• The World's Rarest initiative 7 Introduction to the world's birds 8* Diversity and distribution 8 * Endemic Bird Areas 8 * Important Bird Areas 9 * Birds and humans 10 The world's rarest birds 11* The IUCN/BirdLife species category assignment process 12 * Going or gone? 16 * The known unknowns 20 * The distribution of threatened birds 22 * Last chances to save 24 The threats birds face 25* Agriculture and aquaculture 28 * Logging/plant harvesting 30 * Invasive and other problematic species 32 * Hunting and trapping 34 * Residential and commercial development 36 * Fire and fire management 38 * Climate change and severe weather 39 * Geological events 40 * Human disturbance 41 * Pollution 42 * Transport and other infrastructure 44 * Energy production and mining 45 * Dams and water abstraction 46 * Fishing 47 The need for conservation 48 Threats without borders 50 The Regional Directories (see overleaf for full listing) 54* Structure of the regional sections 54 * Glossary of terms 56 Acknowledgements 332
• Appendix 1 - Extinct Species 336
• Appendix 2 - The bird families with globally threatened species 339 Index 347 The Regional Directories Europe and the Middle East 58* The conservation challenges 62 * Regional Directory 64 Africa and Madagascar 68* Africa and Madagascar - the conservation challenges 72 * Threatened bird hotspot - Madagascar 74 * Threatened bird hotspot - Angola 76 * Conservation challenge - Grassland Management 78 * Regional Directory 80 Asia 100* Asia - the conservation challenges 104 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Philippines 106 * Threatened bird hotspot - Indonesia 108 * Conservation challenge - Vultures 110 * Conservation challenge - Bustards 112 * Conservation challenge - Hornbills 114 * Conservation challenge - The world's most threatened flyway 116 * Regional Directory 118 Australasia 150* Australasia - the conservation challenges 154 * Threatened bird hotspot - Australia 156 * Threatened bird hotspot - New Zealand 158 * Threatened bird hotspot - Australasian Islands 160 * Threatened bird hotspot - New Caledonia 162 * Regional Directory 164 Oceanic Islands 180* Oceanic islands - the conservation challenges 186 * Threatened bird hotspot - Hawaii 190 * Threatened bird hotspot - Polynesia & Micronesia 194 * Threatened bird hotspot - Galapagos 196 * Threatened bird hotspot - Indian Ocean Islands 198 * Threatened bird hotspot - Atlantic Ocean Islands 200 * Conservation challenge - The albatross conundrum 202 * Regional Directory 206 The Caribbean, North and Central America 236* The threatened birds - an overview 240 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Caribbean 242 * Threatened bird hotspot - North America 244 * Threatened bird hotspot - Central America 246 * Regional Directory 248 South America 264* South America - the bird continent 268 * Threatened bird hotspot - Choco (Colombia and Ecuador) 270 * Threatened bird hotspot - Peru 272 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Amazon Basin 274 * Threatened bird hotspot - The Atlantic Forest 276 * Conservation challenge - Hunting and trapping 278 * Regional Directory 280 Data Deficient Species 322.
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This illustrated book vividly depicts the most endangered birds in the world and provides the latest information on the threats each species faces and the measures being taken to save them. Today, 571 bird species are classified as critically endangered or endangered, and a further four now exist only in captivity. This landmark book features stunning photographs of 500 of these species--the results of a prestigious international photographic competition organized specifically for this book. It also showcases paintings by acclaimed wildlife artist Tomasz Cofta of the 75 species for which no photos are known to exist. The World's Rarest Birds has introductory chapters that explain the threats to birds, the ways threat categories are applied, and the distinction between threat and rarity. The book is divided into seven regional sections--Europe and the Middle East; Africa and Madagascar; Asia; Australasia; Oceanic Islands; North America, Central America, and the Caribbean; and South America. Each section includes an illustrated directory to the bird species under threat there, and gives a concise description of distribution, status, population, key threats, and conservation needs. This one-of-a-kind book also provides coverage of 62 data-deficient species.
