PR JK} DORLING KINDERSLEY gM HANDBOOKS — OF THE ee Colin Harrison and Alan Greensmith The most accessible recognition guidesDORLING KIN HANDBO(C BIRDS OF THE WORLD Authoritative text, crystal-clear photography, and a systematic approach make this the most comprehensive pocket guide to birds of the world. Featuring over 800 bird species, this volume is designed to simplify the sometimes complex identification process. Whether in your neighborhood or in the wild, the Dorting Kindersley Handbook of Birds of the World enables you to spot and recognize birds easily. ch entry combines a precise description with an annotated photograph to highlight the bird's chief characteristics and distinguishing features. There are useful maps showing worldwide distribution, pictures of alternative plumage, and scale drawings of each bird, Color-coded, quick-reference bands giving at-a-glance facts complete every entry. For beginners and established enthusiasts alike, the Dorling Kindersley Handbook of Birds of the World begins by describing anatomy and behavior to help identify different types of bird. A visual identification key then shows the major bird groups and guides you to the correct entries. Finally, a concise glossary provides a useful guide to the scientific and technical terms used in the book $18.95(DK] DORLING KINDERSLEY == —HANDBOOKS— BIRDS OF THE WORLDDORLING KINDERSLEY = —-HANDBOOKS— BIRDS OF ‘THE WORLD COLIN HARRISON AND ALAN GREENSMITH MARK ROBBINS Editorial Gonsultant [oR] A Dorling Kindersley BookDorling Kindersley LONDON, NEW YORK, DELHI, JOHANNESBURG, MUNICH, PARIS and SYDNEY (DX) www.dk.com’ Note on Classification ‘The arrangement of bird families in this book is based on the recently published work of Richard Howard and Michacl Moore. For the names of genera and species, the authors have drawn on the work of Charles G. Sibley and Burt Monroe. Bditor Edward Bunting rt Editor Chris Walker Editorial Assistant Jeanette Cossar Design Assistant Christina Betts Production Caroline Webber Picture Research Catherine O'Rourke US Buitor Charles A. Wills US Consultant Mark Robbins, Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Seiences of Philadelphia First American Edition, 1993 Reprinted in 2000 24681097531 Published in the United States by Dorling Kindersley Inc., 95 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 ‘Text copyright © 1993 Colin Harrison and Alan Greensmith Introduction, pages 6-7 © 1993 David Wiedner All rights reserved under Intemational and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. Distributed by Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Harrison, Colin James Oliver Birds of the world / by Colin Harrison and Alan Greensmith, ~ Ist American ed. p. em. — (Eyewitness handbooks) Includes index. ISBN 1-56458-296-5. ~ ISBN 1-56458-295-7 (flexibinding) 1. Birds. 2. Birds ~ Identification. I. Greensmith, Alan, IL. Title. [Il Series. Q1.673.H2895 1993 598-de20 93-7065 cp ‘Computer page makeup by ‘The Cooling Brown Partnership, Great Britain Text film outpur by P4 Graphics Limited, Great Britain Reproduced by Coloursean, Singapore Printed and bound in Singapore by Kyodo Printing Co,CONTENTS 2 INTRODUCTION * 6 How This Book Works & Anatomy of Birds /0 ariations within Species 12 Warching Birds in the Garden /4# Warching Birds in the Field /5 Identifying Birds in Flight 16 Identification Key 13 ~~ = NON-PASSERINES * 38 = PASSERINES * 244 ~~ ¥ Glossary 396 Index 404 Acknowledgments 4/56 * INTRODU INTRODUCTION Why have birds so captured the human imagination? Sixty million Americans watch birds. Some treat tt as a quiet pastime, observing and perhaps photographing backyard species that frequent feeders and birdbaths. Others treat it as a sport, traveling widely in search of new species, or competing in “birdathous” to raise money for conservation organizations. N FACT, ‘THE MONEY spent on watching, cach year to places like Cape May in birds (on equipment, uavel, books, New Jersey, Point Pelee in Ontario, and art) is staggering. Surveys show and southeastern Arizona. Birding in that birding brings the USA alone millions of isa $20 billion dollars a year industry. eS so ws adjutable nse come an be raised for streamtining at high speed wana’ STRENGTH VERSUS procul SKU. during slower flight Aircraft are vastly superiar to birds in ‘ise ue their curced bill power speod, and rane; ie orale ead ee eds but birds are much more manewoerable, Birds, for instance, do wat need a runway to take off or land. broad swings enable ‘the ibis 10 