In-depth coverage of behavior? (1 Viewer)

A

a.k.a.

Member

• Jun 16, 2011

• #1

Hello BirdForum community,

What have been your experiences with books (or for that matter, DVDs) delving authoritatively into bird behavior? (Authoritative, without costing a fortune, which has become the state of affairs for tomes like the "Handbook of Bird Biology.")

For example, where have you found excellent coverage of ...

1. The fledging and learning process?

2. Nocturnal behavior?

Comments more than welcome on other topics one ought to explore as well!

Thanks to all!

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jun 17, 2011

• #2

A little bit to the technical side, but I enjoyed reading Behavioral Ecology of Tropical Birds (but I paid less than this on sale a while back).

This one also came up, I have not read it: http://www.amazon.com/Birds-Tropica...-Diversity/dp/0292706731/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

Niels

 

A

a.k.a.

Member

• Jun 17, 2011

• #3

Niels, these look great! Thanks for offering up these suggestions.

 

Pitohui

Active member

• Jun 17, 2011

• #4

A few titles on behavior

I can recommend a few titles, albeit a bit dated. Although the two by Armstrong are definitely old, the material is still worthwhile reading.

Birds by Night by Martin (1990)
Arena Birds: Sexual Selection and Behavior by Johnsgard (1994)
Bird Display and Behaviour by Armstrong (1947)
Study of Bird Song by Armstrong (1963)
Competition and the Structure of Bird Communities by Cody (1974)
Weather and Bird Behaviour by Elkins (2004)
Life of Birds by Welty (1982)
Bird Behavior by Burton (1985)
Avian Architecture: How Birds Design, Engineer, and Build by Goodfellow (2011)

Jack

 

U

Upland Birder

Birding On The Edge

• Jun 17, 2011

• #5

An excellent book is 'Ornithology' by Frank B Gill. It is a lot of money but is well worth it and provides a website link to go alongside book. I've not looked on the net but you may get a copy at a reasonable price.

Dean:t:

 

njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 8, 2011

• #6

One additional title that I have not read but which is available as clearance item in NHBS:

A Birders' Guide to the Behaviour of European and North American Birds

Niels

 

Josh123

Active member

• Jul 20, 2011

• #7

Urban Fox said:

An excellent book is 'Ornithology' by Frank B Gill.
Dean:t:

Click to expand...

I second this. We used this textbook for my Ornithology course this spring. It was very informative and presented information very effectively, even for someone new to the subject.

I also enjoyed "The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior". Part 1 gives an overview of basic ornithology including flight, form, function, origins, evolution, classification, behavior, habitats, populations, and conservations. It isn't as in depth or formal as Gill's "Ornithology", but still very informative. Part II covers the bird families of North America with sections on each.

-Josh