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• Introduction 4 THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS 6 Wildfowl (swans, geese, ducks) 14 Cormorants, divers and grebes 70 Seabirds (Gannet, Fulmar, shearwaters, petrels) 86 Rare seabirds 98 Gulls and terns 102 Skuas 156 Auks (puffins, guillemots, Razorbill, murrelets) 165 Waders (plovers, sandpipers, curlews, godwits, snipe and related species) 173 Vagrant waders 221 Large waterside birds (herons, bitterns, egrets, ibis, Spoonbill, cranes, storks) 236 Bustards 252 Crakes and rails (includes Moorhen, coots, gallinules) 254 Pheasants, partridges, grouse and related species 263 Pigeons and doves 273 Sandgrouse 274 Owls and nightjars 281 Birds of prey (eagles, kites, Osprey, buzzards, harriers, hawks, falcons and related species) 292 Kingfishers, cuckoos, Hoopoe, bee-eaters, Roller and parrot 326 Woodpeckers 333 Aerial feeders (swifts, swallows, martins) 338 Larks, pipits and wagtails 347 Dipper, Wren, accentors, oriole, starlings and waxwings 366 Thrushes, chats and wheatears 376 Warblers, cisticola and crests 403 Flycatchers 438 Tits, nuthatches and 'creepers' 443 Shrikes 456 Crows (includes Jay, Magpie, Nutcracker) 464 Sparrows and finches 474 Buntings 496 Vagrant landbirds from North America 510 Birds of uncertain origin and escapes/introductions 522 British & Irish Lists, status and legislation 524 Acknowledgements and photo credits 541 Index 552.
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Britain's Birds will be enjoyed, valued and constantly referred to by all bird watchers--whether beginner, experienced or professional. This is the most comprehensive, up-to-date and practical bird book of modern times, featuring an unrivalled selection of photographs that show all the plumages you are likely to see. Focusing on identification, and containing maps, facts and figures on numbers and distributions, this breakthrough publication was devised by a team of lifelong birdwatchers, all with many years' experience of showing people birds and producing user-friendly field guides. * Comprehensive coverage of every bird recorded in Britain and Ireland* The only photographic guide to show all plumages likely to be encountered* More than 3,200 superb colour photographs carefully selected to show key identification features* Many photographs of individual rare birds identified in Britain and Ireland* Simple steps to help you find and identify any bird you see* Pages designed to allow easy and accurate comparison* Latest information on status, population, distribution and conservation designations* Distribution maps featuring summer, winter and resident ranges, plus details of migration routes to and from Britain and Ireland.
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• Foreword 7 Preface 9 Introduction 10 How butterflies and moths differ 12 The life-cycle of a butterfly 14 Butterfly biology. 15 Egg 15 Caterpillar 16 Chrysalis 17 Adult 18 Where to look for butterflies 24 Gardening for butterflies 25 Butterfly habitats 26 Favoured habitats 32 Key places for rare and localized butterflies 33 How to identify butterflies 34 Key features of adult butterflies 34 Butterfly identification 35 Colour variation: forms and aberrations 36 The types of butterfly 38 Glossary 40 THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS 41 Species of doubtful provenance 192 Caterpillar foodplants 194 Butterfly nectar sources and caterpillar foodplants 202 Eggs, caterpillars and chrysalises. 206 Eggs 207 Caterpillars 212 Chrysalises 219 List of British and Irish butterflies. 225 Butterfly watching and photography 230 Butterfly Conservation 231 Recording and monitoring 231 Conservation and legislation 232 Further reading 234 Sources of further information and useful addresses 235 Acknowledgements and photographic/artwork credits 236 Index of English and scientific names 239.
