Handbook of the Birds of the World; Volume 1 Ostrich to Ducks

This first volume covers the following families: ostrich; rheas; cassowaries; emu; kiwis; tinamous; penguins; divers; grebes; albatrosses; petrels & shearwaters; storm- and diving-petrels; tropicbirds; pelicans; gannets & boobies; cormorants; darters; frigatebirds; herons; hamerkop; storks; shoebill; ibises and spoonbills; flamingos; screamers; ducks, geese & swans. This introductory chapter is illustrated with detailed plates to complement the text, and deals with such diverse aspects as evolutionary history, anatomy, physiology, migration, and systematics. Each chapter covers a different family, headed by a summary box. Photographs illustrate more unusual features, such as courtship behaviour, thermoregulation or feeding techniques. Each chapter is subdivided into sections: systematics; morphological aspects; habitat; general habits; voice; food and feeding; breeding; movements; relationship with man; status and conservation; and a general bibliography. The species account lists names in French, German and Spanish, in addition to scientific and English names. Each species features: its own distribution map indicating resident, breeding and non-breeding ranges; its official status, according to BirdLife International; and the threats facing each species.