive, gloriously colorful field guide from America’s foremost authorities on birds and nature.

     Following the extraordinary finch superflight of 2020-2021, birders across the country became obsessed with finches. With The Stokes Guide to Finches of the United States and Canada, you can gain expert knowledge on these beautiful birds and bring them into your own yard. This fully illustrated guide tells you all you need to know about attracting, observing, and protecting finches.

The book also includes:

  • A special section on endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper finches, plus other rare and vagrant species
  • Detailed identification information on each finch species’ plumages, subspecies, and voice
  • The most complete and up-to-date range maps, including maps of core occurrence and irruption ranges for all red crossbill call types, which have never before been published in a guide
  • Complete life history information
  • Scientific studies on finch migrations and conservation
  • More than 345 stunning full-color photographs and over 50 range maps covering 43 species

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the finches of the region!

 
2) Thomas, Rob. The Storm-petrels. 2024. T & AD Poyser. Flexibound: 335 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY:  Imagine a bird as small as a sparrow, which lives most of its life on the open ocean yet can survive for decades. It walks on the water, and migrates half way around the world, returning to remote islands to breed underground, often in exactly the same rock crevice each year. To attract a mate it sings like a fairy and smells aromatic, but it vomits oil onto its enemies. It visits its nest by night, lays a single enormous egg, and feeds its chick until the nestling weighs more than both parents put together. It seems to have little fear of humans, but was itself feared by ancient seafarers. This might sound like the stuff of legend, but is actually the description of the European Storm-petrel, a member of the Hydrobatidae family.

     The latest in the Poyser series, with comprehensive text and beautiful illustrations, this follows the remarkable life of the storm-petrel. Focusing on the European species, it tracks their lives from the remote North Atlantic islands, where they breed via the coasts of Africa, to the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean, where they spend the northern winter. There is also discussion on other members of the storm-petrel family. We learn about their evolution, behaviour, ecology, and adaptations to a life in the harsh and unpredictable environment of the open ocean, and discover what these enigmatic seabirds can tell us about what humans are doing to our planet.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a MUST-HAVE for anyone with an interest in the storm-petrels!  
 

 
3) Elphick, Jonathan. Ferdinand Bauer's Remarkable Birds. 2024. Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. Hardbound: 240 pages. Price: $
PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: A richly illustrated volume, which reproduces one of the finest collections of eighteenth-century ornithological art in its entirety.

      In 1786, Austrian natural history artist Ferdinand Bauer traveled to Italy and the Levant. The watercolors he created from meticulous drawings made during the trip are among the finest examples of natural history illustration. Bauer’s botanical paintings are well known yet this industrious artist also made stunning illustrations of over a hundred different bird species, very few of which have been published until now.

      This book describes Bauer’s early life, achievements, and his experiences of traveling for fifteen months—often facing the perils of weather, illness, bandits, and pirates. It also details his field method of recording the precise colors of the birds on his pencil drawings by employing his scheme of coloring by numbers, each representing a specific hue, to be used as a reference when he returned to Oxford.

      Each illustration is reproduced alongside a facing page of vivid expert text describing the characteristics of each bird, interwoven with aspects of their ornithological and cultural history as well as comments on Bauer’s depictions. Not widely seen since they were painted approximately 230 years ago, and now reproduced in their entirety, these beautiful paintings represent one of the finest collections of late eighteenth-century ornithological art. 

RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-have for anyone with an interest in historical bird art.




4) Howard, Jules. Infinite Life: The Revolutionary Story of Eggs, Evolution, and Life on Earth. 2024. Pegasus Books. Hardbound: 258 pages. Price: $

PUBLISHER’S SUMMARY: An expansive investigation into the most unifying and enduring structure in the history of life—and a story of biological richness at a moment when so much of our precious biodiversity hangs in the balance.

     Eggs are the origins of 90 percent of the Earth’s organisms. They can be found as far apart as deep-sea volcanoes and in space. Yet despite their fundamental importance, eggs often find themselves an afterthought in the discussion of evolution of life on Earth as the interests of scientists congregate around the things that emerge from eggs rather than the eggs themselves.

      In his new book
Infinite Life: The Revolutionary Story of Eggs, Evolution, and Life on Earth, Jules Howard explains—with great passion, authority, expertise, and infectious enthusiasm—why it’s time to give eggs their moment in the spotlight: it is the eggs that can teach us new and surprising lessons about Earth’s history, the trials of life, and the exceptional ways in which natural selection operates to propagate the survival of individual species.

     
Infinite Life: The Revolutionary Story of Eggs, Evolution, and Life on Earth, offers a wholly new perspective on the animal kingdom, and, indeed, life on Earth. By examining eggs from their earliest histories to the very latest fossilized discoveries—encompassing the myriad changes and mutations of eggs from the evolution of yolk, to the hard eggshells of lost dinosaurs, to the animals that have evolved to simultaneously give birth to eggs and live young—Howard reveals untold stories of great diversity and majesty to shed light on the huge impact that egg science has on our lives.
RECOMMENDATION: This book is a must-read for anyone with an interest in this aspect of evolutionary biology.