The Birds of Paradise by Clifford B Frith

The Birds of Paradise by Clifford B Frith

Birds of paradise have long played a central role in the mythologies, ceremonies, dress and dance of the peoples of New Guinea and its neighbouring islands. For the few centuries that these magnificent birds have been known outside of Australasia, their striking nuptial plumages and elaborate courtship rituals have captured the imagination of collectors, scientists, and naturalists throughout the world. The first part of the book provides a comprehensive and scientifically accurate overview of the biology, ecology, and history of the group, written so as to be interesting and accessible to the lay-reader as well as the scientist. The authors' intimate observations of the birds have enabled them to describe for the first time how the extravagant tails and plumage are used in courtship and mating as well as to describe their nesting biology, about which little has been written previously. The role of the birds of paradise in human culture and tradition is explored in chapter 7, and a final chapter discusses issues of conservation and threats to the survival of these unique and beautiful birds. The second part of the book consists of species accounts of the 42 species of birds of paradise, describing their plumage, size, habitat, distribution, and behaviour in detail and accompanied by distribution maps and sonograms. 12 superb colour plates by William T. Cooper, one of the world's most acclaimed bird artists, illustrate all the species, their known hybrids, and many juveniles and sub-species. His original fine line provide a vivid record of how the birds use their famous ornaments during reproductive behaviour. As with the other books in the Oxford Bird Families of the World series, the Birds of Paradise is written by authors who have dedicated much of their professional lives to researching the birds and observing them at first hand. It includes previously unpublished material and provides a synthesis of the huge literature that has been published over the last few years. As such it will be the most comprehensive review ever to be published on the birds of paradise, the most ornate and interesting group of birds on earth. Nothing comparable exists in print.

'The first comprehensive overview of this dramatic group of birds.. * BBC Wildlife *
'...an exhaustive summary of literally everything known about all 42 birds of paradise...I must also comment onf Frith and Beehler's organizational skill, from which any would-be author could learn. Masses of details are renedered digestible...Questions for future research are highlighted throughout, making this book another treasure trove for studnet sin search of PhD theseis topics. * Jared Diamond Nature *
'...this book will stimulate interest in the habits and conservation of these magnificent birds and the paradise in which they live.' * World Birdwatch *

Beehler, Bruce M.: -

Bruce M. Beehler is an ornithologist, naturalist, conservationist, author, and lecturer. He is a research associate in the division of birds at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. He is best known for coleading a survey of biological diversity in the Foja Mountains of Papua New Guinea in 2005, during which the wattled smoky honeyeater was discovered and the bronze parotia and golden-fronted bowerbird were photographed for the first time. He has published eleven books about nature, most recently Birds of New Guinea.

SKU	Nicht verfügbar
ISBN 13	9780198548539
ISBN 10	0198548532
Titel	The Birds of Paradise
Autor	Clifford B Frith
Serie	Bird Families Of The World
Buchzustand	Nicht verfügbar
Bindungsart	Hardback
Verlag	Oxford University Press
Erscheinungsjahr	1998-07-09
Seitenanzahl	676
Hinweis auf dem Einband	Die Abbildung des Buches dient nur Illustrationszwecken, die tatsächliche Bindung, das Cover und die Auflage können sich davon unterscheiden.