 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | A Guide to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North American Birds, Second Edition provides a thorough, species-by-species guide to the breeding biology of the birds of North America. Some 670 breeding species are described in full, covering the birds of a vast area, from the Arctic to the southern boundary of the continental United States. The main text presents complete basic information on the breeding cycle of each species, summarized in a natural sequence: nest habitat, nest-site, nest construction, breeding season, eggs, incubation and nesting and nestling period. More than 700 color and line illustrations provide valuable information on the identification of the nests, eggs, and nestlings of 597 species. The book covers perhaps the most fascinating aspects of North American bird life, their reproduction and the care of their young, essential elements in the survival of any species. The book summarizes all that is known of this crucial part of a bird's life cycle, and by omission, points to what is yet unknown and may yet be discovered by the scientific ornithologist and birder alike. If your fascination in the nests, eggs, and nestlings of North American birds centers on identifying them in the field, you will find this book essential. If conservation is also a concern, you will appreciate the value of understanding the breeding requirements and biology of even the most common of species. This book will prove invaluable whatever your interest in North American birds. Key Features: - Describes nests, eggs, and nestlings and gives basic biological information on nesting and breeding biology
- Includes up-to-date coverage of all breeding species found in North America, including Alaska and Canada in one comprehensive volume
- Contains more than 700 color and line illustrations of nests, eggs, and nestlings
Species List by Family: Loons: Gaviidae. Grebes: Podicipedidae. Shearwaters: Procellariidae. Storm-Petrels: Hydrobatidae. Boobies and Gannets: Sulidae. Pelicans: Pelecanidae. Cormorants: Phalacrocoracidae. Darters: Anhingidae. Frigatebirds: Fregatidae. Bitterns and Herons: Ardeidae. Ibises and Spoonbills: Threskiomithidae. Storks: Ciconiidae. Swans, Geese, and Ducks: Anatidae. American Vultures: Catharidae. Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Allies: Accipitridae. Caracaras and Falcons: Falconidae. Guans: Cracidae. Partridges, Grouse, Turkey, and Quail: Phasianidae. Rails, Gallinules, and Coots: Rallidae. Limpkins: Aramidae. Cranes: Gruidae. Plovers: Charadriidae. Oystercatchers: Haematopodidae. Stilts and Avocets: Recurvirostridae. Jacanas: Jacanidae. Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies: Scolopacidae. Jaegers, Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers: Laridae. Auks, Murres, and Puffins: Alcidae. Pigeons and Doves: Columbidae. Parakeets and Parrots: Psittacidae. Cuckoos, Roadrunner, and Anis: Cuculidae. Barn Owls: Tytonidae. Typical Owls: Strigidae. Goatsuckers: Caprimulgidae. Swifts: Apodidae. Hummingbirds: Trochilidae. Trogons: Trogonidae. Kingfishers: Alcedinidae. Woodpeckers: Picidae. Tyrant Flycatchers: Tyrannidae. Larks: Alaudidae. Swallows: Hirundinidae. Jays, Magpies, and Crows: Corvidae. Titmica: Paridae. Verdin: Remizidae. Bushtits: Aegithalidae. Nutcatchers: Sittidae. Creepers: Certhiidae. Bulbuls: Pycnonotidae. Wrens: Troglodytidae. Dippers: Cinclidae. Old World Warblers, Gnatcatchers, Old World Flycatchers, Thrushes and Wrentit: Uscicapidae. Mockingbirds and Thrashers: Mimidae. Wagtails and Pipits: Motacillidae. Waxwings Bombycillidae. Silky-Flycatchers: Ptilogonatidae. Shrikes: Laniidae. Starlings: Stumidae. Vireos: Vireonidae. Wood-Warblers, Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbreaks, Sparrows, Buntins, Blackbirds, and Allies: Emberizidae. Fringinlline and Carueline Finches and Allies: Fringillidae. Old World Sparrows: Passeridae. |
Average Customer Rating:   A field guide to...WHAT??? A field guide to....WHAT?????
Nestlings?! You gotta be kidding, Paul. Let me tell you something about nestlings. If you see one you don't recognize, just wait for Mother to show up. Then you'll know what kind of nestling it is, trust me.
How do I know? Well, let's just say that I work in an industrial zone considered gull territory by the local gulls (common gull, black headed gull and lesser black backed gull, to be exact). They seem to lay their eggs pretty much anywhere, and the other day their nestlings started running around at "our" parking lot, just outside the company building. Did we reach for a field guide to nestlings? Nupe, not exactly. Rather, we were busy trying to get away from the attacking adults!!! Common gulls, definitely. Mother Common even blocked our entrance. Later, the common gulls decided that blue collar shift workers aren't worthy of their attention, so they (and the nestlings) moved across the street, giving the white collar office workers the screaming & diving treatment. Thank god we don't have skuas on our front porch! As for eggs, nobody in his or her right mind would as much as touch an egg at that parking lot.
Besides, I thought egg collection was illegal, immoral and plain wrong??!!
And now, let's all run for cover!!! :D
Guide to Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds This is the most-often used text on the subject matter. Offers detailed descriptions as well as beautiful color figures of eggs. A must-have for anyone interested in the subject or conducting research in breeding ecology of North American birds. Good available reference-but need more(are publisher's looking?) I've had this book since it first got published in paperback (late 90's I think). As a forest biologist who often finds broken eggshells at the base of trees I need a reference like this. It is the first book I go to and the pictures are invaluable. Like other reviewers have already stated- I wish the pictures were all life size--I often hold up the egg fragments to the egg picture and for those that are shown lifesized- it's amazing how they match. I also agree with others that this is a reference and not a guide per se. It needs to be more complete to be a guide and needs more photos--especially of the nests which are hand drawn in this book-- It truly is a sorely needed reference book-but I'm hoping the publishers are reading---I've introduced this book to many biologist who upon first seeing it are in awe that there is such a book out there and we all found it useful- but after the initial puppy love syndrome is over, we're all left wishing there were a more complete book out there.
While I have the publisher's attention(I hope)- can we get a guide to feathers? If not of all birds....at least raptors (including owls)??
Thanks for reading A great book for nest & egg I.D. I find it hard to believe that anyone else out there could be as interested in nests and eggs as me, but if you are, this book is a wealth of information that must have taken quite a lot of research to compile.
I work as a biologist and sometimes do breeding bird surveys, and this book is my first stop for info on what a nest looks like, what an egg looks like, or the breeding biology and nesting behavior of certain birds.
I haven't yet tried to ID a nest by shape, size, and construction alone, and I'm a little leery of the idea that an inexperienced person could properly ID a nest without seeing the bird. I don't know if this book could really help you with that. Caveat emptor- a fine book in a new cover For anyone who owns the second edition with the tern and chick on the white cover, this is just a re-covering of that book. Same good, useful, unchanged reference content, different cover. |  |
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