Beaks, bones, and bird songs : how the struggle for survival has shaped birds and their behavior

"Reveals the strange and wondrous adaptations birds rely on to get by."--National Audubon Society When we see a bird flying from branch to branch happily chirping, it is easy to imagine they lead a simple life of freedom, flight, and feathers. What we don't see is the arduous, life-threatening challenges they face at every moment. Beaks, Bones, and Bird Songs guides the reader through the myriad, and often almost miraculous, things that birds do every day to merely stay alive. Like the goldfinch, which manages extreme weather changes by doubling the density of its plumage in winter. Or urban birds, which navigate traffic through a keen understanding of posted speed limits. In engaging and accessible prose, Roger Lederer shares how and why birds use their sensory abilities to see ultraviolet, find food without seeing it, fly thousands of miles without stopping, change their songs in noisy cities, navigate by smell, and much more. Read more... This Guided Tour Through Bird Behavior By The Author Of Latin For Bird Lovers “reveals The Strange And Wondrous Adaptations Birds Rely On To Get By” (national Audubon Society). When We See A Bird Flying From Branch To Branch Happily Chirping, It Is Easy To Imagine They Lead A Simple Life Of Freedom, Flight, And Feathers. What We Don’t See Is The Arduous, Life-threatening Challenges They Face At Every Moment. In Beaks, Bones, And Bird Songs, Ornithologist Roger J. Lederer Guides You Through The Myriad, Often Nearly Miraculous, Things That Birds Do Every Day Just To Stay Alive. The Goldfinch Withstands Extreme Weather Changes By Doubling The Density Of Its Plumage In Winter. Urban Birds Navigate Traffic Through A Keen Understanding Of Posted Speed Limits. In Engaging And Accessible Prose, Lederer Shares How And Why Birds Use Their Sensory Abilities To See Ultraviolet, Find Food Without Seeing It, Fly Thousands Of Miles Without Stopping, Change Their Songs In Noisy Cities, Navigate By Smell, And Much More. “a Trove Of Information For True Bird Nerds.” —bird Watcher’s Digest “Reveals the strange and wondrous adaptations birds rely on to get by.” —National Audubon Society When we see a bird flying from branch to branch happily chirping, it is easy to imagine they lead a simple life of freedom, flight, and feathers. What we don’t see is the arduous, life-threatening challenges they face at every moment. Beaks, Bones, and Bird Songs guides the reader through the myriad, and often almost miraculous, things that birds do every day to merely stay alive. Like the goldfinch, which manages extreme weather changes by doubling the density of its plumage in winter. Or urban birds, which navigate traffic through a keen understanding of posted speed limits. In engaging and accessible prose, Roger Lederer shares how and why birds use their sensory abilities to see ultraviolet, find food without seeing it, fly thousands of miles without stopping, change their songs in noisy cities, navigate by smell, and much more. "When we see a bird flying from branch to branch happily chirping, it is easy to imagine they lead a simple life of freedom, flight, and feathers. What we don't see is the arduous, life-threatening challenges they face at every moment. Beaks, Bones, and Bird Songs guides the reader through the myriad, and often almost miraculous, things that birds do every day to merely stay alive. Like the goldfinch, which manages extreme weather changes by doubling the density of its plumage in winter. Or urban birds, which navigate traffic through a keen understanding of posted speed limits. In engaging and accessible prose, Roger Lederer shares how and why birds use their sensory abilities to see ultraviolet, find food without seeing it, fly thousands of miles without stopping, change their songs in noisy cities, navigate by smell, and much more."--Publisher's description Foreword / By Scott Weidensaul -- Introduction : It's Tough To Be A Bird -- Birds, Beaks, And Bellies : The Whys And Wherefores Of Foraging -- Can You See Uv? : How Birds Employ Their Sensory Abilities -- Ups And Downs : The Animals That Conquered The Air -- Travel Hither And Yon : Migration And Navigation In An Endless Sky -- Weather Survival Strategies : Enduring Heat, Cold, Wind, And Rain -- Bird Communities : How Birds Live Together -- Human Influences : What We Do To Birds. Roger J. Lederer. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 245-261) And Index. In Beaks, Bones, and Bird Songs, ornithologist Roger Lederer guides the reader through the things that birds do every day to merely stay alive. Lederer shares how and why birds use their sensory abilities to see ultraviolet, find food, fly thousands of miles without stopping, change their songs in noisy cities, navigate by smell, and much more.