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Britain's Butterflies is a comprehensive and beautifully designed photographic field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland. Containing hundreds of stunning colour photographs, this revised and updated edition provides the latest information on every species ever recorded. It covers in detail the identification of all 59 butterfly species that breed regularly, as well as four former breeders, 10 rare migrants and one species of unknown status. The easy-to-use format will enable butterfly-watchers--beginners or experts--to identify any species they encounter. * Stunning colour plates show typical views of each butterfly species, including the various forms and aberrations* Detailed species profiles cover adult identification; behaviour; habitat requirements; population and conservation; egg, caterpillar and chrysalis; and status and distribution, including up-to-date maps* Photographs of egg, caterpillar and chrysalis for every breeding species* Sections on biology, where to look for and how to identify butterflies and other essential information.
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• Preface 5 The difference between butterflies and moths 6 What is a day-flying moth? 7 Moth biology 8 The naming of moths 10 Identifying moths 12 Where to look for day-flying moths 16 Gardening for moths 21 Glossary 24 Moth families with day-flying species 26 Introduction to the species accounts 27 THE SPECIES ACCOUNTS Foresters and Burnets (Family: Zygaenidae) 28 Clearwings (Family: Sesiidae) 40 Eggars, Emperor, Kentish Glory and Hook-tips (Families: Lasiocampidae, Saturniidae, Endromidae and Drepanidae) 58 Geometrids (Family: Geometridae) 66 Hawk-moths (Family: Sphingidae) 128 Tussocks, Footmen, Tigers and Ermines (Families: Lymantriidae and Arctiidae) 134 Noctuids (Family: Noctuidae) 148 Micro-moths (a selection of common day-flyers from the families: Incurvariidae, Adelidae, Tineidae, Gracillariidae, Choreutidae, Glyphipterigidae, Yponomeutidae, Plutellidae, Oecophoridae, Tortricidae, Crambidae, Pyralidae and Pterophoridae) 176 List of day-flying moths with summary data showing: habitat preferences, flight season, larval foodplants, and conservation status, BAP listing and legislative protection 202 Conservation and legislation 210 Butterfly and moth conservation 214 Recording and monitoring 214 Further reading 215 Useful websites 217 Acknowledgements and photographic credits 218 Index 221.
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This concise photographic field guide will help you identify any of the 100 or so day-flying moths found in Britain and Ireland. Combining stunning photographs, authoritative text, and an easy-to-use design, this book makes a perfect traveling companion--one that will increase your enjoyment of these colorful and intriguing creatures. Like butterflies, some moths fly regularly in sunshine, whereas others that usually fly only at night are readily disturbed from their resting places during the day. This guide describes all of these species, with at least one photograph of each in its natural, resting pose. The text includes a brief description of each moth, with details of its life history, where and when to look for it, its status, the food plants of its caterpillars, and its special features. Introductory sections cover many topics, including how to distinguish moths from butterflies; classification; life cycle and behavior; ecological importance; the impact of habitat and climate change; recording and monitoring; and conservation. * Individual accounts for some 100 species * Stunning photographs of every moth, as you see them * Attractive, easy-to-use, and accessible design.
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A fully revised, comprehensive photographic field guide to the dragonflies of Britain and Ireland Britain's Dragonflies is the only comprehensive photographic field guide to the damselflies and dragonflies of Great Britain and Ireland. Written by two of Britain's foremost Dragonfly experts, this fully revised and updated fourth edition features hundreds of stunning images and identification charts covering all 57 resident, migrant and former breeding species, and six potential vagrants. The book focuses on the identification of both adults and larvae, highlighting the key features. Detailed species profiles provide concise information on identification, distribution, flight periods, behaviour, habitat, status and conservation. Other sections cover biology; how to watch, photograph, record and monitor Dragonflies; conservation status and legislation; and introduced exotic species. This redesigned, updated and expanded edition features: Beautiful colour plates showing males, females, immatures and all colour forms for every species Over 500 stunning photographs, many of which are new, and more than 550 illustrations Up-to-date species profiles and distribution maps Detailed, easy-to-use identification charts for adults and larvae.
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