Two leading ornithologists describe the physiology, behavior, distribution, and ecology of this unique avian family

'A detailed survey ... of the family life and reproductive behavior of birds, from the formation of pairs to the young birds' attainment of independence.'

A well-known naturalist and bird-watcher tells of some of his more memorable experiences during journeys through the wilds of Mexico and Central and South America in the 1930s and early 1940s

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Discusses house wrens, the size of animals, favorite bird foods, symbiosis, hummingbirds, trees, weeds, and other tropical wildlife

Discusses the evolution of life on the planet earth from a philosophical viewpoint and examines earth's place in the universe

Product Description: In this work naturalist and ornithologist Alexander Skutch provides detailed accounts of a remarkable aspect of bird behaviour - the aid that one bird gives another who is neither its mater nor its dependent young and who may even belong to a different species.

Discusses the behavior, voice, courtship, nesting, and temperament of members of the tanager family of birds

This book covers waterbirds and migrants as well as resident tropical species, and its treatment of such topics as plumages, vocalizations, food habits, nesting and distribution make it a comprehensive single-volume guide to the 830 species of birds in Costa Rica.

From blackbirds and orioles to meadowlarks, grackles, and cowbirds, the variety and variation shown by members of the family Icteridae is legend. The family exhibits great diversity in size and coloration, mating and nest building, and habits and habitats. This group of 94 New World species once known as the troupials is well represented in backyards across America; yet most icterids are tropical or semi-tropical species that remain largely unstudied. The least known of these species are perhaps best known to Alexander Skutch, who has studied birds in a Costa Rican tropical valley for more than half a century. In this fascinating book--the first devoted exclusively to the icterids--he combines his own observations with those of other naturalists to provide a comparative natural history and biology of this remarkable family of birds. Devoting a separate chapter to each major group or genus, he delineates the outstanding characteristics of each and includes observations of little-studied tropical species such as caciques and oropendolas. Orioles, Blackbirds, and Their Kin is an eminently readable natural history in the classic style. Enhanced by 31 scratchboard illustrations, this book will delight nature enthusiasts everywhere with its fascinating exposition of avian diversity. Because so much of the published information on the icterids is widely scattered, Skutch's painstaking compilation has created a valuable reference work that will provide students and researchers with a wealth of new insights into the tropical members of this New World family.

Product Description: The American flycatcher is the subject of this enchanting book by a renowned ornithologist, who draws upon personal observations and extensive research to portray this family over its vast range. 16 color plates. 32 drawings.

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