manewver © shilifally at lowe speeds ORNAMENTAL, @ HerapGrar , An ostrich provided the plume for this cavalry helmet (elo right), while the whole design ‘THe AGE oF THE QUILL. bears a striking resemblanc = sable contribution to the head plumage of a bird, Js have made to our such as the Royal Flycatchei civilization was to provide (below). In the flycatchs quills (right) for writing, however, the crest is ‘The central quill of a large aligned sideways, rather feather, usually from a than front to back. goose, was trimmed with a penknife and the point sharpened and split to form a nib. ‘The hollow quill is ideally suited for holding the ink.INTRODUCTION © 7 SyMBOLS OF HONOR AND WEALTH wet US Agu Distixcuisiied SrRvIcE MEDAL aND CROSS Geran Agvy BADGE FRON, Wort. War I SiNcapore $500 Nove wrrnt SYMIROLIC GOLDEN ORIOLE Birbs IN Many CULTURE: For many cultures, birds are an integral part of the social fabric, playing a part in folklore, art, and religion. In South America, for example, feathers are an essential feature of ritual garments; they show membership and status in social groups and provide a sense of spiritual identity and protection. Economic AND SociAL VALUE Birds also supply our most basic needs: food, tools, and clothing. Domesticated birds (and their eggs) are the basis of our poultry industry. We have used bird feathers for quill pens and fletched arrows and as insulation in goose-down co: comforters. Birds have also catalyzed scientific discovery: their study has helped us to understand the physics of flight. The canary in the coal mine has a new equivalent — birds are indicators of the health of our environment. The decline of our migratory songbirds increased efforts to protect habitat in their breeding, stopover, and wintering ar nd CANADIAN $1 -Comn Witt Conon Loon US Aruty Car BaDoe, CONGRESSIONAL MEDal. OF HONOR New wirnd ALAND $20 No’ JEW ZEALAND PIGEON BIRDKEEPING FOR PLEASURE. Many people keep birds as pets. Parrots, Cockatiels, and other unusual species provide bird lovers with colorful and vocal companionship at home. The ancient art of falconry remains popular, and falconers’ knowledge of the rearing of birds of prey has assisted in the reintroduction of threatened and endangered species into natural habitats. Birds bring us wonder, mystery, and pleasure. In their limitless variety of color, song, and behavior, birds embody a magic that we may celebrate, but only they can possess. Peregrine Fakon ov 8 thehand Teg leashes dare knosen Davi §. WIEDNER Research Associate, Department of Ornithology, Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.8 ¢ INTRODUCTION \HIS BOOK is arranged according to the major groups of birds: non- passerines, which include the largest birds, and passerines, which include the songbirds. Each entry describes a separate species or kind of bird. The entries are arranged in order of their scientific classification. Birds that together. Within each family, closely PLUMAGE ILLUSTRATIONS Except when stated otherwise, the photograph in each entry shows the adult belong to the same family are grouped How THIS BOOK WORKS related birds are placed near cach other. Readers can find a bird by its habitat and behavior in the Identification Key on pages 18-37, or by its scientific or common name in the Index. Each entry covers appearance, habitat, food, nest, and distribution, thus giving the most basie identification features. In many entries, additional details, such as song, calls, or behavior, are provided. AN male, Many birds also have other plumages (see pp. 12-13), and the most important of these are illustrated beside the photograph. Mate Suse Fen. Juventie Crest = a < Sunseecies FEMALE JOvENILE Mate Tat DISTRIBUTION Mars ‘These show where the bird is likely to be seen, cither all year round or accertain times. For example, Purple Martins breed in North America z MART S PURPI SCALE SILHOUETTES ‘These show the bird next to a copy of this book. For reasons of space, birds above 20 in (50 cm) long are shown in a smaller seale, so that the book appears in ovo different sizes. All birds are measured fully stretched out, from beak to tail tip. 1N and winter in Brazil; the map also shows the area through, which they migrate. By In species in which male and female look different, the male is illustrated, contrast, in the western part of their range, European Robins stay all year, but in the cast they are migrants. ‘The Australian Brush- ‘Turkey is a non-migrant, remaining in the same area all year round. BausteTURK 0 0 FY