Author Description

The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds provides an up-to-date and comprehensive synthesis of our knowledge of all birds found in the region. Magnificently illustrated, these volumes will have an enormous impact on the direction of future research and on the conservation of Australasian and Antarctic birds, as much by showing what we do not know as by summarizing what we do. Each entry includes information on field identification, habitat, distribution and population, movements, food, social organization, social behavior, voice, breeding, and plumages. Accounts include illustrations of behavior postures and plumage features, maps showing breeding and non-breeding distribution, sonograms of calls and songs, and diagrams of timing of breeding and moulting. Jeff Davis, one of Australia's premier bird illustrators, provides accurate detail and accents the extraordinary beauty and diversity of Australasian wildlife. Diagrams of animal breeding cycles and David Andrew's detailed drawings of plumage supplement the text. Volume 1 covers emus, kiwis, cassowaries, penguins, grebes, albatrosses, shearwaters, petrels, shags, cormorants, boobies, gannets, frigatebirds, herons, egrets, ibis, storks, swans, geese, and ducks. Volume 2 focuses on 119 species, including fanconiformes, galliformes, turniciformes, gruiformes, and charadriformes. These splendid volumes are a must for professional and amateur ornithologist alike.