Ornithology 4e

Ornithology is the classic text for the undergraduate ornithology course, long admired for its evolutionary approach to bird science. The new edition maintains the scope and expertise that made the book so popular while incorporating the latest research and updating the exquisite program of drawings. About this Book 2 Cover Page 2 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Birds Featured as Part Openers 7 Dedication 8 Brief Contents 9 Contents 11 Preface 25 About the Authors 29 Acknowledgments 33 Ornithology: A Short History 35 Part I Origin and Diversity 48 Chapter 1 The Diversity of Birds 50 1.1 Basic Characters of Birds 53 1.2 Adaptive Radiation of Form and Function 63 1.3 Life Histories 87 1.4 Natural Selection and Convergence 88 1.5 Biogeography 92 Review Key Concepts 96 Apply Your Knowledge 98 Chapter 2 Evolutionary Origin 99 2.1 Birds Are Reptiles 102 2.2 Archaeopteryx: The Original Link Between Birds and Reptiles 106 2.3 Putting Birds on the Tree of Life 111 2.4 Birds Are Dinosaurs 117 2.5 Mesozoic Evolution of Birds 136 2.6 Evolution of Feathers 144 2.7 Evolution of Flight 146 Review Key Concepts 149 Apply Your Knowledge 152 Chapter 3 Phylogeny and Systematics 154 3.1 Scientific Names 156 3.2 Phylogeny and Classification 160 3.3 Morphological Systematics 162 3.4 Molecular Systematics 168 3.5 Avian Phylogenomics 176 3.6 Species and Speciation 184 Review Key Concepts 188 Apply Your Knowledge 190 Part II Form and Function 192 Chapter 4 Feathers 194 4.1 Feather Structure 197 4.2 Feather Development 215 4.3 Evolution of Feathers 223 4.4 Feather Colors 229 4.5 The Plumage 259 4.6 Feather Care 264 4.7 Plumage Color Patterns 272 4.8 Molts and Plumages 276 Review Key Concepts 284 Apply Your Knowledge 288 Chapter 5 Flight 290 5.1 Elementary Aerodynamics 293 5.2 Energetics of Flight 300 5.3 Modes of Flight 307 5.4 Wing Sizes and Shapes 324 5.5 The Skeleton 329 5.6 Flight Muscles 333 5.7 Muscle-Fiber Metabolism 338 5.8 Flightless Birds 340 5.9 Evolution of Flight 346 Review Key Concepts 350 Apply Your Knowledge 354 Chapter 6 Physiology 356 6.1 The High Body Temperatures of Birds 359 6.2 The Respiratory System 362 6.3 The Circulatory System 369 6.4 Metabolism 372 6.5 Temperature Regulation 377 6.6 Feeding and Digestion 397 6.7 Energy Balance and Reserves 409 6.8 Excretion and Water Economy 413 Review Key Concepts 422 Apply Your Knowledge 424 Part III Behavior 426 Chapter 7 Senses, Brains, and Intelligence 428 7.1 Vision 431 7.2 Hearing 450 7.3 Balance and Mechanoreception 458 7.4 Chemoreception: Taste and Smell 464 7.5 Bird Brains 472 7.6 Cognition and Intelligence 488 Review Key Concepts 501 Apply Your Knowledge 504 Chapter 8 Vocalizations 506 8.1 Physical Attributes 509 8.2 Repertoire Size and Communication 522 8.3 Sound Production by the Syrinx 527 8.4 Post-Source Modulation 534 8.5 Learning to Sing 540 8.6 The Central Nervous System and Song Learning 550 8.7 Dialects 554 8.8 Vocal Mimicry 561 8.9 Female Song and Duets 563 8.10 Songs and Mates 567 Review Key Concepts 571 Apply Your Knowledge 575 Chapter 9 Annual Cycles 577 9.1 Basic Annual Cycles 582 9.2 Physiological Clocks 589 9.3 Master Hormones 602 9.4 Breeding Seasons 606 9.5 Timing of Migration 611 9.6 Scheduling High-Cost Efforts 614 9.7 Climate Change 622 Review Key Concepts 625 Apply Your Knowledge 628 Chapter 10 Migration and Navigation 630 10.1 Migration 633 10.2 Connectivity 652 10.3 Fat, Fuel, and Flight Ranges 657 10.4 Evolution 668 10.5 Navigation 674 Review Key Concepts 697 Apply Your Knowledge 699 Chapter 11 Social Behavior 701 11.1 Individual Space 704 11.2 Territorial Behavior 707 11.3 Social Rank 717 11.4 