Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 2: New World Vultures to Guineafowl

Volume 2 covers the order Falconiformes and Galliformes, and deals with the following families: New World Vultures (Cathartidae), Osprey (Pandionidae), Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae), Secretarybird (Sagittariidae), Falcons and Caracaras (Falconidae), Megapodes (Megapodiidae), Chachalacas, Guans and Curassows (Cracidae), Turkeys (Meleagrididae), Grouse (Tetraonidae), New World Quails (Odontophoridae), Pheasants and Partridges (Phasianidae), and Guineafowl (Numididae). There are detailed family accounts, followed by concise species accounts with distribution maps. The text is comprehensively illustrated with colour photographs, and every species is illustrated on the colour plates. Over 7,000 bibliographical references are included. This title provides coverage of birds, from New World vultures to guineafowl. The introductory chapter 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 general bibliography. The species account lists names in French, German and Spanish, in addition to scientific and English names. Each species has its own distribution map indicating resident, breeding and non-breeding ranges; its official status, according to BirdLife International; and the threats facing each species.