The Birds of Africa, Volume I: Ostriches and to Birds of Prey (Birds of Africa)

"The Birds of Africa, Volume 1: Ostriches and Birds of Prey is the first of a set of eight which, when complete, will cover the entire avifauna of Africa, one of the most varied and interesting in the world. While many regional guides to African birds exist, this will be the first comprehensive guide to the bird life of the continent as a whole, including North Africa. The entire set covers all species of birds found in Africa, including migrants from the Palearctic and vagrants. Resident birds are described in full detail, with sections on their range and status, description, field characters, voice, general behaviour, food and breeding biology. Visitors are also given extensive coverage, with emphasis on their status and behaviour within Africa. These volumes are sure to be acclaimed as the authority on the avifauna of Africa for many years to come. The quality of the text and the beauty of the plates will assure them pride of place on the shelves of ornithologists and bird-watchers everywhere. Indeed, anyone with an interest in natural history or ecology will find here a source of much interest and enjoyment--Bloomsbury Publishing.. This is the first volume in the Birds of Africa series, covering the rich avifauna of the world's second largest continent. Volume I treats the first 10 orders, from Ostrich to birds of prey.Universally recognised as by far the most authoritative work ever published on the subject, The Birds of Africa is a superb multi-contributor reference work, with encyclopaedic species texts, stunning paintings of all species and numerous subspecies, hundreds of informative line drawings, detailed range maps, and extensive bibliographies.Each volume contains an Introduction that brings the reader up to date with the latest developments in African ornithology, including the evolution and biogeography of African birds. Diagnoses of the families and genera, often with superspecies maps, are followed by the comprehensive species accounts themselves. These include descriptions of range and status, field characters, voice, general habits, food, and breeding habits. Full bibliographies, acoustic references, and indexes complete this scholarly work of reference.This first volume in the series deals comprehensively with Ostrich, albatrosses, petrels and shearwaters, storm-petrels, penguins, divers, grebes, tropicbirds, boobies, cormorants, darter, pelicans, frigatebirds, herons, Hamerkop, storks, Shoebill, ibises and spoonbills, flamingos, swans, geese and ducks, and diurnal birds of prey. The editors and artists have worked closely with other authors - all acknowledged experts in their field - to produce a superb reference in which comprehensive texts on every species are complemented by accurate and detailed paintings and drawings of the birds themselves. Vol. 1 [ostrich To Falcons] / By Leslie H. Brown, Emil K. Urban, Kenneth Newman ; Ill. By Martin Woodcock And Peter Hayman -- Vol. 2 [gamebirds To Pigeons] / Ed. By Emil K. Urban, C. Hilary Fry, Stuart Keith ; Colour Plates By Martin Woodcock ; Line Drawings By Ian Willis ; Acoustic References By Claude Chappuis -- Vol. 3 [parrots To Woodpeckers] / Ed. By C. Hilary Fry, Stuart Keith, Emil K. Urban ; Colour Plates By Martin Woodcock ; Line Drawings By Ian Willis ; Acoustic References By Claude Chappuis -- Vol. 4 [broadbills To Chats] / Ed. By Stuart Keith, Emil K. Urban, C. Hilary Fry ;colour Plates By Martin Woodcock ; Line Drawings By Ian Willis ; Acoustic References By Claude Chappuis -- Vol. 5 [thrushes To Puffback Flycatchers] / Ed. By Emil K. Urban, C. Hillary Fry, Stuart Keith ; Colour Plates By Martin Woodcock ; Line Drawings By Ian Willis ; Acoustic References By Claude Chappuis -- Vol. 6 [picathartes To Oxpeckers] / C. Hilary Fry, Stuart Keith ; Colour Plates By Martin Woodcock ; Line Drawings By Ian Willis ; Acoustic References By Claude Chappuis Vol. 7 [sparrows To Buntings] / C. Hilary Fry, Stuart Keith ; Colour Plates By Martin Woodcock ; Line Drawings By Ian Willis And C. Hilary Fry ; Discography By Claude Chappuis -- Vol. 8 The Malagasy Region / Roger Safford And Frank Hawkins ; Plumage Descriptions By David J. Pearson ; Colour Plates By John Gale And Brian Small. Color Plates By Martin Woodcock. Vol. 7 Published: Princeton, N.j. : Princeton University Press ; London : C. Helm. Vol. 8 Published: London : Christopher Helm. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Universally recognized as by far the most authoritative work ever published on the subject, The Birds of Africa is a superb reference with encyclopedic species texts, stunning paintings, detailed line drawings, and comprehensive bibliographies. This is the sixth volume in a set of seven, follows the standard taxonomic sequence and deals with songbirds from the babblers to starlings. A new introduction brings the reader up-to-date with recent developments in the series and includes an essay on aspects of biogeography illustrated through African birds. Overviews of the families are followed by genus summaries (with associated superspecies maps, where appropriate) and the species accounts themselves, organized under standard heading: Range and Status, Description, Field Characters, Voice, General Habits, Food, Breeding Habits, and Key References. Each species has a distribution map and many are illustrated with line drawings showing nests and behavior by Ian Willis.The texts are written by experts on the species and the editors themselves. There are 36 superb color plates by Martin Woodcock that illustrate all the plumages of all species covered in the volume. Full references to written and sound recorded material complete this authoritative coverage. This volume is the first of a set of seven which, when complete, will cover the entire avifauna of Africa, one of the most varied and interesting in the world. While many regional guides to African birds exist, this will be the first comprehensive guide to the bird life of the continent as a whole, including North Africa. The entire set covers all species of birds found in Africa, including migrants from the Palearctic and vagrants. Resident birds are described in full detail, with sections on their range and status, description, field characters, voice, general behaviour, food and breeding biology. Visitors are also given extensive coverage, with emphasis on their status and behaviour within Africa. These volumes are sure to be acclaimed as the authority on the avifauna of Africa for many years to come. The quality of the text and the beauty of the plates will assure them pride of place on the shelves of ornithologists and bird-watchers everywhere. Indeed, anyone with an interest in natural history or ecology will find here a source of much interest and enjoyment. Covers various birds found in Africa, from gamebirds to pigeons. Resident birds are treated in detail, with sections on their range and status, description, field characters, voice, general behaviour, food and breeding biology. Visitors are also given coverage, with emphasis on their status and behaviour within Africa.