Interspecific Aggression, Dominance, and Mimicry 724 11.5 Flocks 728 Review Key Concepts 745 Apply Your Knowledge 747 Part IV Reproduction 748 Chapter 12 Bird Sex 750 12.1 The Sexes 753 12.2 Ovary and Ovum 761 12.3 Testes and Sperm 770 12.4 Genitalia and Copulation 774 12.5 Fertilization and Sperm Competition 782 12.6 The Complete Egg 786 12.7 Egg Formation in the Oviduct 795 12.8 The Embryo 801 12.9 Clutch Size 803 Review Key Concepts 807 Apply Your Knowledge 809 Chapter 13 Sexual Selection 811 13.1 Mate Choice and Sexual Selection 815 13.2 Lek Displays and Dynamics 827 13.3 Songs and Mates 848 13.4 Monogamy 850 13.5 Extra-Pair Mating 853 Review Key Concepts 859 Apply Your Knowledge 860 Chapter 14 Breeding Systems 862 14.1 Diversity 865 14.2 Polygyny 871 14.3 Polyandry 875 14.4 Brood Parasitism 883 14.5 Cooperative Breeding 902 14.6 Complex Family Structures 914 Review Key Concepts 924 Apply Your Knowledge 926 Chapter 15 Nests and Incubation 928 15.1 Nests 931 15.2 Incubation 970 15.3 Hatching 992 15.4 Megapodes 997 Review Key Concepts 1003 Apply Your Knowledge 1005 Chapter 16 Parents and Their Offspring 1007 16.1 Modes of Development 1009 16.2 Begging for Food 1026 16.3 Sibling Rivalry 1030 16.4 Parenting 1036 16.5 Fledging 1048 16.6 Behavioral Growth and Development 1053 Review Key Concepts 1064 Apply Your Knowledge 1066 Chapter 17 Life Histories 1068 17.1 Life-History Patterns 1070 17.2 Longevity and Life Span 1076 17.3 Fecundity 1082 17.4 Annual Reproductive Effort 1092 17.5 Evolution of Clutch Size 1094 Review Key Concepts 1104 Apply Your Knowledge 1105 Part V Ecology and Conservation 1107 Chapter 18 Populations 1109 18.1 Growth and Declines 1112 18.2 Limitation and Regulation 1122 18.3 Social Forces 1143 18.4 Population Trends 1147 18.5 Birds as Bellwethers 1155 18.6 Citizen Science 1161 Review Key Concepts 1171 Apply Your Knowledge 1173 Chapter 19 Speciation 1174 19.1 What Is a Species? 1177 19.2 Allopatric Speciation 1185 19.3 Gene Flow, Clines, and Local Evolution 1200 19.4 Hybrids 1208 19.5 Behavior and Speciation 1220 Review Key Concepts 1225 Apply Your Knowledge 1227 Chapter 20 Communities 1229 20.1 Patterns of Species Diversity 1232 20.2 Resources and Climates 1237 20.3 Biotic Interactions 1249 20.4 History and Biogeography 1269 Review Key Concepts 1279 Apply Your Knowledge 1281 Chapter 21 Conservation 1283 21.1 The State of Birds 1286 21.2 Threats 1294 21.3 Past Excesses 1307 21.4 Hope 1317 21.5 Conservation by Design 1332 21.6 The Conservation Movement 1361 Review Key Concepts 1369 Apply Your Knowledge 1371 Bibliography 1373 Index 1513 Back Cover 1706 Ornithology With the Second Edition of his acclaimed text, Frank Gill offers the most comprehensive, up-to-date look at ornithology available. Not just a catalogue of species, it takes a conceptual, research-based approach to communicating an understanding of birds, providing an interpretive context that gives focus and meaning to the details of avian life. You get the latest on the impact of evolution on birds, especially the integration of morphological, behavioral, and physiological adaptations; contemporary research on communication and learning, social behavior, mating and reproduction, and population and community ecology; and contributions of avian biology to such fields as ecology, sociobiology, population biology, and biogeography. ​Ornithology, 4th Edition is a comprehensive introductory text covering a wide scope of topics essential for understanding the field of ornithology. The 4th edition retains its hallmark readability, as well as a well updated narrative and bibliography with the latest scientific content and references.