Mating Lives Of Birds

Product Description

Bird courtship & display can be one of the most captivating events in the natural world. This attractive & informative book looks at natural selection & why birds have evolved different reproduction strategies examining territories birdsong displays & dealing with rivals. It also looks at different bird lifestyles including monogamy polygamy polyandry promiscuity & communal arrangements as well as the importance of plumage including why males are usually brighter & how special plumage features have evolved. The Mating Lives of Birds" then focuses on some of the most spectacular bird displays including Bittern (booming territorial & mating call); superb Lyrebird (amazing tail feathers posture display in special arena); grouse (leks special calls plumage features); Golden Eagle (pendulum flight with both male & female); cranes (dancing displays); Ruddy Duck (drumming noises bubbling effects); puffins (bill colours change for breeding season); egrets (elaborate display plumes); frigatebirds (inflatable throat-pouch display) birds-of-paradise (outrageous plumage hanging displays vocalization); Ruff (special breeding plumage jousting between males at leks) & phalaropes (role reversal female brighter & proactive in display). This evocatively written & richly illustrated title will be an essential addition to the library of any keen birdwatcher."